Things to do with Kids in Missoula, Montana
- Montana Edit
- Sep 15
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 18
We’ve rounded up a go-to list of Missoula’s best kid-friendly activities so you don’t have to. As parents of young kids, we've explored play spaces and family-friendly experiences, and this guide features our top picks. Discover a variety of exciting experiences that will keep your kids entertained and create unforgettable family memories.
We've organized our guide into the following sections:
Happy exploring!
Indoor Play Spaces, Sports, & Recreation
Experience a hand-carved carousel and the adjacent Dragon Hollow playground.The Carousel is open daily year round! (with the exception of Christmas Day and our annual shutdown period in January for pony and machine restoration).📍101 Carousel Dr | 📞 (406) 549-8382
Catch a movie and be sure to get food and drinks delivered right to your seat. 📍2901 Brooks St | 📞 (406) 203-1595
Arcade games and prize center located in Southgate Mall. 📍2901 Brooks St H3 | 📞 (406) 624-3324
Big Sky Breakout offers a fully immersive escape room experience where you and your crew—whether friends, family, or coworkers—have just one hour to solve puzzles, uncover clues, and crack the mystery before time runs out. It’s a one-of-a-kind adventure everyone can enjoy!📍307 North 2nd St West | 📞 (406) 493-0528
Paintball open every Friday from 4pm-9pm, with special teen drop in times during the school year.📍1515 Fairview Ave | 📞 (406) 532-1555
Indoor pool includes water features, water slide, jacuzzi tub and lap pool.📍600 Cregg Ln | 📞 (406) 721-7275
EmPower Place is a free family learning center at the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center. It offers science exhibits, STEM programs, and books for all ages, combining a community center, science museum, food hub, and library in one space.📍1720 Wyoming St (Inside Missoula Food Bank)| 📞 (406) 549-0543
An indoor trampoline park that’s pure energy and fun for kids (and adults!).📍2501 Brooks St | 📞 (406) 221-2070
The MCT Center for the Performing Arts is home to both the Missoula Children’s Theatre and the Missoula Community Theatre—two beloved institutions that have been bringing exceptional family entertainment to Missoula for over 40 years. The Community Theatre’s season runs annually from October through May, showcasing a range of local talent and productions.📍200 N. Adams St. | 📞 (406) 728-7529
Get your wiggles out during supervised open gym for kids walking to 12 years old! Explore foam pits, trampolines, obstacle courses, and more in a safe, supervised environment. Parent participation and preregistration are required.📍2430 Benton Ave | 📞 (406) 728-0908
Inspires an appreciation and understanding of insects and their relatives through educational programs and innovative science exhibits featuring live invertebrates.📍1075 South Ave W #2 | 📞 (406) 317-1211
Family Fun Time runs September–May and offers kids a fun indoor playtime on Saturdays. Free with membership. 📍3000 S. Russell St. | 📞 (406) 721-9622
Free drop in activities for all ages! Aside from spending some time perusing books, they also have a great play area for younger children, computer games and interesting exhibits from SpectrUM, and fun activities from Families First Learning Lab. Plus check their events page for Tiny Tales (ages 0-3), Storytime (ages 3-6), Lego Club (grades K-6), writing groups (grades 6+) and special events and activities throughout the year. 📍455 E Main St |
📞 (406) 721-2665
Offers weekly drop in parent and family yoga classes.📍725 W Alder | 📞 (406) 239-9642
‘Preschool Playtime’ is open gym fun for kids walking to age 5, offered Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10:45–11:45 AM. Kids can jump, climb, and play in a safe, active environment.To register, visit: rootsacrosports.com 📍216 Commerce St | 📞 (406) 728-4258
SCHEELS offers fun for the whole family! Kids can enjoy the indoor play structure, arcade games like Pac-Man and Big Buck Hunter, and test their skills at the shooting gallery. Try a round of Rollerball, a mini bowling game or grab a bite to eat —perfect for keeping the family entertained while shopping or on a rainy day.
📍2901 Brooks St | 📞 (406) 721-5140
Book a tee time at the golf simulator, join an indoor sports league, or enjoy open play. September–April, kids 5 & under can have 90 minutes of fun on the turf field with games, music, and activities, Wednesdays–Fridays, 10–11:30 AM. Preregistration is required.📍2811 Latimer | 📞 (406) 926-1018
Bowling alley with arcade games. 📍1615 Wyoming St | 📞 (406) 721-5263
Outdoor Activities
Located in northwest Missoula, 44 Ranch Park is the centerpiece of the 44 Ranch neighborhood. The park boasts a large playground for all ages, open soccer field, and walking paths perfect for an afternoon stroll. A covered picnic shelter with electricity and plenty of tables makes it an ideal gathering place for birthday parties or neighborhood get-togethers.📍2503 Riata Rd | 📞 (406) 721-7275
Bonner Park is a beloved neighborhood spot in Missoula’s University District, offering a little something for everyone. Families love the inclusive playground and seasonal splash pad, while active visitors can enjoy tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, plus a baseball/softball field. The park also features a reservable picnic shelter with electricity and a community band shell that often hosts local events. Pro Tip: It’s just a two-block walk to the Dairy Queen on Higgins Ave — perfect for a post-playground treat!📍1798 Ronald Ave | 📞 (406) 721-7275
Fort Missoula Regional Park (FMRP)
Fort Missoula Regional Park is a 156-acre community gem combining sports, history, and recreation. The park offers something for everyone with 10 multi-sport grass fields, a synthetic turf field, seven softball diamonds, eight tennis courts, and an impressive 22 pickleball courts. You’ll also find three playgrounds, basketball courts, lawn volleyball, trails, and even an outdoor fitness center with nine workout stations.📍 3401-3499 South Ave W |
📞 (406) 721-7275
Located on the Missoula County Fairgrounds, our local ice rink offers affordable hockey, skating and curling programs for all ages and abilities.📍1101 South Ave W | 📞 (406) 728-0316
A beloved local hike, the quick climb up Mount Sentinel gains 620 feet in elevation via 13 switchbacks—reaching the iconic “M” in under half a mile. At the top, you're rewarded with sweeping views of the Missoula valley and the surrounding mountains.📍 Access to the trailhead starts at the parking lot across from Aber Hall on Campus Drive at the University of Montana. It is 3/4 mile to the "M" and 1 3/4 miles to the very top of Mount Sentinel.
Recognized as one of the top skate parks in the nation, MoBash offers more than 15,000 square feet of skateable terrain. With bowls, bank walls, tiered inclines, and plenty of rails, it’s a must-visit spot for skaters of all ages and skill levels.📍600 Cregg Ln. in McCormick Park | 📞 (406) 721-PARK
Silver’s Lagoon is the perfect fishing hole for young kids and a great spot to explore.📍 600 Cregg Lane
Outdoor water adventure land that is open from June to August. It has three slides, zero-depth entry pools, and a log walk as well as food and drink options. 📍3001 Bancroft St | 📞 (406) 542-9283
Arts & Museums
BASE is an all-ages, all-abilities social and activity center—a safe space to explore the arts, build life skills, and develop self-advocacy. They offer free programs like all-abilities yoga, game nights, art club, improv, and more, supporting education, employment, and independence. 📍725 West Alder Suite 4 | 📞 (406) 215-1080
Pottery & Art Studio - Drop in pottery painting, glass fusion and d-i-y canvas painting.📍2426 W Central Ave | 📞 (406) 926-3434
MCAT offers free weekly media education workshops for kids, helping them become media literate through hands-on learning in podcasting, video editing, TV studio work, Photoshop, and equipment use. Animation workshops are held Saturdays during the school year, 1:00–3:00 PM. Standard times are available, but alternate scheduling can be arranged by contacting MCAT.📍455 East Main Street (in the Missoula Public Library) | 📞 (406) 542-6228
Non-profit community center offers multiple opportunities for drop in activities including painting your own pottery, clay hand studio, and a free art lounge. 📍216 W Main St |
📞 (406) 549-7555
The museum features rotating exhibits designed for every age group exploring a range of thought-provoking historical topics. They also host a variety of fun and educational events throughout the year.📍3400 Captain Rawn Way | 📞 (406) 728-3476
MAM serves the public by engaging audiences and artists in the exploration of contemporary art relevant to the community, state and region. Admission is FREE every day.
📍335 N Pattee St | 📞 (406) 728-0447
The Montana Natural History Center showcases the flora, fauna, and natural history of western Montana. Exhibits take 30–45 minutes for adults and are kid-friendly, featuring a children’s microscope area, touch tables, a hands-on Naturalist Lab, and the popular Kids’ Discovery Room. Twice a month during the school year (September–May), Saturday Kids’ Activities offer hands-on science, art, and exploration for the whole family—free with museum admission.📍120 Hickory St # A | 📞 (406) 327-0405
Visitors to the Homestead can experience the remnants of a century's worth of small scale, subsistence agriculture in Western Montana. Witness the 125-year old apple orchard, a rehabilitated 1890s claim shack, worn farm implements left to rust under a locust tree, and abandoned jars and bottles left in the Randolph family root cellar. Open Saturdays, May through October, 11 am to 5 pm.📍1515 Spurlock Road | 📞 (406) 728-0451
The museum seeks to acquire and display any and all items related to this region’s mountain-flying history, including, but not limited to, appropriate vintage aircraft, memorabilia, artifacts, and more. The museum is open from May 4 - October 1, 10 AM until 4 PM. 📍5843 Museum Way | 📞 (406) 721-36445
Fun and interactive, our exhibits invite you to learn more about elk, elk country and the role the RMEF plays in conservation. Those wanting to stretch their legs will enjoy the beautiful, wooded nature trail that winds its way around the 22-acre RMEF property. Open year round and admission is FREE.📍5705 Grant Creek Rd | 📞 (406) 523-4500
Guests can explore displays on firefighting procedures, smoke-jumping history, and other fire-related topics, watch short educational videos, and enter a fire lookout from 1937. Fall hours begin Monday, September 8, 2025: Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and for October and November, visitors should call ahead for availability.📍5765 West Broadway St. |
📞 (406) 329-4934
Let us know if we are missing anything - we would love to add to our list!
