Family Friendly things to do in Missoula Indoors
As they say, there is no bad weather, just bad gear. Or something like that. Missoula people generally love to be outdoors, hence why many of the best things to do in the area include hiking, fishing and being on or near the river. However, if you happen to be visiting the area or you live in the Missoula area full time, you might find yourself looking for something to do that is family friendly in Missoula indoors when it is rainy outside or too cold or the weather just isn’t ideal.
Here is a great list of family friendly things to do in Missoula that are indoors (ish):
Missoula Public Library- 455 E. Main Street
Award winning, super fun, hands on science center.
Story Time - Fridays and Saturdays @ 10:30am ~ great for kids 3 and older (read aloud and craft)
Tiny Tales - Thursdays and Fridays @ 10:30am ~ great for kids 3 and under (nursery rhymes, finger plays, sing along and learn)
Free to public
Missoula YMCA - 3000 South Russell St
Family Fun time- indoor play place with rumbling mats, bounce house and more. Great for kids 6 and younger
Tuesdays 9:30am-11:30am
Fridays 10:00am- 1:00pm
Saturdays 9:30a,-12:30am
membership required
Currents Aquatic Center- 600 Cregg Lane
An indoor water park at McCormick Park featuring 2 water slides, lazy river, splash zone and more.
Open daily starting at noon
entry fee
Montana Natural History Center - 120 Hickory St #A
Features interactive exhibits, art gallery and more
Open Tuesday- Saturday 11am-4pm
Admissions fee 4years and up
The Carousel- 101 Carousel Drive (near Caras Park)
A Missoula Icon and entertainment for the whole family. Catch the golden ring and win a free ride!
Open Daily 12pm-5pm
Rides are $1 for children age 11 and under and $2 for riders age 12 and older.
Mismo Gymnastics Family Fun Time- 2430 Benton Ave
Supervised open gym time for kids walking to 12 years old. Explore and play in foam pits, trampolines and obstacle courses.
Parent Participation is required
Dates and times vary
members: $9 , Non Member: $12
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Visitor Center - 5705 Grant Creek Road
Fun and interactive exhibits to learn more about elk, elk country and the role that RMEF plays in conservation.
Open Monday- Friday 8am-5pm
EMPower Place - 1720 Wyoming Street
A Hands-on learning center located at the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center. Come check out the science exhibits from spectrUM, literacy and STEM programming, books from the Missoula Public Library and more.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 10am - 1pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 10am-6pm
Free to public
Hearts Afire - 2426 W Central Avenue
Pottery and stoneware painting and DIY canvas painting for kids and adults. Keep in mind that pottery peices will take a week to glaze and fire before you can pick them up.
Wednesday- Thursday: 12pm-6pm
Friday - Saturday: 12pm- 8pm
Sunday: 12pm-5pm
ZACC- Zootown Arts Community Center - 216 W Main St
Come check out all that ZACC has to offer. From free art supplies to a youth play area and art gallery for local artists.
Monday-Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 12pm-4pm
Roxy Theatre - 718 South Higgins Ave.
Come see a movie in a non-profit, community owned historic theater on the HipStrip in downtown Missoula. Check out the Roxy Jr. series of films for young people offering free admission for kids 17 and under.
Show times Vary
Westside Lanes & Fun Center -1615 Wyoming St
Come bowling, play at the arcade and enjoy food from the Strike the Grill restaurant. Fun for the whole family.
Thursday- Saturday: 9am-2am
Sunday-Wednesday: 9am- Midnight
Big Sky Arcadia- Southgate Mall
Video game arcade featuring some virtual reality games. Entertainment for the whole family and prizes to be won.
Monday-Saturday: 10am-8pm
Sunday: 11am-6pm
Surely, there are other amazing indoor things to do in Missoula. If you know of one that is not on the list please reach out to me! I would love to add it to the list.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t say, when the weather is less than ideal, indoor photos are always a good option. We can photograph inside your home or in the studio. No need to skip out on capturing family memories just because you don’t want to be outdoors. Book your session today!
