Missoula

Missoula is a medium-sized city in Western Montana with a population of about 73,000 (2020). The hub of five valleys in the northwest region of the state, or Glacier Country, the town boasts the University of Montana, the Rattlesnake Recreation Area, and a multitude of recreational opportunities, along with an active and colorful downtown. == Understand == Though it's physically part of the Rocky Mountains region, culturally Missoula identifies closely with the Pacific Northwest. Home to the University of Montana and often considered by residents as the most liberal city in Montana, it's an interesting mix of ranchers, cowboys, hippies, yuppies, students, artists, athletes and recreationalists. Graduates from the University of Montana frequently remain in Missoula, creating a large over-qualified work force. A local barista or cook may have, at the very least, a Bachelor's degree. === Local information === City of Missoula council website == Get in == === By plane === 1 Missoula International Airport (MSO IATA) (along US Hwy 10 (W Broadway) which parallels I-90, 7 mi (11 km) northwest of Missoula and is accessed via Airway Blvd from I-90 at Exit #99). The following airlines offer year-round service: Alaska Airlines (Portland and Seattle year round, and seasonally from San Diego) American Airlines & American Eagle (Dallas Ft Worth) Allegiant (Las Vegas and Phoenix/Mesa) Delta and Skywest dba Delta Connection (Minneapolis-St Paul and Salt Lake City) United & United Express (Denver year round, and seasonally from Chicago O'Hare) The following airlines operate seasonally during the summers: Frontier (Denver) Sun Country (Minneapolis-St Paul) There are taxis, rideshare and hotel shuttles to bring you into town locally. There are also car rentals available from the airport which is the preferred method for greater flexibility in getting around to the surrounding areas. The Mountain Line #11 bus connects the airport with the downtown Lewis & Clark Transit Center. === By car === There are five exits from Interstate 90 (I-90), Airways Blvd (Exit #99); the Grant Creek Blvd exit (Exit #101); Orange St (Exit #104); Van Buren St (Exit #105); , and East Missoula (Exit #307). The Van Buren St exit is the closest exit to access downtown and the University of Montana campus while the Airways Blvd is the closest to the airport. Missoula is 118 mi (190 km) west of Butte (Jct I-15 with I-90); 203 mi (327 km) west of Bozeman; 165 mi (266 km) east of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Spokane, WA another 30 mi (48 km) west of Coeur d'Alene all along I-90. === By bus === 2 Jefferson Lines, (bus depot) 1660 W Broadway (W Broadway & Sherwood), ☏ +1 406-549-2339, toll-free: +1-800-451-5333. Travels primarily on Interstate 90 between Spokane and Billings (via Coeur d'Alene, Kellogg, St Regis, Missoula, Butte, Belgrade/Bozeman and Livingston). Passengers transfer in Butte, Billings, Bozeman and Spokane to get to additional destinations. (updated Jul 2015) The #11 bus and the #2 bus connect the bus station with the downtown Lewis & Clark Transit Center. Only the #11 (northbound on Broadway) goes up to the airport. == Get around == Visitors to Missoula often remark that the city is hard to get around in by car, a fact Missoulians famously owe to conflicting city engineers at the turn of the century. The confusing roadways make the Mountain Line city bus system a great way to get around, but with a little orienting, the city can be much more easily navigated. Higgins Avenue runs from downtown in the northern end of town through the outskirts of the tree-lined streets of the university district until it takes a sharp curve to the west in the south end of town, leading mainly to residential areas. Broadway Street runs east to west, mostly along the Clark Fork river, from Van Buren, entrance to the Rattlesnake Recreation Area and the hippest place to live in town, through downtown before bisecting with Highway 93 and continuing on to the airport and I-90. Orange Street runs through downtown and another treed residential area before intersecting with Brooks Street. Brooks Street begins as Highway 93 from Lolo to the south of Missoula before turning into Brooks Street, a major shopping area populated with strip malls, fast food restaurants and the like, before dead ending into Higgins in a particularly confusing no-right-turn intersection. Russell Street runs north-south from Broadway to 39th, through residential, industrial and business districts, but is a main roadway for motorists. Reserve Street runs from I-90 to 39th from the north to south, crossing Broadway, 3rd Street, South Avenue and Brooks Street before dead ending. Major box stores, such as Target and Wal-Mart, as well as movie theaters, restaurants and other businesses line the thoroughfare. == See == Geographically, Missoula is dominated by the scenic Clark Fork River that flows through downtown and the mountains ringing the city. 1 Caras Park, 123 Carousel Dr. The park is a hub of city festivities and intimate concerts, with brick plazas, restrooms and a pavilion. It is on land reclaimed when the Higgins Avenue Bridge was widened in 1962. Next to the park is A Carousel for Missoula, a wooden, hand-carved and volunteer-built carousel. 2 Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, 3400 Captain Rawn Way, ☏ +1 406-728-3476. Sep-May: Tu-Su noon-5PM; May-Aug: M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Explore the 32-acre park and museum showcasing Missoula area history. Museum features rotating exhibits. Over 20 preserved historic buildings of the fort and World War II internment camp. Walking tour of the fort always available and free. Come in late April for the annual forestry day to watch professional competitors in timber sports like log rolling and speed climbing. If you've never watched these lumberjack events, they are incredibly fun spectator sports. (updated Mar 2023) 3 Missoula Art Museum, 335 N Pattee, ☏ +1 406-728-0447. Tu W 10AM-5PM, Th 10AM-7PM, F Sa 10AM-5PM. Worth a visit. Knowing that it could never outbid its big-city counterparts for works by famous artists, the museum has instead hosts regularly-rotated exhibits of Western art and works closely with community arts groups. Furthermore, the price is right for visitors, as demonstrated by its slogan: Free Expression, Free Admission. free. (updated Mar 2023) 4 Missoula County Courthouse, 220 W Broadway. This historic courthouse building has eight original murals by E.S. Paxson. 5 Montana Museum of Art & Culture, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr, ☏ +1 406-243-2019, museum@umontana.edu. Rotating permanent collection and outside artwork. Website has a campus artwalk map. The collections held in several buildings, check website for current locations. Free. (updated Mar 2023) Both of Missoula's historic railroad stations still stand, preserved, and in use. 6 Milwaukee Railway Station, 250 Station Dr. This former depot built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad is used by the Boone & Crockett Club. 7 Northern Pacific Railway Station, Railroad and Higgins Ave. This former depot is used as office space by local businesses and home of the Missoula Farmer's Market during the summer months. == Do == First Friday. Every month. Find art galleries open to strolling passersby with music and food offered for free. 1 Splash Montana, 3001 Bancroft (in Playfair Park), ☏ +1 406-542-WAVE (9283). Jun-Aug. City owned waterpark. Three 3-story waterslides, lazy river, play structures plus Olympic sized pool. Café and grill. $4.25-8. (updated Aug 2023) 2 Missoula Paddleheads, 700 Cregg Ln, ☏ +1 406 543-3300. Enjoy a Pioneer League baseball game at Orgren Park at Allegiance Field. (updated Aug 2023) MOBASH Skatepark. Lit at night and featuring a cradle, Built by Grindline. === Outdoors === Missoulians enjoy a range of outdoor activities including hiking, rafting, "tubing", rock climbing, skiing, fishing, golfing, and just about any other activity that can be done outside. It's no wonder—in Missoula you can take a city bus to within walking distance of federally designated wilderness area. After hiking and returning to town, you can visit the historic downtown and enjoy some fantastic local food and drink. 3 Blue Mountain Disc Golf, Blue Mountain Rd (take either Hwy 365 east or River Pines Rd west to intersect the street). 18 holes of disc golf on a very hilly, wooded course. Cross the street to take the Maclay Flat Nature Trail. For a beginner course try Meadow Hill Middle School (4210 S Reserve St). Free. (updated Aug 2023) 4 Fort Missoula Regional Park, 3250 Fort Missoula Rd, ☏ +1 406-552-6000. City park and sport complex. There are tennis courts, pickleball courts, outdoor fitness center, lawn volleyball, disc golf at this 156-acre park. Plus 3 playgrounds and a dog park. (updated Aug 2023) 5 Pattee Canyon Recreation Area, County Rd 533 (7½ miles SE of town, off Pattee Canyon Rd, look for sign), ☏ +1 406-329-3814. Open year-round during daylight. Extensive trail system covering 27 miles is open to any non-motorized use. Used by cross-country skiers in winter. Nearby disc golf course. Picnic area with vault toilets, but no water, at trailhead. Free. (updated Aug 2023) Kim Williams Trail. This trail is an easy way to appreciate the Clark Fork River. 6 Mt. Sentinel (east edge of town). Mt. Sentinel offers a scenic trail system. A trail starting at the University of Montana leads 700 feet up the mountainside to the "M," which offers great views of the city. More adventurous hikers may continue another 1400 feet to the peak of Mount Sentinel, which offers great views of the city, the Rattlesnake Wilderness to the north, and Mount Jumbo to the north. Those with binoculars may perceive the ancient shoreline of Lake Missoula on Mount Jumbo, marking the edge of an enormous ice-age lake. One can also take the trail off the backside of Mt. Sentinel, which zig-zags down crossing the parasailing jeep road a few times to a sign which shows the lovely trail down thru forest on Sentinel's north side that ends at the old railroad tracks, now the Kim Williams hike/bike trail, and then back to the parking lot at the "M" trails base. Doing the loop in reverse is also very pleasant. 7 Rattlesnake National Recreation Area (Rattlesnake Wilderness) (from I-90 exit 105, head north on Van Buren St, which turns into Rattlesnake Dr, and continue for 3 miles). There are more than 73 miles of hiking trails in the recreation area, many of which are also open to horseback riders, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers. Free. === Winter sports === 8 Montana Snowbowl, 1700 Snow Bowl Rd (north of Missoula). 950 lift-served acres at 7,600 ft (2,300 m), a great place to ski that is very affordable. Pattee Canyon has Nordic ski trails groomed regularly when there's enough snow by the Missoula Nordic Ski Club, for skating and classic techniques with mostly easy flat terrain, though it's often icy. Lolo Pass, 45 miles southwest of Missoula, has good Nordic ski trails groomed on weekends, which offer excellent classic and skating tracks. === Events === Music and food festivals at Caras Park, Wednesday mid-day and Thursday evenings over the summer Montana International Choral Festival. July. Western Montana Fair. August. River City Roots Festival. September. == Buy == Thanks largely to the city's vibrant arts community, the downtown offers a wide variety of unique shops. Visit on a Saturday between May to October if possible, when there is a street and farmer's market stretching across downtown Higgins Ave. The best stores feature local goods from Montana artisans. 1 Worden's Market, 451 N Higgins Ave (Downtown). One of the best places to buy obscure, diverse, and a wide variety of beer. 2 Rockin' Rudy's, 237 Blaine St (near the Hip Strip). This is a local curio store, selling a wide variety of gifts and souvenirs including vinyl records and CDs, handmade jewelry, clothing and gag gifts. 3 The Sports Exchange, 1320 S Third St W. The Sports Exchange Missoula is a long-trusted purveyor of quality second-hand sporting goods. 4 Southgate Mall, 2901 Brooks St, ☏ +1 406-721-5140, ShopSouthgate@wpgus.com. M-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 11AM-6PM. Missoula's only indoor shopping center, Southgate Mall is home to many great shops and local restaurants. Games, shopping, and great food can all be found here. (updated Feb 2025) == Eat == 1 Greek Pastry Shop - #1 Gyros, 520 S 5th St W. Run by a Greek family, #1 Gyros can be quite crowded around lunch time. Tasty french fries. 2 Bridge Pizza, 600 S Higgins Ave. Unusual pizzas sold by the slice. 3 El Diablo, 1429 S Higgins Ave. Another excellent burrito restaurant. The only burrito shop in town that cooks their meat fresh. 4 Good Food Store, 1600 S 3rd St W. Missoula's answer to Whole Foods. Sells natural, organic, and specialty foods in its grocery store and includes a small deli serving prepared meals. 5 Iron Horse Brew Pub, 501 N Higgins Ave. Modern restaurant with good American food that turns into a popular sports bar at night. 6 The Old Post, 103 W Spruce St. Great food, great microbrews, great live music, and terrible lighting--this place has "atmosphere" written all over it. Excellent vegan and vegetarian dishes. Try the weekend brunch. The lunch-only "Reccession Special" is a local favorite. 7 The Oxford Cafe, 337 N Higgins Ave, ☏ +1 406-549-0117. 24 hours. Diner style food in a business continuously open for so long that it prides itself on having lost its keys. Friendly staff, live poker, and cheap drinks. The chicken fried steak with JJ's gravy is amazing. Those looking for an authentic Missoula experience should check out this place. $8-10. (updated Feb 2018) 8 Taco Del Sol, 420 N Higgins Ave. Large burritos. Where many locals grab a quick bite. 9 Taco Sano, 115 1/2 4th St W. Locally owned burrito shop, good combination of value and quality. Dubbed Taco Sysco, after the name of the food distribution company the restaurant gets its frozen meat from. Wordens Deli. Full-service deli, coffee, wine, and groceries. Missoula's first grocery store, Wordens opened in 1883 and has been a Missoula staple ever since. Wicked Philly is a local favorite. == Drink == 1 Black Coffee Roasting, 201 E Main, ☏ +1 406-541-3700, info@blackcoffeeroastingco.com. M-Sa 7AM-2PM, closed Su. Organic coffee from around the globe. Roasted locally. (updated Jul 2023) 2 Drum Coffee, 600 South Ave W, ☏ +1 406 721-3786, drumcoffeemt@gmail.com. Daily 7AM-3PM. Baker making items in-house. Locally roasted coffee. Has second location at 1000 E Broadway. (updated Jul 2023) Liquid Planet. A very unique all-beverage store and organic coffee shop with a one-of-a-kind 10 foot high wooden globe that houses wine. 3 Plonk Wine, 322 N. Higgins Ave, ☏ +1 406-926-1791, toll-free: +1-406-926-1793, ben@plonkwine.com. Daily 3PM–after midnight. A fun, delicious hip restaurant in an art-filled brick dining room. The roof patio is a cool and pleasant retreat on hot days. An extensive list of wines by the glass. Good vegetarian options. Entrees $15-30. (updated Aug 2017) === Microbreweries === Missoula has a large selection of microbreweries. Most have limited hours and can only serve 3 pints due to tasting room regulations in Montana. 4 Bayern Brewing, 1507 Montana St, ☏ +1 406-721-1482. 11AM-8PM daily. Specializes in German lagers. Edelweiss Bistro offers food on-site. (updated Jul 2023) 5 Big Sky Brewery, 5417 Trumpeter Way, ☏ +1 406-549-2777. M-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su noon-6PM. Distributes to multiple states. Their most famous brew is called "Moose Drool", but all are good. Visit the taproom for specialty brews not distributed elsewhere. (updated Jul 2023) 6 Conflux Brewing, 210 N Pattee (downtown), ☏ +1 406-926-3589. Tu-Sa noon-9:30PM. With outdoor seating, balcony views. Large space. Southern inspired food menu. (updated Jul 2023) 7 Cranky Sam Public House, 233 W Main St, ☏ +1 406-540-4325. Noon-close daily. Fresh beers and curated wine list. 8 flagship beers. Rotating food trucks or bring in food from wherever. Live events. (updated Jul 2023) 8 Draught Works Brewing, 915 Toole Ave, ☏ +1 406-541-1592, info@draughtworksbrewery.com. Noon to 9PM, no pint sales after 8PM. Local brewery making mostly ales. Also has rootbeer and ginger ale. Brewing is done right behind the main bar so patrons can watch. Has patio and features local bands. (updated Jul 2023) 9 Highlander TapHouse, 200 International Dr, ☏ +1 406-549-8193. Daily, Noon to 8PM. Outdoor seating right by Grant Creek. 12 craft beers on tap, live music, pizza. (updated Jul 2023) 10 Kettle House, 5225 W Broadway. noon-8PM daily. A much smaller neighborhood brewery, with excellent beers as well. Their Cold Smoke Scotch Ale can be found in most Montana bars. (updated Jul 2023) === Wine === 11 Ten Spoon Vineyard, 4175 Rattlesnake Dr. A local favorite. (updated Jun 2017) == Sleep == 1 Goldsmith's Bed and Breakfast, 803 E Front St (across the river from University of Montana Campus), ☏ +1 406-728-1585, toll-free: +1-866-666-9945, goldsmithsbandb@gmail.com. Located on the banks of the Clark Fork River. Missoula's oldest, and original B & B. Original 1910 home, saved from demolition in 1989 and fully restored. Full breakfast, Wi-Fi, cable. Three Diamond AAA rating, member Montana B and B Association. (updated Aug 2017) 2 Blue Mountain B&B, 6980 Deadman Gulch Rd, ☏ +1 406-251-4457, toll-free: +1-877-251-4457, stay@bluemountainbb.com. Bed and breakfast, nestled on the mountainside among Ponderosa Pines and meditative water gardens. (updated Aug 2017) 3 C'Mon Inn, 2775 Expo Parkway, ☏ +1 406-543-4600, toll-free: +1-888-989-5569, fax: +1 406 543-4664. (updated Aug 2017) 4 Doubletree Missoula Edgewater, 100 Madison (across the river from University of Montana Campus), ☏ +1 406-728-3100. On the Clark Fork River with a view of the mountains. Contains a restaurant, the Finn and Porter, which serves fresh steaks, seafood, and chops. (updated Aug 2017) 5 La Quinta Missoula, 5059 N. Reserve St, ☏ +1 406-549-9000. (updated Aug 2017) 6 Holiday Inn Missoula, 200 S Pattee St (downtown, next to Caras Park), ☏ +1 406-721-8550, toll-free: +1-877-863-4780. As a full-service hotel, HI Missoula offers an indoor pool, fitness center, and on-site restaurant. (updated Aug 2017) 7 Broadway Inn Conference Center, 1609 West Broadway (at Russell St), ☏ +1 406-532-3300, toll-free: +1-800-286-2316, fax: +1-406-728-1930. (updated Aug 2017) 8 Shady Spruce Hostel, 204 E Spruce St, ☏ +1 406-285-1197, help@shadysprucehostel.com. Missoula's only hostel. Kitchen, on-site storage, free Wi-Fi, and guest computer available. Dorms $35+, privates $55+. (updated Aug 2017) == Connect == The public library on Main Street has special talks and presentations, about Montanan history, for example. There is also a movie 'Cheap date' night with popcorn and a drop-in Scrabble Club Monday evenings. == Go next == Missoula's immediate surroundings offer a wide array of activities for all seasons, including the outdoor recreation afforded by vast tracts of public lands, the Old West flavor of several nearby ghost towns, several ski slopes, and a range of unique Montana businesses. Lolo and Lolo Pass is where you can find more Lewis and Clark history, good Nordic skiing and a series of rustic hot springs on the way to Idaho. Garnet Ghost Town, about an hour's drive east on MT-200, is the closest significant ghost town to Missoula. Maintained by the Bureau of Land Management in a state of suspended decay, the small mining camp of Garnet is an open-air museum of gold rush life on the frontier. It is only accessible by car during the summer and early fall, but two cabins in the town are rented through the winter to adventurous skiers or snowmobilers. Glacier National Park is three hours' drive north on US-93.