Missoula, Montana, might be one of my favorite Western cities to visit! This charming college town is tucked away in the mountains of Western Montana, just a short 3-hour drive from Spokane, Washington. The thing that I really loved about Missoula is that it’s easy to find something for EVERYONE there. Around the Missoula area, you’ll find incredible hikes, hot springs, and outdoor recreation opportunities, including fishing, mountain biking, and river floating! In town, you’ll be charmed by the art and vintage shops, farmers market, and delicious restaurants and food scene. It’s also one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities I’ve ever visited! Below you’ll find the perfect two-day itinerary for Missoula, Montana. This itinerary is perfect for a spring, summer, or fall visit to Missoula! 

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This blog post is in partnership with Destination Missoula. As always, all thoughts and opinions are our own and this blog represents our genuine experience of the destination. 

The perfect Missoula, Montana weekend itinerary

Below you’ll find a perfect two-day itinerary for visiting Missoula in spring, summer, or fall. If you’re looking for winter travel inspiration click here.

What is Missoula, Montana like to visit?

I was absolutely blown away by this adorable Western city, and I think you will be, too! The general vibe of Missoula is ‘fun and outdoorsy Western college town.’ If you like cities like Bend, Oregon, and Helena, Montana, then you’ll probably love Missoula! Downtown is filled with cute independent shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. There’s a vibrant nightlife on the weekends and Friday nights, as well as lots of free events downtown. The city also has a great music scene!

The general atmosphere of Missoula is very welcoming, especially for LGBTQ+ visitors. We saw pride flags and ‘no hate’ signs everywhere! There are also tons of great hiking options just outside of town, as well as abundant watersports and mountain biking opportunities. In spring, the town is green and lush, and you’ll see lots of wildflowers. This is a great ‘four-season’ adventure town!

How to get to Missoula, MontanA

Missoula is the perfect weekend getaway for people in the Pacific Northwest and Western United States! It’s just a short 3-hour drive from Spokane, Washington, and Bozeman, Montana, and can easily be paired with an epic road trip to Glacier National Park. Missoula is also easily accessible by plane. The Missoula Montana Airport offers direct flights to 14 different cities, including Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, as well as Salt Lake City, Denver, and other regional markets. 

Where to stay in Missoula, Montana

We stayed at the AC Hotel Missoula Downtown and found it to be a convenient and comfortable hotel location in the heart of downtown! We could easily walk to almost everything in town, and the six-story building offers fantastic views from the rooms and from the hotel’s rooftop bar.

The rooms of the AC Hotel Missoula Downtown are stylish and generously sized, and the bed was very comfortable. The hotel has a 24-hour workout room, as well as two bars, including the only rooftop bar in downtown Missoula. Guests can purchase a delicious and healthy European-style buffet breakfast for an added fee. 

Day one in Missoula, Montana: arts, hiking, and the Hip Strip

Breakfast at Veera Donuts (vegan and gluten-free friendly!)

Start your day off at Veera Donuts, a charming bakery located near the city’s Hip Strip. The donut shop’s offerings are all vegan, but if you’re not vegan, don’t worry– you will NOT miss the cream and butter. Their donuts are some of the biggest, and richest, I’ve ever had! 

We ordered their drip coffee (delicious) and three donuts (in retrospect, two would have been plenty). We got the ‘Boston Dream,’ which is a vegan take on the classic Boston creme donut. It had a luxurious and soft chocolate shell, yeasty and light dough, and a decadent homemade cream filling that tasted a bit like coconut. We also got a blueberry and basil old fashioned (delicious, but dense), and the ‘A New Level,’ featuring a savory everything-bagel spiced donut, plant-based cream cheeze (a dead ringer for the dairy stuff!), and fresh chives. I would happily visit Missoula again just for these donuts.

Travel tip: Arrive early for the best selection and the shortest wait. There are a few seats available outside, but otherwise, this is a grab-and-go establishment. You can pre-order online here.

Hike the ‘M Trail’ on the University of Montana campus

Once you’re full of carbs, head to the University of Montana campus to the famous “M Trail!” Located just a short drive away, you can access the trailhead from the parking lot across from Aber Hall on Campus Drive. Parking is free after 4 pm on weekdays and free on weekends. There are also a few free 60-minute spots for any time of day specifically for hikers.

This is a popular trail for hiking and running, and it’s nearly impossible to get lost! You’ll clamber up 13 gradual switchbacks that rise 620 feet above the valley floor in just under a half mile. It’s a calf burner! On top you’ll find a giant ‘M’ landmark constructed out of concrete. You’ll also get great views of town and the surrounding mountains! The hike is ¾ of a mile to the ‘M,’ and 1.75 miles to the top of Mount Sentinel. We opted to stop at the M, but wish we had done the whole thing.

Travel tip: Please help protect the M! This area is home to a thriving ecosystem of grasses and wildflowers. Prevent erosion and plant damage by staying on trail and not cutting the switchbacks.  

Enjoy lunch and shopping at the Missoula Farmers Market

Next, head back to downtown to do some shopping and grab lunch at the Missoula Farmers’ Market. This award-winning farmers market has been in operation since the 1970s, and features nearly 100 vendors selling agricultural products, as well as prepared food and some crafts. I (Gwyn) did my Ph.D. research on farmers’ markets and local food systems and, as a result, I’ve visited a LOT of farmers’ markets. This one really stands out for its vibrant atmosphere, diverse vendor lineup, and excellent selection of crafts, food, flowers, and produce!

We got a few herbs, some vegetables, and lunch at Aiko’s, which is a food truck that serves delicious family-inspired Japanese fusion. We could easily have spent the entire morning at the market!

Travel tip: For the 2025 season, the Missoula Farmers’ Market runs Saturdays 8:00 am – 12:30 pm May through September, and 9:00 am – 12:30 pm in October. The market also runs 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Tuesdays from June – September. 

Visit the Missoula Art Museum (MAM)

After lunch, head to the Missoula Art Museum (MAM), which is a free museum that features contemporary exhibits. Their Contemporary American Indian Art Collection is particularly impressive and features works from regional and local artists. The museum is just a few blocks away from the farmers’ market. 

The art pictured above right is by Juane Quick-to-See Smith (1940-2025), citizen of the Confederated Salish Kootenai Nation. The work is titled ‘Indian Men Wear Shorts and Toes,’ and was created in 1997. On the left is a piece entitled ‘Indian People Wear Shoes and Socks,’ also from 1997. You can read more about the artist here.

The building the museum is in is a work of art in and of itself, so be sure to walk around the outside, as well! The museum occupies a former Carnegie Library in downtown Missoula.

Explore the Hip Strip – art, vintage, and more!

After the museum, head across the Beartracks Bridge (which is so-named in honor of a prominent Salish family) to the ‘Hip Strip.’ This strip, which stretches from the intersection of Brooks and Higgins to the south end of the Higgins Street Bridge, features a unique collection of 100% locally owned and operated stores. Our favorite stops included the vintage and boutique offerings at Betty’s Divine, as well Clyde Coffee and the Clark Fork Gallery! It’s just a short 10-minute walk from the market.

As you cross the Beartracks Bridge, be sure to take in the views! As you leave downtown, you’ll see the M Trail on your left, and on your right, you can see people surfing in the river’s whitewater park, known as Brennan’s Wave (pictured in the river photo above!).  

Hike the Sam Braxton and 9.2 Trail 

If you still have energy left, I recommend ending your afternoon by hiking the Sam Braxton and 9.2 Trail. This is a relatively short 2.8-mile hike with about 600 feet of elevation gain. This trail is absolutely beautiful! It’s well maintained, and in spring we saw lots of beautiful wildflowers, including blooming kinnikinnick, lady slippers, strawberries, Oregon grape, glacier lilies, lupine, and arrowleaf balsamroot. There are also tons of larches, which means this trail will be stunning in fall. The hike is heavily forested, but with occasional views of the mountains. 

After the hike, I recommend heading back to your hotel or accommodations to rest and freshen up for dinner!

Travel tip: Every time I visit, I’m reminded that Montana has some of the cleanest trails I’ve ever seen! Please keep things beautiful by packing out everything you pack in and only hiking on the main trail (no shortcuts!). 

Enjoy dinner at Biga Pizza

After a day of adventure, head to Biga Pizza for dinner. This award-winning pizzeria serves up both classic and innovative pies, as well as delicious salads, decadent desserts, and Italian classics. We ordered a 16” pizza, which was on the generous side. Half of our pizza was the house pie, featuring garlic oil, tomato sauce, basil & fresh mozzarella. The other half was the Caramelized Goat, featuring caramelized onions, goat cheese, fresh thyme, mozzarella, and garlic oil. Both were delicious! 

For dessert, we got the chocolate mascarpone mousse, which I HIGHLY recommend. It featured chocolate mascarpone mousse layered between Frangelico-infused chocolate cake, topped with whipped cream. It was decadent and BEYOND delicious! 

Live music at Stave & Hoop speakeasy

After dinner, end your night with live piano music at Stave & Hoop speakeasy. We enjoyed the unique and intimate atmosphere, as well as the innovative and delicious cocktails (including one with pine and pisco!). The musicians enthusiastically take requests for songs!

Day two in Missoula, Montana: hot springs, milkshakes, and more!

Have breakfast at Green Source

On your second day in Missoula, start your morning at Green Source. Located next to Veera Donuts on the Hip Strip, Green Source specializes in organic, local, and sustainable foods. They offer juices, smoothies, waffles, energy bowls, and cafe drinks, and the food is fresh and flavorful– and served in a lovely light and bright space! They also have grab-and-go options. 

I ordered a sweet waffle with maple syrup and butter, and Amiana got a waffle with avocado and coconut drizzle, which was savory. I also got their ‘Shine’ smoothie (with mango, apple, ginger, lemon, and carrot juice), and we got two shots of espresso. The food was simple, well-prepared, and delicious!

Soak at Lolo Hot Springs 

After breakfast, I recommend driving one hour out of town to Lolo Hot Springs. The drive to the hot springs is beautiful, and the hot springs themselves are the perfect place to spend a morning relaxing! $15 gets you an all-day pass, which provides access to locker rooms, an indoor hot pool, and a cooler outdoor swimming pool. The facilities are minimalistic, but the pools are extremely clean. You can rent a towel for $5, or bring your own. We thoroughly enjoyed our soak!

Travel tip: I recommend bringing a water bottle, as the hot springs do not have a drinking fountain.

Have lunch with a view at Lolo Peak Brewery

After relaxing at the hot springs, drive to Lolo Peak Brewery & Grill for lunch. We got an orange cream soda (made in-house!) and two burgers. I ordered a black bean patty with spicy peppers and pickles, and Amiana got the huckleberry, blue cheese, bacon, and jalapeño beef patty. Both were delicious, and we really enjoyed the outdoor patio with stunning views of the mountains! They have an extensive menu of beer and sodas they brew in-house.

Hike the Blue Mountain Loop

Next, drive to the Blue Mountain Loop trailhead, which is located just outside of Missoula. This 4-mile hike features about 800 feet of elevation gain and stunning views of town and spring wildflowers. The hike starts with a gradual incline, and you’ll see lots of arrowleaf balsamroot, lupine, paintbrush, and other spring flowers.

The incline becomes a little bit more steep about a mile in, but is still fairly gradual. You’ll see lots of larches as you climb in elevation, so this would be beautiful in fall as well as spring. The trail is single track, well-marked, and mostly free of tripping hazards like rocks. Towards the top of the climb, you will have stunning views of town and the surrounding mountains on a hillside filled with flowers.

Looking for a more challenging trail? We also loved the Spring Gulch, Wallman Trail, and Rattlesnake Trail Loop, which is nearly 10 miles long and over 1,300 feet of elevation gain. The trail was peaceful and beautiful!

Share a milkshake at Sweet Peaks

After your hike, head into town to visit Sweet Peaks, a beloved ice cream shop with several locations in Montana. You can get ice cream scoops, sundaes, and milkshakes, and we opted for the latter! Our favorite flavors were the mountain mint and Madagascar vanilla. I also loved the huckleberry! You can try as many samples as you’d like.

Walk along the waterfront and explore the downtown shops

Spend the rest of your afternoon exploring the riverfront walking trail and Missoula’s downtown shops. The riverfront walking trail includes signage about the ecology, history, and geology of the area, and offers excellent views of the river and several parks. In downtown, we enjoyed shopping at the 4 Ravens Gallery (we walked away with two pieces of art!), The Trailhead (an outdoor store) and Lewisia Home (featuring Scandinavian-inspired home goods). There are lots of charming shops to explore! 

Enjoy dinner and libations at Plonk Wine Bar

End your evening at Plonk, a stylish wine bar in a charming historic building. We sat on their upstairs patio, which is intimate and absolutely beautiful with blooming flowers. 

We thoroughly enjoyed their house wine, as well as the house salad (with frisée, grapefruit supremes, grilled beets, agave cardamom dressing, pistachio, and dill) and spring onion gnocchi (with preserved lemon pistou, whipped ricotta, spring vegetables, pea tendrils, and pecorino). They also have delicious and beautifully plated desserts!

I hope you found this Missoula, Montana, two-day itinerary helpful for planning your next trip! Let us know if you plan a vacation using our itineraries– we love hearing about your adventures! Looking for more Montana travel and hiking inspiration? Click here.