Missoula, The Hub of the Five Valleys, is a beautiful green city located in Western Montana. It’s a great place to visit – especially if you’re travelling during the summer months where you can camp and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
Missoula, also known as The Garden City, is a beautiful city tucked away in Montana where outdoor adventures are right outside your front door!
We’re not kidding when we say as soon as you set foot in the Garden City you will fall in love with the vibe you get. It’s essentially a university city so it’s a very young and energetic vibe!
This energy spreads from the university to the cafes, restaurants, and the rest of the city. The city thrives on this and it’s probably why one of the slogans in this city is “Keep Missoula Weird”.
Let’s dive into everything there is to do in Missoula including some budget-friendly activities.
There’s the local M Trail hike we absolutely loved, a few cafes and restaurants, plus some other activities you have to do while you’re visiting Missoula.
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9 fun and unique things to do in Missoula
The city itself has a quirky feel to it which makes the city very unique in its own weird way. It’s no coincidence that all over Missoula you will see stickers and signs saying “Keep Missoula Weird”.
Along with all the funky shops and places you will find in the city, it may be the outdoor activities that you can find outside the city where you will see why Missoula is an outdoor paradise!
Having the Clark Fork River run through the city also gives endless possibilities for outdoor activities.
Mix in the mountains surrounding Missoula and you get the perfect mix of exciting city life and adventurous outdoors.
#1 Local M hike near the University of Missoula
The M trail is a very nice hike located just on the outskirts of the city right next to the Football stadium and the University of Missoula.
It’s a great short switchback hike right on the outskirts of Missoula and close to the university if you’re looking to take in some great views.
If that’s not enough for you then you can continue hiking up the mountain and you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views!
You can also hike to the L (another great hike in Missoula!) which offers similar views but from a different side of the city. You’ll get an awesome view of the famous M sign from up there as well.
For the hike that we have done though you can see the trail guide for the M trail. It has everything from the starting point, the length of the hike, and everything else you may need to know about the trail.
#2 Hike up the L trail in Missoula
The L trail is another great local hike around Missoula that will bring you up Mt Jumbo where you’ll see wildflowers and views of Missoula.
Another great perk of this hike is that it combines with other trails and allows you to keep hiking if you feel like you haven’t had enough!
#3 Go for Happy Hour at a local brewery in Missoula
Conflux Brewing Company
Conflux Brewing Company place has a great variation of its own IPA beers along with awesome happy hour options.
You can get a burger with a side and a beer for $10 between 3:30-5:30 – and it’s great. Especially on a beautiful sunny day you want to go here since you can go outside and sit on one of their two patios.
Fun fact: Conflux has been doing their happy hour burger and beer for $10 since they opened! The burger toppings change weekly and they usually post their offer on their Instagram account.
KettleHouse Brewing Company
If you’re looking for a real Montana experience then KettleHouse Brewing Company is the place to go.
Stop by for Happy Hour and enjoy one of their home-brewed beers.
From the malted barley to the water, it is all from Montana. A great way to support the locals!
The Old Post
The Old Post gives you a great old-school Western feel with great happy hour deals.
Stop by between 4-6 pm and enjoy their Happy Hour! On Wednesdays, they have an all-day Happy Hour!
For delicious pub brunch, this is the best spot!
#4 Try some delicious coffee in downtown Missoula
Break Espresso
The Break is an awesome coffee shop right in the heart of downtown Missoula which we absolutely love.
The cafe has an open concept with plenty of room and incredible wifi. There were a few days we spent most of the day working at The Break getting work done and writing about our Missoula adventures.
We spent a few days there catching up with work, writing about white water rafting in Missoula, and planning our US road trip.
It’s a great spot if you need some place to get some work done and enjoy a cup of coffee.
The Black Coffee Roasting Company
A super cool local coffee roasting company based in Missoula is The Black Coffee Roaching Company.
The coffee shop itself is located inside a hanger which gives it this twerky but modern feel (we thought this was really cool) and the coffee is so tasty.
Another cool thing about The Black Coffee Company is that the roasting is done right in the back and you can basically see it while you’re sipping on your cup of Joe.
If you’re lucky enough they may still have some of their freshly baked bread for sale (the bread is a little pricey but so good).
Hunter Bay Coffee Bar
This is more of a modern-looking coffee shop that we were recommended by a bunch of local people.
It’s in a great location downtown and right next to it you have beautiful views of the Clark Fork River.
#5 Get lost in some bars and museums around Missoula
- The Oxford Bar
- Rockin’ Rudy’s
- The Holt Heritage Museum
These bars and museums in Missoula are just a few local strange places to visit. They’re another example of why everyone says Missoula is a little weird and quirky but we love it!
The Oxford bar is open 24/7 so you will see your fair share of interesting people in the bar. A unique experience to say the least!
Next up is Rockin Rudy’s where you can find everything and anything and we’re not kidding. It’s the perfect place to buy a souvenir or a random nic nac for a family member. Definitely worth a visit!
We got completely lost in the store just looking at all the random gadgets, toys, and souvenirs they had!
Lastly, is the Holt Heritage Museum which is the oldest collection of Western memorabilia in the country. If you’re a history buff or just want to see some old ass stuff then Holt Heritage Museum is perfect!
Keep Missoula weird! 😉
If you guys find other random quirky shops and buildings to add to the list please let us know in the comments. Feel free to DM us on Instagram as well!
Our goal is to help the community to keep Missoula weird and there’s no better way than sharing its weirdness with the world! 😉
#6 Check out the University of Montana and the surrounding parks
We already mentioned this place but the university, campus, and its parks are all so green, lush and absolutely worth checking out.
There are also lots of great city hikes in Missoula that start around there (including the M trail)!
Also, there’s free wifi if you need to get some work done on campus!
#7 Day trip from Missoula to hike Lolo Peak
Lolo Peak is an amazing day trip hike from Missoula. It’s a lot more challenging than the M and L trails and takes a full day to do.
It’s an out-and-back trail with a beautiful lake that you will walk by and get views from above as well.
Here are the directions to get you to Lolo Peak trailhead.
#8 River Rafting down the Clark Fork
One of the most fun day activities you can do around Missoula is whitewater rafting down the Clark Fork River.
Either with a group of friends or with an awesome tour company like Wiley E Waters there’s no way you won’t have an adventure going down the river. We loved it and will hopefully be back one day to go again! 🙂
It’s an awesome full-day activity that can be done anytime from late spring until early fall. Thanks to the Clark Fork River there are some awesome opportunities for rafting.
#9 Good bite to eat in Missoula
The Market on Front
If you like breakfast burritos this place is not to miss out on. The Market on Front makes the most delicious breakfast burrito.
Just make sure to stop by before noon as that’s when the breakfast menu finishes. It’s located right in the heart of downtown, so grab your burrito to go and enjoy exploring the city!
Top Hat Lounge
If you’re looking for a delicious dinner Top Hat Lounge is the place to go. Their burgers are exceptional. The Top Hat partners with local farmers and you can definitely see the difference compared to a regular burger.
They also have many other healthy options if you’re craving something else than a burger. It’s a great place to stop for lunch or dinner.
Where to stay in Missoula
There are all sorts of different options if you want to stay in Missoula. You can pick between staying at a hostel, in a hotel, on one of the cool campsites, or even trying out RV Rental.
Hostel in Missoula
🛌 Shady Spruce Hostel
💰 Prices: Start at 60 USD for a mixed-bed dorm
👉🏼 Click here to check it out
Located right downtown Missoula is this old-school American-styled house that has been converted into a hostel.
The hostel also offers bikes to roam around the city and when you’re done exploring you can go back and kick it on one of the hammocks in the yard.
The dorm itself is very clean and modern with bunk beds in the bedrooms and a cozy living room to relax if you need to sit back and just use some wifi to get your work done!
Airbnb’s in Missoula
We didn’t stay at an Airbnb when we were in Missoula but we found two different options that we would definitely stay at if we were to go back!
Check out option 1 here and option 2 here.
Camping in Missoula
There are a bunch of different options for camping in Missoula:
- You can actually stay at Walmart for free
- You can also check out Free Campsites to find other spots in Missoula
- Koa campsite is perfect for lodging, van life, staying in a tent, and RVs – and it’s pet friendly.
- You can also look at RV rentals to see if there’s anything in Missoula.
Other related questions about Missoula
Is Missoula worth visiting?
Missoula is a very fun and vibrant city! If you want a taste of the outdoors with a bit of quirky to it then you will love Missoula.
The city of Missoula has a fun downtown area but also so much to do on the outskirts of the city like go hiking, rafting, and all sorts of other outdoor activities.
Why is Missoula called Zoo Town?
In short, it’s because Missoula is quite the party city in Montana. Home to the U of M and home too many young students, Missoula truly is a party city. When ya think of Missoula you truly think of a Zoo Town!
How digital nomad friendly is this city?
Missoula is GREAT if you’re looking to get some work done and need some wifi or if you have a few days off and are ready to enjoy what the city has to offer.
Both the university and the cafes in the city are GREAT places to get some work done since the wifi is very fast.
The University of Montana is open to the public and free to use so it’s definitely worth going there for a couple of hours.
It’s a beautiful university with a huge park, trees, and super pretty buildings. Once you’re done with your work, you can go hiking in Missoula up the M trail (see details further down the post).
You may also like…
- The Best Whitewater River Rafting Trip in Missoula
- Hiking in Missoula – The M Trail via Mount Sentinel
- 7 Ways to Save Money on Accommodation While Traveling
- 7 Fun Things to Do Wherever You Go
- Working Nomads – How to Travel and Work Offline
Recap of the best things to do in Missoula
We hope you end up enjoying your visit as much as we did. If you’re travelling around the states on a budget or just exploring new places, make sure to add Missoula to your list.
If you end up finding some other fun things to do or places to visit in Missoula please reach out and less us know!
Any questions about Missoula, from the places to eat, to some local hikes, then feel free to reach out to us on Instagram or leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you.
But for now, all we can do is continue to keep Missoula weird! 😉
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Many thanks you two! Missoula can be a tough nut to crack for visitors and your work here can only help resolve things, in short order.
Safe journeys ahead.
Shady Spruce Staff
Yeah, we were surprised it wasn’t more touristy for how amazing the city is!! Hopefully this post will help a bit on attracting people to Missoula. We’re sure it will be a hotspot one day 😉
– Jo & Dom
Great post! I love that you guys always find fab places to hike on your travels, but Missoula looks like a fab place to explore in town as well.
Do you know why they put a giant M on the mountain? I guess it is for Missoula, rather than having 26 letters on all the mountains in alphabetical order!? (I did wonder when you said you can hike to L as well…
Hey Josy! Thank you 🙂 Yes, we try to always go somewhere to get the best views possible and we love being active so it’s a win/win situation 😉 The M stands for Montana actually as it’s right next to the university of Montana (located in Missoula) but over time the M has also become a symbol of Missoula as it’s been there for over 100 years! The L represents Loyola Sacred Heart Catholic High School!
– Jo
Montana is one of my favorite states!! It’s so beautiful, but we have not had to opportunity to visit Missoula yet. Clearly, we will now be adding it to our list!!! Shady Spruce looks like a perfect place to stay and hiking to the “M” sounds like a lot of fun. I didn’t also didn’t know about Holt Heritage Museum, we’d like to visit it for sure.
Montana is such a beautiful state – totally underrated if you ask us! And yes, you should definitely visit Missoula some day 🙂 3-5 days is a good amount of time! If you’re planning on visiting Glacier National Park you could potentially add the trips together. It’s only a 2.5 hour drive to Missoula from there.
– Dom & Jo
Looks like a beautiful hike up to the L. I’m dying to visit Montana so I’ll keep this in mind for a future visit.
Hey Natasha, these images are actually from the M trail but it’s beautiful that’s for sure (I can see why it seems misleading). But yes, Missoula is totally worth a visit 🙂
– Jo
I spent a week in Missoula when we were RVing and really enjoyed it, such a cute town and lots to do in the area.
That’s really fun! First traveler I’ve heard about who went here too 🙂 What was your favorite part?
– Jo