Missoula, MT. Some might call it unique, cool or hip. Others will experience it as serene, welcoming and replete with natural beauty. You might see it as vibrant, active and pulsating with places to go and things to do. The beauty of Missoula is that it is all these things and more.
QUICK FACTS:
MISSOULA, MONTANA
FOUNDED: 1864
POPULATION (2024): 74,822
ELEVATION: 3,209 FEET
NICKNAME: THE GARDEN CITY
Nestled in the Northern Rockies of Montana, surrounded by seven wilderness areas and at the confluence of three rivers, Missoula is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. You can kayak, raft or tube through downtown or take a relaxing hike in 60,000 acres of wilderness minutes from your hotel. Missoula is known for its blue-ribbon trout fishing (made famous by A River Runs Through It) and spectacular natural beauty. The outdoor recreational opportunities are limitless.
On the Flathead Indian Reservation, the people of the Séliš, Ksanka, Ql̓ispe̓ tribes hold annual gatherings and celebrations like powwows that offer glimpses into the tribes’ traditional ways of life through dress, art, music, dance and storytelling. In Missoula, the University of Montana houses the Payne Family Native American Center—the first facility in the United States built to accommodate a Department of Native American Studies and American Indian Student Services. Additionally, the Missoula Art Museum in downtown Missoula exhibits contemporary artworks by American Indian people in its Lynda M. Frost Gallery, which has been a dedicated space for honoring creative contributions from Indigenous artists since 2006.
Missoula is also a regional destination for shopping and dining, featuring three distinct shopping districts and an abundance of restaurants, cafes, coffee houses and breweries with something to fit all budgets and palates. Known for its eclectic culture, visitors will find this arts and culture hub filled with a seeming endless array of arts and entertainment events. Think symphony, theatre, film festivals, author's readings at independent bookstores, college sports, ballet, opera and roller derby. And we proudly live our history – Native American and Lewis & Clark to Smokejumpers and Glacial Lake Missoula.
Adventure meets variety in Missoula. It is a place of small-town values and urban amenities—where you can paddle or hike all day and take in a play or concert in the evening. It is a place of mountains and rivers, families and students, art and trails. And it’s time to see this place for yourself.
