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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Give Missoula 2 nights as a base for the Rattlesnake and the Clark Fork, or 1 night if you are only passing through on I-90.
Missoula sits at the hub of five valleys in western Montana, about 118 mi west of Butte and 165 mi east of Coeur d'Alene on I-90. It is a university town with a walkable downtown, a river running through it, and trailheads you can reach by city bus. Most travellers use it as a two-night stop between Glacier and Yellowstone, or as a base for fly fishing and hiking.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Missoula, Montana
- Best months
- Jun–Sep, Dec–Mar for skiing
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug wildfire smoke (check air quality), Jan–Feb cold snaps
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–110 excl. bed · Mid $120–190 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Burrito or pizza slice | $8–15 |
| Craft beer: draught in a brewpub / can at a store | $6–9 / $2–4 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or rideshare3.1 mi (5 km) taxi or rideshare | $12–18 |
| Museum entry (Missoula Art Museum) | Free |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $10–25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MSO · Missoula International Airport
- About 7 mi northwest of downtown on W Broadway; Mountain Line route 11 connects to the downtown Lewis & Clark Transit Center.
Typical fares
- MSO airport → downtown, rideshare
- $25–40, about 15 min
- Mountain Line bus, single ride
- $1–2, day pass about $4
- Downtown → Rattlesnake trailhead, bus
- Route 11 or 2, about 20 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Downtown is walkable. Mountain Line buses cover the city and reach the Rattlesnake trailhead; a car is better for the surrounding valleys and the airport. Rideshare and taxis serve the airport.
See and do
Known for
- Clark Fork River and Caras Park
- University of Montana and the M trail
- Rattlesnake National Recreation Area
- Craft breweries and the Saturday farmers market
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Seeley Lake | Drive Highway 83 north, about 1 h | About 1 h 15 min |
| Lolo Pass | Drive US-12 southwest, about 45 mi | About 1 h |
| Flathead Lake and Whitefish | Drive US-93 north, about 2 h to Whitefish | 2–2.5 h |
| Glacier National Park (West Glacier) | Drive US-2 northeast, about 2 h 30 min | About 3 h |
Sleep
- Downtown / Higgins Avenue
- Walk to Caras Park, restaurants and the farmers market; best for a car-free stay.
- University District
- Tree-lined streets near the UM campus and the M trail; quieter, 15–20 min walk to downtown.
- Reserve Street / Brooks Street
- Chain hotels and big-box stores south of downtown; you need a car for everything.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the trailhead? | Where is the trailhead? |
| Is there a shuttle to the airport? | Is there a shuttle to the airport? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet? |
| Thank you | Thank you |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer wildfire smoke can cancel hiking plans: check air quality before you commit to a long trail.
- Winter roads and mountain passes can close; carry chains or check conditions on I-90 and Highway 93.
- Some trailheads have no water and limited parking; go early on weekends.
Missoula is a safe small city; the real risks are summer wildfire smoke, winter driving on mountain passes and fast-moving river water. Lock your car at trailheads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Missoula yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Clark Fork River and Caras Park
- University of Montana and the M trail
- Rattlesnake National Recreation Area
- Craft breweries and the Saturday farmers market
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Missoula official city website: www.ci.missoula.mt.us/
- Missoula International Airport: flymissoula.com/
- Mountain Line bus schedules: www.mountainline.com/maps-schedules/
- Missoula Downtown Association: www.missouladowntown.com/
- Wikivoyage: Missoula, revision 5324007 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5324007
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
MissoulaMissoula, Montana
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No embassies in Missoula; most countries have consulates in Denver or Seattle and embassies in Washington, DC.
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/missoula). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.