Griz Football Hotel in Missoula
Coming to Missoula for a Griz game means you’re arriving into one of the loudest, most committed college football environments in the country. Washington-Grizzly Stadium sells out. The tailgate starts hours before kickoff. The town turns maroon on game day. What you don’t want is to spend any of that energy on parking, shuttles, or figuring out where you’re sleeping.
Broadway Inn sits on West Broadway, less than 1.5 miles from campus. Drive to the stadium in under five minutes, or walk the length of Broadway with the rest of the crowd heading the same direction. Free parking at the hotel. The Still Room is open when you get back. No logistics to manage on either end of the day.
Washington-Grizzly Stadium: What to Expect on Game Day
Washington-Grizzly Stadium sits at 32 Campus Drive on the University of Montana campus, backed by Mount Sentinel and the iconic painted M on the hillside above it. The Clark Fork River runs along the south edge of campus. On a clear fall Saturday with a sellout crowd, it is one of the better places to watch college football in the country.
The Grizzlies consistently rank among the top programs in FCS attendance. The stadium holds just over 25,000, and most home games sell out. Visiting fans do come, but Griz crowds are partisan and loud, and the student section in the north end zone sets the tone from the opening kick.
Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. If you want to take it all in rather than rush to your seat, arriving early is worth it.
Griz Football Home Schedule: When to Visit Missoula
The Grizzlies typically play six or seven home games at Washington-Grizzly Stadium each season, running from late August through mid-November. The schedule follows a consistent pattern: an opening home stretch in August and September, Homecoming in early October, and the marquee rivalry games in the back half of the season before the regular season ends.
Homecoming weekend draws alumni from across the state and typically sells out faster than a standard home game. Tickets for high-demand games go through GrizTix and move quickly once the schedule drops. The full home schedule is at gogriz.com.
The rivalry games in October and November, particularly the matchup against Idaho for the Little Brown Stein trophy, bring an added edge to the atmosphere. If you’re planning a first visit and want to experience Washington-Grizzly Stadium at full intensity, those are the weekends to aim for.
Getting from Downtown Missoula to Washington-Grizzly Stadium
From Broadway Inn, the stadium is a straight shot east on West Broadway. It takes under five minutes by car and around 25 minutes on foot along the same road.
The University of Montana also runs UDash, a free bus service on home game days with a Downtown route that stops near Broadway and runs directly to campus. Beach Transportation operates the Grizzly Shuttle as a paid alternative with multiple stops across the city.
Parking on campus fills quickly. The main lots are off Campus Drive and South Avenue, and a tailgating permit is required to park in designated tailgate areas. If you're driving to the game rather than walking or taking the bus, leaving the hotel by 90 minutes before kickoff gives you time to park and get settled before gates open.
What to Bring to a Griz Game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium
- Bags are permitted but must be clear or small.
- A valid ID is required for alcohol purchases inside the stadium.
- Fall weather in Missoula shifts quickly. Morning temperatures before a noon kickoff can be cold, and evening games in October and November warrant an extra layer. Check the forecast before you leave the hotel.
Tailgating at Washington-Grizzly Stadium: What You Need to Know
Not every winter day has to be spent on the slopes. Missoula offers plenty of other ways to enjoy the season.
Tailgating at Washington-Grizzly Stadium starts two hours before kickoff. Cars entering the designated tailgate areas on campus need a tailgating permit purchased in advance. Open containers are allowed in the marked tailgate zones but not on the rest of campus or inside the stadium.
The GSA Tailgate Party, run by the Griz Sports Association, is open to all fans and sits northwest of the stadium. Food and drinks are available for purchase and it runs from two hours before kickoff through the first 15 minutes of halftime. It's the easiest way to get into the pre-game atmosphere without having to organize your own setup.
If you want to be part of the crowd before the Griz Walk, the team's march from the Adams Center to the stadium, plan to be near the north side of campus about an hour before kickoff.
Griz Football Rivalries: The Brawl of the Wild and the Little Brown Stein
Two rivalry games define the Griz season more than any others. Both come with genuine stakes and a crowd that has been waiting for the matchup since August.
The Brawl of the Wild
The Montana-Montana State rivalry is the fourth-oldest in FCS football and dates back to 1897, less than a decade after Montana became a state. Known as the Brawl of the Wild since 1997, the game is played annually for the Great Divide Trophy and alternates between Missoula and Bozeman each year. When it's in Missoula, the stadium attendance effectively makes it the seventh-largest city in Montana for a day. Few college football rivalries at any level carry this kind of weight in their state.
Check the current schedule at gogriz.com to confirm whether the Brawl is a home game in the season you're planning around.
The Little Brown Stein: Montana vs. Idaho
The Grizzlies and the Idaho Vandals play annually for the Little Brown Stein, a trophy game that has been part of the Big Sky Conference calendar for decades. It's a hard-fought rivalry with genuine history on both sides and produces some of the louder home atmospheres of the season when Idaho visits Missoula.
Why Griz Fans Stay at Broadway Inn Missoula
Not every winter day has to be spent on the slopes. Missoula offers plenty of other ways to enjoy the season.
Location
Broadway Inn is on West Broadway, the same road that runs straight to the University of Montana campus. Guests can walk to the game, take the free UDash Downtown bus from near the hotel, or drive and be at the stadium in under five minutes. There is no closer hotel with free parking on both ends.
The Still Room after the game
Our on-site bar and restaurant is open for dinner every evening, starting at 4 PM on weekdays and 11 AM on weekends. After a long game day, cold drinks and food are waiting without having to find somewhere still serving late.
Free Parking
Broadway Inn has a free on-site lot. There are no parking fees at the hotel on either end of the day, which matters when campus lots fill up and charge a premium on game weekends.
The hot tub after the game
October games in Missoula get cold. The outdoor pool and hot tub are available to guests through the season and tend to get used on game nights.
Breakfast before a noon kickoff
Grab-and-go breakfast is available in the lobby every morning. Useful for an early start on a game day, particularly for big games when you want to be on campus well before kickoff.
Traveling with a dog
Broadway Inn is pet-friendly. If your dog is part of the trip, they're welcome.
Getting from Broadway Inn to Washington-Grizzly Stadium
By car
Head east on West Broadway. Campus Drive is on your left just past the river crossing. The stadium is visible from the road. Under five minutes from the hotel parking lot.
On foot
Walk east along West Broadway for approximately 1.5 miles. The route is straightforward and on game days you'll have company the whole way. Plan for around 25 minutes at a comfortable pace.
By bus
The UDash Downtown gameday route runs on home game days and stops near Broadway Inn. It is free of charge. Check the UDash schedule for pickup times on game day, as they vary by kickoff time.
What to Do in Missoula on a Griz Football Weekend
Missoula fills up on game weekends and most of it is within walking distance of Broadway Inn. A few things worth knowing:
- The Press Box bar sits just outside campus on Broadway, directly between the hotel and the stadium. It's the natural stop for a pre-game drink on the walk in and a reliable post-game option on the way back. Red's Bar and the Missoula Club are downtown institutions with the kind of atmosphere that comes from decades of Griz fans packing in after games.
- If you're staying a couple of nights, The Wilma is a historic theater about a mile from the hotel with a strong calendar of shows through the fall.
- The Milwaukee Trail is just over the bridge and follows the Clark Fork River east toward campus. It's a good Sunday morning walk after a game-day Saturday.
⇒ See the full Missoula events calendar to plan around your stay.
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Book a Hotel Near Washington-Grizzly Stadium
Homecoming weekend and the rivalry games in October and November are the first weekends to fill across the city. Broadway Inn books out on those dates faster than standard home games. If your trip is built around one of those, booking early is not optional.
Check availability and book direct at Broadway Inn. Booking direct gets you the best rate and puts you in contact with the front desk team directly if your plans shift.
Call us at (406) 532-3300 with any questions.