Make Time to See Missoula in Your Thrifty Rental Car
To say that Missoula is an old city would be an understatement. Although it was officially founded in the 1860s as a trading post, the Lewis and Clark expedition in the early 1800s actually brought the first U.S. citizens to this area of Montana. Today, it is much easier to get to. If you’re traveling into Missoula International Airport, it’s easy to grab a Thrifty rental car. Visitors to this area love the perfect combination of metropolitan culture and pristine wilderness.
University of Montana
Get scholarly at the University of Montana, located just 7.7 miles away from Missoula International Airport. Just program “take me to the smart people” in the GPS of your Missoula Airport rental car. The University ranks 17th in the nation and 5th among public universities in producing Rhodes Scholars. The school is also noted for producing some seriously talented athletes, actors, writers and politicians. Carroll O’Connor (a.k.a. Archie Bunker), J.K. Simmons (from Whiplash & Spider-Man), MMA fighter Josh Barnett and Pulitzer Prize-winning author A.B. Guthrie, Jr. are all graduates.
Rock Creek
Just shy of 30 miles outside Missoula International Airport lies the famous fishing spot, Rock Creek. “A River Runs Through it” starring Brad Pitt and Tom Skeritt was filmed here. The Creek is known for its designated blue-ribbon trout stream and offers year-round fishing. And the fish are unusually abundant — you can just park your Missoula Airport rental car along the side of the stream and throw your line in.
Big Sky Brewing Company
Less than a mile away from the Missoula International Airport is a great place to get a drink — Big Sky Brewing Company. What began as two friends brewing beer at home has grown into a giant craft beer brewery that sells about 48,000+ barrels a year. Inside Big Sky you’ll find beers with interesting names like, “Moose Drool,” “Trout Slayer” and “Scape Goat.”
SmokeJumper Visitor Center
Just “jump” in your Thrifty rental car and make your way over to the SmokeJumper Visitor’s Center. It’s just around the corner from the Missoula International Airport (.7 miles away) The Missoula location is the largest smokejumper base in the entire country. You’ll learn what it takes to become an official smokejumper with a FREE interactive tour complete with tours of the loft, the ready room and the National Smokejumper memorial. During the summer, Smokejumper aircraft are present and visitors may even see Smokejumpers dispatched to a fire.