Missoula

Missoula is a medium size city in Western Montana with a population of about 70,000. The hub of five valleys in the northwest region of the state, or Glacier Country, the town boasts the University of Montana, the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area, and a multitude of recreational opportunities, along with an active and colorful downtown.

Understand
Missoula
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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. Tip well; they have loans to pay off!

Get in

By plane

🌍 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, Seattle)
* Allegiant (Las Vegas and Phoenix/Mesa; Seasonally from Oakland )
* Delta and Skywest as Delta Connection (Minneapolis-St Paul and Salt Lake City; Seasonally from Atlanta)
* GoJet and Skywest for United Express (Denver)
The following airlines come seasonally or part of the year:
* Frontier (Denver)
* Additional seasonal flights from Denver and Chicago O'Hare on United Airlines.  

There are taxis, rideshare and hotel shuttles to bring you into town locally. There are also car rental available from the airport which is the preferred method for greater flexibility in getting around to the surrounding areas. See this Link for a list of providers an a map indicating pick-up locations. The #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
  • 🌍 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). There's also an additional route north along US Hwy 93 towards Whitefish via multiple towns along the way. Passengers transfer in Butte, Billings, Bozeman and Spokane to get to additional destinations. (updated Jul 2015)
  • Flathead Transit, (Jefferson Lines/Greyhound bus depot) 1660 W Broadway. Bus operated by the Confederated Salish & Kootnai Tribes with the help of Montana Department of Transportation in partnership with Greyhound Lines (as booking agent) for travel up to Whitefish through Avaro, Arlee, Ravalli, St Ignatius, Pablo, Paulson, Lakeside and Kalispell along US Hwy 93. $31 one way. (updated Sep 2018)

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
Overview of the Missoula city center

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 - 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. The Kim Williams Trail, which follows the waterfront, is an easy way to appreciate the former. Tubing, rafting, and canoe/kayaking are also good options in the summer.

Mt. Sentinel, on the east side of town, 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.

Manmade scenic attractions include the Missoula carousel in Caras Park, the historic courthouse with eight original murals by E.S. Paxson, and several fine art galleries. Lastly, if you enjoy history, both of Missoula's historic railroad stations still stand, preserved, and in use. One, built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad is used by the Boone & Crockett Club and the other built by the Northern Pacific Railway is used as office space by local businesses and home of the Missoula Farmer's Market during the summer months.

  • Missoula Art Museum, 335 N Pattee, ☎ +1 406 728-0447. T-Sa 10-1700. 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 Nov 2015)
  • 🌍 Montana Museum of Art & Culture. (updated Mar 2018)

Do

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.

Summer cultural events include: the International Choral Festival, next scheduled for summer 2012, the River Roots Music Festival, Farmer's markets (three) every Saturday morning. Music and food festivals at Caras Park (off Higgins on the banks of the Clark Fork) Wednesday lunches and Thursday evenings and the Western Montana Fair in August.

Snowbowl, at 7,600 feet, is a great place to ski that is very affordable.

Year-round 'First Friday' finds art galleries open to strolling passersby with music and food offered for free.

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.

Buy

Thanks largely to the city's vibrant arts community, the downtown offers a wide variety of unique shops. Visit on a Saturday if possible, when there is a street market and farm market.

The Sports Exchange Missoula is a long-trusted purveyor of quality second-hand sporting goods, at 1320 S. Third St. W., by the Higgins Street Bridge at the end of the Hip Strip, downtown. Larger outdoor gear stores are available on Reserve Street, domain of Missoula's big box stores.

The best stores feature local goods from Montana artisans.

  • Worden's. Downtown Missoula, one of the best places to buy obscure, diverse, and pretty much any beer you could possibly want. 

Eat
  • #1 Gyros. Run by a Greek family, #1 Gyros can be quite crowded around lunch time. Best french fries in town. 
  • The Bridge. Unusual pizzas sold by the slice. $2.50-3.50 a slice. 
  • El Diablo. Another excellent burrito restaurant. Burritos cost around 7 bucks, but worth it. The only burrito shop in town that cooks their meat fresh. 
  • The Good Food Store. Missoula's answer to Whole Foods. Sells natural, organic, and specialty foods in its grocery store and includes a small deli serving prepared meals. 
  • The Iron Horse. Modern restaurant with good American food (expect to pay $7-10 for lunch dishes and $15-20 for dinner) that turns into a popular sports bar at night. 
  • 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. 
  • 🌍 Lolo Creek Steak House, Highway 12 West, Lolo, Mt (Hwy 12 West or US 93 South 10 miles to Lolo, turn right on Hwy 12 west, about 200 m on the right), ☎ +1 406-273-2622. Great steaks, in Lolo on the Lewis and Clark trail. N46 45.406 W114 5.142 USD15. 
  • 🌍 Lumberjack Saloon (Jack Restaurant & Saloon), 2000 Graves Creek Road, Lolo, MT 59847 (follow Hwy 12 West from Lolo, MT towards Idaho, about 16 miles, turn right on Graves Creek Rd. about 1.3 miles), ☎ +1 406-273-6264. Great saloon in Lolo National Forest. $10. 
  • The Old Post. 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. 
  • The Oxford, 337 N Higgins Ave Missoula, MT 59802-4537, ☎ +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 JJs gravy is amazing. Those looking for an authentic Missoula experience should check out this place. $8-10. (updated Feb 2018)
  • Pita Pit. Downtown on Higgins, open until 3AM seven nights a week. Come here late night to observe frat boys and hipsters at their worst. 
  • Scotty's Table. An American bistro. French bistro in the heart of Missoula. Indoor and outdoor (seasonal) seating on the park level of the historic Wilma Building 
  • Sean Kelly's. Irish pub. Get the Cheesy chips, best appetizer in town. 
  • Taco Del Sol. Large $5 burritos. Where many of locals grab a quick bite. 
  • Taco Sano. 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. 
  • 🌍 Plonk Wine, 322 N. Higgins Ave, ☎ +1-406-926-1791, toll-free: +1-406-926-1793, e-mail: . Daily 3 PM–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)
  • 🌍 Burns Street Bistro, 1500 Burns Street, ☎ +1-406-543-0719, e-mail: . M–F 7:30AM-2PM, Sa Su 9AM–2PM. A very interesting combination of local, seasonal, creative cuisine with a low-key, high-volume style. Expect a long wait in line for weekend brunch. Order at the counter. Find a seat among the plain-wood tables in the bright, warehouse-like dining room. Pour yourself some water, and enjoy the aromas until your plate is brought to you. Extensive vegetarian and vegan options. Brunch entrees $8. (updated Sep 2017)

Drink

Beer

There are four breweries in the city with public taprooms:

  • Big Sky Brewery. 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. 
  • Bayern Brewing. Specializes in German lagers. 
  • Draught Works Brewing (Local brewery making mostly ales. Also has rootbeer and ginger ale. Brewing is done right behind the main bar so patrons can watch.), 915 Toote Ave, ☎ +1 406 541-1592, e-mail: . Noon to 9PM, no pint sales after 8PM. 
  • Kettle House. Is a much smaller neighborhood brewery, with excellent beers as well. 

Wine

Missoula wineries include:

  • Lolo Peak Winery. For fruit wines. 
  • Ten Spoon Vineyard. Another local favorite. (updated Jun 2017)
  • Lake Missoula Cellars. Tu-Sa noon-7:30PM. Another Great Montana Winery. Tasting Room and Event Center. Complementary tastings. Friday night music and special events. New Bocce Court. 

Sleep

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.

Hamilton, Montana

An hour south of Missoula on US-93, the small town of Hamilton offers several worthwhile attractions and proximity to the spectacular Bitterroot Mountains.

  • Hidden Legend Winery, just to the north of Hamilton on US-93, offers tastings of several varieties of mead (honey wine). The winery also produces dandelion wine.
  • Bitterroot Brewery in Hamilton serves about six of its microbrews on any given date. Their taproom and restaurant also occasionally hosts live music.
  • The Daly Mansion preserves the summer home of mining magnate Marcus Daly, one of Montana's founding fathers.

Hot Springs
  • About 40 minutes' drive southwest of Missoula, the Lolo Hot Springs offer two pools fed by geothermal springs: an outdoor swimming pool and a hotter (110-116 degree) indoor soaking pool. The springs are clothing-optional after 9PM on Wednesday and Sunday nights.
  • More adventurous soakers may prefer to hike out to some natural hot springs just across the Idaho border (about an hour from Missoula). Driving from Montana, the Jerry Johnson hot springs' trailhead will be the first. The trailhead is clearly marked--watch for a suspension bridge crossing the river to your left. The springs themselves are less than a mile hike in, and are large enough to accommodate a couple of dozen people. These springs are also clothing optional. If the springs are packed, as they often are, try hiking a quarter-mile further down the trail to two smaller hot springs.
  • Weir Hot Spring is a smaller hot spring about five miles further down the road from Montana. It is about a mile in on a narrow and hilly trail, which can be treacherously icy in the winter and spring. Although the drive is longer and the hike harder, visitors to Weir are compensated by smaller crowds than at Jerry Johnson. In addition, the Forest Service allows camping at Weir, unlike at Jerry Johnson.

Skiing

Pattee Canyon has Nordic ski trails groomed regularly when there's enough snow by the missoulanordic.org club, for skating and classic techniques with mostly easy flat terrain, though its often icey. Lolo Pass, 45 miles southwest of Missoula, has good Nordic Ski trails groomed Saturday/Sunday early mornings by the Clearwater National Forest contractor, which offer excellent classic and skating tracks. Theres also a warming hut and a staffed lodge at the pass.

Other sites
  • Garnet Ghost Town , about an hour's drive east on MT-200, is the closest significant ghost town to Missoula. Maintained by the BLM 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.
Routes through Missoula

Coeur d'Alene ← Superior ←  W  E  → Deer Lodge → Butte
Lewiston ← Orofino ←  W  E  → Elliston → Helena
Kalispell ← Ravalli ←  N  S  → Hamilton → Salmon
Sandpoint ← Thompson Falls ←  W  E  → Jct S → Sun River → Great Falls


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