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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 taxi or rideshare3.1 mi 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
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.