Budget Conscious Ideas for Spring Break in Missoula, Montana

Spring break travel in Montana can be a bit unpredictable because of erratic weather and slippery road conditions. However, Montana still offers a lot of great deals on spring break options that shouldn't be missed. This year I am planning a cost-conscious spring break in the city of Missoula, Montana. I have $200 for the week and five days of activities to plan.

Spring Break in Your Own Town

One of the biggest costs associated with spring break vacations is lodging costs. Lodging during spring break can cost you anywhere from $99 a day to over $300 a day. If you stay in your own town you can eliminate your lodging costs all today, thereby saving yourself $693+ for a seven day trip. Spending spring break in your own town also is going to help save you money on transportation costs, as you don't have to spend money on airfare or bus fare. You will be spending money on transportation to get to and from your planned activities, but these costs will be manageable.

Look for Free and Low Cost Attractions

I have noticed that people usually do not take the time to explore the attractions that are offered by their own towns. Spring break is therefore a great time to check out a few of the attractions that tourists flock to in your town. In Missoula there are a number of free attractions that I love to visit at least once a year, and my top picks are the Missoula Art Museum and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Visitor Center.

The Missoula Art Museum is located at 335 North Pattee and it does not have an entrance fee to tour the gallery. In addition to free tours, this attraction also offers a few free events that are posted as they become available. Art classes and studio time is also available from the Missoula Art Museum with prices starting as low as $5 per session.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Visitor Center is located at 5705 Grant Creek Road. It is open to the public free of charge, although donations are welcomed. Here you can watch wildlife videos for free, take a tour of the visitor center and even go for a nature hike on their 22 acre wildlife area. When you're done have some fun shopping for wildlife inspired gifts in the gift shop.

Save Your Money for a Special Activity

For most of Spring Break I take advantage of free or low cost activities; however, I also like to have one day of extravagance. I save most of my Spring Break budget for this day. Depending on the weather, I spend the money I've saved on a day of skiing at Snow Bowl, a night on the town or if all else fails, a day of shopping in either Downtown Missoula or at Southgate Mall. Another option is to use the bulk of your Spring Break budget to learn to do something new during your vacation. Missoula offers a great venue of martial arts classes, gymnastics classes and dance classes that you can sign up for during your break. The cost of these classes is going to vary depending on the level and the duration of your instruction; however, you can schedule your lessons to fit your budget constraints.