| Missoula, Montana is the state's second largest city | | | | connect to Amtrak at Whitefish in any case. The only |
| and one of the most scenic metropolitan areas in the | | | | Rimrock bus from Missoula leaves at 8:00 am and |
| country. The University of Montana provides an | | | | arrives at Whitefish around 11:25 am. You will have |
| academic and cultural anchor to this western Montana | | | | already missed the eastbound Empire Builder train for |
| city. Unfortunately, Missoula lost its Amtrak service in | | | | the day. The westbound train will leave Whitefish |
| 1979 and the only low fare airline to the city flies | | | | about 10 hours later - a long wait indeed! |
| directly to the Southwest. | | | | Three: The best way to connect with Amtrak from |
| For UM students and other residents of the Missoula | | | | Missoula is through Spokane, Washington. Greyhound |
| area, utilizing a combination of Amtrak and buses is the | | | | Lines has a convenient schedule that works well with |
| cheapest way to travel to other parts of the country. | | | | Amtrak's. Part of the beauty of the connecting through |
| Here are five tips/hints for effectively traveling to/from | | | | Spokane is that the trains arrive and depart in the early |
| Missoula by land: | | | | morning from both directions. Thus, if you are going to |
| One: If you are going westbound to Missoula, ignore | | | | Missoula, your train will arrive in Spokane no later than |
| Amtrak's recommendation to connect with the train at | | | | 2:00 am. You can take the 5:05 am Greyhound bus |
| Whitefish. On Amtrak's schedule for the Empire Builder | | | | and arrive in Missoula at 10:30 am. From Missoula, there |
| that runs between Chicago and Seattle/Portland, there | | | | is a 9:10 pm bus that arrives in Spokane at 12:35 am. |
| is an indication that connecting service is available | | | | The earliest train leaves Spokane at 1:15 am. |
| between Whitefish, MT and Missoula. Rimrock Stages, | | | | Four: Connecting in Spokane is easy since Greyhound |
| which is part of the Trailways system, provides the | | | | uses the Spokane train station as its depot. Since the |
| service. Unfortunately, Rimrock's schedule does not | | | | connections take place in the middle of the night, this is |
| work well with Amtrak's westbound timetable. | | | | very convenient. |
| The only bus from Whitefish leaves at 11:35 am and | | | | Five: The Empire Builder is an all-reserved train. |
| arrives in Missoula approximately 3 ½ hours later. | | | | Whether you will be experiencing Amtrak's enhanced |
| That works well if you are coming from Washington | | | | coach service with at-seat meal service and large |
| State or Idaho and the train arrives at Whitefish at 7:26 | | | | pillows or the Superliner sleeping accommodations, you |
| am. It is not convenient if you are coming from the | | | | must make advanced reservations. By buying your |
| east and the train arrives in Whitefish at 9:16 pm. You | | | | tickets in advance for both Amtrak and Greyhound |
| will have to get a hotel before taking the bus home the | | | | services, you may be able to receive discounted |
| next day. | | | | advance purchase fares or special fares for students |
| Two: If you are coming from Missoula, you should not | | | | and seniors. |