College Visit Guides

Fly-in guide · 2 days, 1 campus

Montana State University in 2 Days: A Bozeman College Visit Fly-In Trip

A parent-first plan for visiting Montana State University in Bozeman: how weekday and Saturday visits work and where to sign up, the campus parking garage by Norm Asbjornson Hall and the walk to the Strand Union Building, three hotels from budget to upscale, drive times from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, the Museum of the Rockies on campus for siblings, and Bozeman weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 30, 2026.

A four-story red-brick hall with a stone base, steep gray slate gables, rows of tall windows and an arched stone entrance, behind a green lawn with a small sign, framed by a birch tree and leafy branches under a clear blue sky
Montana Hall on the Montana State University campus in Bozeman (July 2013). Photo: Tim Evanson · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

School
Montana State University (Bozeman, MT)
Days
2 days: arrive and settle in downtown, then a full weekday campus visit starting at the Strand Union Building.
Fly into
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Belgrade, about 22 minutes from downtown Bozeman with no traffic.
Best base
AC Hotel Bozeman Downtown, about 4 minutes by car from the campus parking garage.
Car or no car
A rental car is easiest. The Best Western Plus GranTree Inn has a free airport shuttle if you'd rather skip one.
Registration
Book a weekday daily visit or a Saturday campus tour on MSU's schedule-a-visit form. Saturday tours are by request and need at least a week's notice.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see Montana State University, home of the Bobcats in Bozeman.

A weekday visit can include a meeting with an admissions counselor, a campus tour led by student AdvoCats and a student-led presentation on campus living. The photo in this guide shows Montana Hall.

Why this order

  • Day 1: fly into BZN, about 22 minutes from downtown Bozeman, and check in.
  • Day 2: park in the campus garage, walk about 3 minutes to the Strand Union Building to check in, and spend the day on MSU's weekday visit program.
  • With extra time, the Museum of the Rockies is on MSU's campus, about a 15-minute walk from the Strand Union Building.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
  • Daily visits run Monday through Friday year-round, except federal holidays and MSU Fridays. Fill out one form per student and schedule in advance.
  • MSU posts blackout dates on its visit page, including MSU Fridays, Veterans Day and the Thanksgiving and winter holidays. Check them before you book flights.
  • Saturday campus tours are by request only, not every Saturday is available, and you should register at least a week ahead. They don't include information sessions, and most buildings and offices are closed on weekends.
  • Can't make a listed date? MSU offers a self-guided walking tour with audio for each stop that follows a similar route to the guided tour.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Bozeman winters are cold: January averages about 32°F highs and 10°F lows, so pack warm layers for a walking tour.
  • Summer is warm and dry: July averages about 85°F highs and 49°F lows with about an inch of rain.
  • June is the wettest month, averaging about 2.5 inches of precipitation.
  • Check the Bobcats' athletics calendar for home games on your dates, since game days bring extra traffic and parking demand.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, and walking times use OpenStreetMap foot routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Campus times are to the Strand Union Building or the parking garage at Norm Asbjornson Hall.

Day 1: fly into Bozeman and check in downtown

  1. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) → AC Hotel Bozeman Downtown

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~22 min, 11.5 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  2. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) → Best Western Plus GranTree Inn

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~20 min, 10.2 mi
    Driving
    Rental car or free hotel shuttle
  • MSU's admissions office keeps a local info page with hotel and car-rental discounts for MSU-related visits.

Day 2: Montana State University campus visit

  1. AC Hotel Bozeman Downtown → MSU parking garage (Norm Asbjornson Hall)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~4 min, 1.6 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  2. Best Western Plus GranTree Inn → MSU parking garage (Norm Asbjornson Hall)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~7 min, 2.4 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  3. MSU parking garage → Strand Union Building (Office of Admissions)

    Driving (no traffic)
    Walk
    Driving
    ~3 min walk, 0.2 mi

  4. AC Hotel Bozeman Downtown → Strand Union Building

    Driving (no traffic)
    Walk
    Driving
    ~32 min walk, 1.5 mi

  5. Strand Union Building → Museum of the Rockies

    Driving (no traffic)
    Walk
    Driving
    ~15 min walk, 0.7 mi
  • The Office of Admissions is in 201 Strand Union Building (SUB). Inside the SUB, take the elevator or stairs up; it's the first door on the right, and the elevator button is 3.
  • Campus tours last about an hour and cover the main areas of campus, with student guides narrating MSU's academics, student life and history.

3. Campus by campus

A four-story red-brick hall with a stone base, steep gray slate gables, rows of tall windows and an arched stone entrance, behind a green lawn with a small sign, framed by a birch tree and leafy branches under a clear blue sky
Montana Hall on the Montana State University campus in Bozeman (July 2013). Photo: Tim Evanson · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Montana State University (Bozeman, MT)

Where visits start
  • Weekday visits can include a casual meeting with an admissions counselor (not an interview, and families are welcome), a campus tour led by student AdvoCats, and a student presentation on a day in the life of a Bobcat.
  • Register with MSU's schedule-a-visit form, one form per student. For changes, email the admissions visit team listed on the visit page.
  • Groups such as high schools and TRIO programs are welcome on weekdays, and group visits should be requested at least two weeks ahead.
Visitor parking
  • Visitors can park on levels 1 and 2 of the parking garage behind Norm Asbjornson Hall at South 7th Avenue and Grant Street. The first 30 minutes are free, then pay by credit card at the paystations or in the Passport parking app; MSU posts hourly and daily-maximum rates on its visitor parking page.
  • ADA parking for visitors is in the parking garage.
Getting there
  • Campus is about 4 minutes by car from downtown Bozeman and about 22 minutes from the airport with no traffic.
What to know
  • The Museum of the Rockies is on MSU's campus, on the south side of Kagy Boulevard, with free parking.
Contact
Office of Admissions, 201 Strand Union Building, Bozeman, MT 59717; 1-888-MSU-CATS or 406-994-2452, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain.

Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: MSU: Daily Visit Opportunities · MSU: Saturday Campus Tours · MSU: Things to Know Before Your Visit · MSU: Self-Guided Walking Tour · MSU Parking: Visitor Parking and Directions

4. Where to stay: downtown Bozeman, about five minutes from campus

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickMid-range

AC Hotel Bozeman Downtown

110 N. Tracy Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715

Why here

  • It's in downtown Bozeman, about 4 minutes by car from the campus parking garage and about 22 minutes from the airport.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3.5-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists covered valet parking for a fee, breakfast for a fee, pets for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 18. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman

24 W. Mendenhall St., Bozeman, MT 59715

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 5-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's downtown, about a 29-minute walk from the Strand Union Building.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists covered valet parking for a fee (with height restrictions), an outdoor pool, breakfast for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Best Western Plus GranTree Inn

1325 N. 7th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about 7 minutes by car from the campus parking garage.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free 24-hour airport shuttle, a free area shuttle, free parking and breakfast for a fee. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Stay downtown at the AC Hotel or the Kimpton Armory for a short drive to campus. If you'd rather not rent a car, the Best Western Plus GranTree Inn's free airport and area shuttles are worth a look.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

At the hotels

The AC Hotel, Kimpton Armory and Best Western Plus GranTree Inn all offer breakfast for a fee.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Museum of the Rockies

600 W. Kagy Blvd., Bozeman, MT 59717

The museum is on MSU's campus and is open daily most of the year, with the Siebel Dinosaur Complex and the Taylor Planetarium (planetarium shows cost extra). Parking is free, and it's about a 15-minute walk from the Strand Union Building.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Getting to campus

  • Park on level 1 or 2 of the garage behind Norm Asbjornson Hall (South 7th Avenue and Grant Street), then walk about 3 minutes to the Strand Union Building.
  • Campus is quieter during academic breaks, so check the registrar's academic calendar if you want to visit while classes are in session.

Flying in and out

  • Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is in Belgrade, about 22 minutes from downtown Bozeman with no traffic.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Bozeman Gallatin Field station)

  • Spring: April averages about 55°F highs and 29°F lows, with about 1.7 inches of precipitation.
  • Summer: July averages about 85°F/49°F, with about 1.1 inches of rain.
  • Fall: October averages about 58°F/29°F, with about 1.1 inches of precipitation.
  • Winter: January averages about 32°F/10°F, with about 0.4 inches of precipitation.

Parent checklist

  • Check MSU's blackout dates, then book a weekday visit (or a Saturday tour at least a week ahead) on the schedule-a-visit form.
  • Book flights into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) and a rental car or a hotel with a shuttle.
  • Book a hotel downtown or near campus.
  • Pack warm layers for fall through spring visits.
  • After the visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

1 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (Montana State University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: Montana State University-Bozeman
  5. Montana State University Athletics (official site)
  6. Montana State University Athletics: Staff Directory
  7. Montana State University Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

Plan this trip

Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.

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Sources

All checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. Montana State University Admissions: Daily Visit Opportunities
  2. Montana State University Admissions: Schedule a Visit (official sign-up)
  3. Montana State University Admissions: Saturday Campus Tours
  4. Montana State University Admissions: Things to Know Before Your Visit
  5. Montana State University Parking Services: Visitor Parking and Directions
  6. Montana State University Admissions: Local Info and Discounts
  7. Expedia listing: AC Hotel Bozeman Downtown (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Bozeman-Hotels-AC-Hotel-Bozeman-Downtown.h71420034.Hotel-Information)
  8. Expedia listing: Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Bozeman-Hotels-Kimpton-Armory-Hotel-Bozeman.h48550230.Hotel-Information)
  9. Expedia listing: Best Western Plus GranTree Inn (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Bozeman-Hotels-Best-Western-Plus-GranTree-Inn.h6771.Hotel-Information)
  10. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  11. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  12. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  13. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Bozeman Gallatin Field, MT (USW00024132)
  14. Museum of the Rockies: Plan Your Visit
  15. Montana State Bobcats Athletics: Calendar