Last checked October 2026. Hours and conditions change; links go to the people who run each place.
A lot of the best of Missoula costs nothing: the river trails, the hike to the M, two art museums, the library and a bus system you ride for free. Here is what is free, where it is, and what is open in fall 2026.
Walk the Clark Fork
The paved riverfront trails start downtown. Ron's River Trail follows the north bank for about 2 miles through Kiwanis, Bess Reed and Caras parks, and the Milwaukee Trail follows the south bank west toward Reserve Street. Cross on any of the downtown bridges to make a loop.
Stop at Caras Park to watch kayakers and river surfers on Brennan's Wave. The Riverfront Terrace, opened in 2025, has a viewing deck and seating right at the wave. Watching costs nothing.
Hike the M
The M trail climbs Mount Sentinel above the University of Montana campus. The University says the trail on its property is three quarters of a mile, it is the most heavily used trail in Montana, and UM students built it in 1908. It is a steady climb on switchbacks, with a view over the whole valley from the M.
Dogs must be leashed on the M trail, per the city's dog rules.
Go up the Rattlesnake
The Rattlesnake National Recreation Area starts at the north edge of town. From Interstate 90, take exit 105 (Van Buren Street) north; Van Buren becomes Rattlesnake Drive, and the recreation area entrance is about 3 miles up, according to the Lolo National Forest. The main Rattlesnake trail is the gentle option; Sawmill Trail 24 is steeper.
Dog rules here are seasonal. The city's list says dogs are not allowed from Dec. 1 to March 1 on the main corridor from the southern boundary to milepost 1.7, and Sawmill and Curry gulches are closed to dogs year-round.
See art for free
The Missoula Art Museum, 335 N. Pattee St. downtown, is free for everyone. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, until 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, and closed Sunday and Monday.
The Montana Museum of Art and Culture is also free, with a suggested $10 donation. It is in a new building on the University of Montana campus at 795 S. Fifth St. E., open noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with shorter 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours on Griz home game Saturdays. Free docent tours started Oct. 1, 2026: Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 1:50 p.m., except on game days. This fall's shows include "Bateman Weaves" through Nov. 14, and a Dana Boussard exhibition opens Nov. 12.
First Friday brings gallery openings, music and shop events downtown on the first Friday of every month, mostly in the early evening. Most of it is free to walk through; a few individual events charge. The next one is Nov. 6, 2026.
Spend an afternoon at the library
The Missoula Public Library is downtown at 455 E. Main St. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The library is closed Monday, Oct. 12, for Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Upstairs, spectrUM, the University of Montana's hands-on science center, has free admission for everyone, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Non-family groups of 10 or more should call ahead.
Wander Fort Missoula
The grounds of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula are always open and always free. The indoor museum is free for Missoula County residents, members and kids under 6; everyone else pays $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for students, with a $15 family maximum. The museum is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Mondays, and the outbuildings are open May through October. Mountain Line's Route 6 runs to the fort.
Visit a working farm
The PEAS Farm at 3010 Duncan Drive is open to the public during daytime hours in the growing season. Garden City Harvest brings school field trips there and also runs neighborhood farms and community gardens around town. By mid-October the growing season is winding down, so call 406-243-5521 before a fall visit.
Ride the bus for free
Mountain Line has been zero-fare since 2015. Riders do not pay. Routes reach the university, the Rattlesnake, the Hip Strip and Fort Missoula, East Missoula and Bonner, and the airport. Check the schedules before you count on evening or Sunday service.
Free downtown parking
City street parking downtown is free after 5 p.m. on weekdays, on weekends and on state holidays. The city garages give you the first hour free any time.
Not free, or not open
A Carousel for Missoula charges $1 a ride for kids 11 and under and $2 for riders 12 and older. It is cheap, but it is not free.
The Missoula Smokejumper Visitor Center by the airport is off the list for now: the Forest Service says it is closed for renovations. Call 406-329-4934 to ask about scheduled tours.
What is open now, in fall 2026
Everything above is open in mid-October except the Smokejumper Visitor Center. Summer's free concerts at Caras Park are done for the year, the PEAS Farm season is ending, and the Fort Missoula outbuildings close after October. First Friday, the museums, the library and the trails carry on all winter.
Quick answers
Is the Missoula Art Museum free?
Yes. Admission is free for everyone, Tuesday through Saturday.
Is the Missoula carousel free?
No. Rides are $1 for kids 11 and under and $2 for riders 12 and older.
Is the bus free in Missoula?
Yes. Mountain Line has been zero-fare since 2015.
How long is the M trail hike?
The University of Montana says the trail on its land is three quarters of a mile, all uphill on switchbacks to the M.
Is the Montana Museum of Art and Culture free?
Yes, with a suggested $10 donation. It is open noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday in its new building on campus.
Can I bring my dog on Missoula trails?
Usually, on a leash. City trails and the M require leashes, and parts of the Rattlesnake close to dogs seasonally or year-round.
More Missoula Commons visitor guides, from downtown to farmers markets, are at missoula-commons.com/visit.
