Missoula

River city with mountain backdrop

Montana’s Missoula stands out as a mid-sized city surrounded by mountains and rivers. The downtown area features local shops, cafes and art galleries alongside public spaces where people gather for outdoor events. The Clark Fork River runs through town, supporting biking trails and seasonal festivals. Nearby national forests provide easy access to hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing. Missoula’s community focuses on small-town life with a strong sense of local culture, making it a practical base for exploring the region without feeling overwhelmed by crowds or high costs.

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City in United States

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.4

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

Read details

5/5

English is the native language in Missoula, and all locals speak it fluently. Visitors will have no trouble communicating with residents, businesses, and service providers throughout the city and surrounding areas.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Missoula Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

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Great for outdoor adventure and river activities. Float scenic rivers, hike nearby mountains, cycle trails and enjoy lively college-town culture.

Place score

7.3

Best at:

Spotless

Cosy towns

Mountains

Rivers

Natural sites

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

❤️ 8

Couples

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Missoula, United States

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Dec

High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	Jan. - March, May, Sep. - Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	4 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Wildfire smoke can hit hard from July to September, affecting views and outdoor plans

Whitewater rafting peaks late May to early July, fishing is best after runoff

Montana Snowbowl ski season runs roughly December to early April

Don't miss

🛶 Float down the Clark Fork River through downtown Missoula
🥾 Hike the "M" Trail for sweeping valley views
🍺 Explore local craft breweries and taste Montana ales
🧺 Visit the eclectic Missoula Farmers Market on a Saturday morning
🎵 Attend a summer concert at the KettleHouse Amphitheater
🦌 Spot wildlife and hike in Rattlesnake National Recreation Area

You've been here?

Why travel to Missoula?

Missoula perfectly balances outdoor adventure with cultural experiences. One day you can be hiking up Mount Sentinel for panoramic views of the city or floating down the Clark Fork River that runs right through downtown and the next you can be gallery-hopping during First Friday art walks or catching an indie film at The Roxy. The city has this wonderful laid-back college town atmosphere with a genuine artistic soul. What makes Missoula special is how accessible everything is - you can literally walk from downtown to trailheads and within minutes of leaving the city center, you can be in wilderness areas. The locals are incredibly friendly and passionate about their community. Just be aware that winters can be quite harsh with significant snowfall and summer tourism can make some popular outdoor spots crowded. Also, navigating the city by car can be confusing for first-time visitors due to the somewhat unusual street layout.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
2 Missoula Art Museum
3 Garnet
4 A Carousel for Missoula
5 Missoula Smokejumper Visitor Center
6 Caras Park
7 The Roxy Theater

🎡Places for activities

1 Brennan’s Wave
2 Free Cycles
3 Lolo Hot Springs

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Clark Fork
2 Mount Sentinel
3 Mount Jumbo
4 Blue Mountain
5 Farviews / Pattee Canyon
6 Blackfoot River Bridge
7 Mount Dean Stone
8 Lolo National Forest

🛍️Shopping

1 Missoula Farmer's Market
2 The Book Exchange
3 Southgate Mall

🎈Events

First Friday Art Walks
River City Roots Festival
International Wildlife Film Festival
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Montana Book Festival
Garden City BrewFest
Out to Lunch Summer Series
Freshman Float
Western Montana Fair

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Hike the M Trail. Iconic University of Montana landmark.
Watch kayakers surf Brennan's Wave on Clark Fork River from Caras Park.
Visit Smokejumper Visitor Center summers to see firefighters' parachute gear displays.
Catch Grizzlies football games at Washington-Grizzly Stadium for electric college atmosphere.

How to travel to Missoula

Missoula is served by Missoula Montana Airport with connections to major U.S. cities. The city is also accessible by car via Interstate 90, which runs east-west through Montana. Greyhound bus service connects Missoula to other major cities and Amtrak's Empire Builder route stops in Whitefish, about 130 miles north of Missoula. Once in the region, rental cars are available for exploring the surrounding wilderness areas.

Access summary

From Missoula Airport (MSO): Taxi, rideshare or bus, about 10–25 minutes.
From Spokane: Drive I‑90 east through Idaho mountains, roughly 3 hours.
From Bozeman: Scenic I‑90 drive over Rockies, usually around 2.5–3 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Missoula

Missoula offers a diverse range of accommodations to suit various budgets and preferences. Downtown hotels provide convenient access to restaurants, shops and cultural attractions, while properties near the University of Montana campus offer a more collegiate atmosphere. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are several options near trailheads and wilderness areas. The city also has a growing number of vacation rentals and B&Bs that provide a more local experience.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Broadway Inn Conference Center Missoula

8.1

Comfort Inn Missoula near University

9.0

Staybridge Suites Missoula By IHG

9.3

Best Western Plus Grant Creek Inn

8.9

Days Inn and Suites by Wyndham Downtown Missoula-University

7.8

La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Missoula

8.3

Sleep Inn Missoula Southgate

8.5

Red Lion Inn and Suites Missoula

6.3

Edgewater Missoula, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

8.9

Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown At The Park By IHG

9.1

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Missoula

Getting around Missoula can be a bit confusing for first-time visitors by car, but the city offers excellent alternatives. The public bus system is efficient and even runs to wilderness areas outside town. Downtown and the University area are very walkable and Missoula is known for being bicycle-friendly with numerous dedicated paths, including the scenic River Trail that spans both sides of the Clark Fork River.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-4 %

Daily expenses in Missoula are around 4% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£82	£166	£418
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£45	£90	£188
🍝 Food per day	£28	£67	£197
🚕 Transportation per day	£9	£9	£33

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£29
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£11.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£7
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£3.50
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.40

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.30
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£19
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£9
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£70
🤧 Cold medication	£6.50
💇 Basic haircut	£14

Safety information overview

General safety

Missoula is generally safe with low violent crime rates. Exercise normal precautions in downtown areas at night. When hiking or engaging in outdoor activities, be aware of wildlife including bears and changing weather conditions.

Health & Medical

Missoula has good medical facilities including St. Patrick Hospital and Community Medical Center. The city is a regional medical hub for western Montana. Altitude adjustment may affect some visitors, so stay hydrated, especially during outdoor activities.

Accessibility

Downtown Missoula and the University area are relatively accessible with sidewalks and public transportation. However, many outdoor attractions involve uneven terrain and trails that may be challenging for those with mobility issues.

Tap water

Tap water in Missoula is safe to drink and of high quality. The city's water comes from the Missoula Valley Aquifer, which is naturally filtered. Bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated during outdoor activities.