Everyone thinks of Orlando as the city with a lot of amusement parks, but actually the amusement parks are all located south of the city (mostly around Kissimmee). The city itself has a great downtown with a lot going on and it's worth checking out.
Hostels in Florida 
Looking for the best hostels in Florida? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Florida with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Florida hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Florida and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Florida
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Florida, across 16 cities! Not all cities have hostels, but many offer alternative budget options like guesthouses and affordable hotels. Use our filters to quickly find cities with hostels or other budget accommodations to simplify your trip planning.
All Florida hostels on a map
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Florida. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
All Top Hostels in Miami Beach
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
"…Close to everything you need during your stay in the city.
With a “tropical chic†style, more
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$16.34
"…Generator is a fun and affordable choice in Miami Beach.
Generator Miami Policies & Conditions more
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$14.61
"…And at night, music from the bar can be a problem for light sleepers, as the rooms are not more
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$12.35All Top Hostels in Fort Lauderdale
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
"Best home sweet home - I have been staying there for almost two months now and the staff and guests more
from
$2.37All Top Hostels in Tampa
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
"…I would come back anytime -- very relaxing place! - I went here because a guidebook said "This more
from
$26.00
"…My impression as a whole is that these people are hippies, but in a cool way, and they are not more
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$15.50Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Florida
Florida is a peninsula in the southeastern part of the United States. It is nicknamed the Sunshine State as it is warm almost year-round. Winter is actually a popular tourist season as summers tend to get too hot for many travelers. Spring is also popular, especially among the teens and college students who visit Florida beaches to celebrate their spring break vacation. Also keep an eye on the weather forecast, as Florida is sometimes prone to hurricanes and thunderstorms. But don't forget to pack beachwear!
A top destination for hostel backpackers and families as well is Orlando and the surrounding attractions. Walt Disney World is definitely the most popular attraction in Florida, located just south of Orlando in Lake Buena Vista. Some hostels can help you arrange transportation between Orlando and the amusement parks, or at least point you to the correct bus stop. Walt Disney World is split up into four parks plus two water parks and a shopping center. There's something for everyone's interest, from zoo animals to international offerings. Other attractions in and around Orlando include Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Legoland, and Busch Gardens.
With so much coastline, Florida offers exquisite beaches and beach communities. Some of the best known and popular beaches line the eastern (Atlantic) coast of the state. These include West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and the surfing and partying destination of Cocoa Beach. Hostels and other budget accommodation are offered in most of these cities. St. Augustine is a popular destination for history buffs, as it's one of the oldest settlements in the U.S., with the Spanish first establishing a colony there in the mid 1500s.
On the west side of the state is the Gulf Coast, offering beaches with the whitest sand and bluest water, and a more relaxed atmosphere. Clearwater, located near Tampa, is famous for its Clearwater Aquarium featuring Winter, the world's first amputee dolphin with a prosthetic tail. Other Gulf Coast beach towns include St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Naples.
Miami and Miami Beach is a completely different experience than you'll find in the rest of Florida. Miami has a decidedly Latin flavor, due to its large Cuban immigrant community. Miami Beach itself is a mix of cultures, but has a strong vibe of wealth, beauty, and opulent style. Whether you're there for the food, shopping, the beaches, the exclusive clubs, or just people watching, you won't be disappointed. This is the place to go to find a party hostel in Florida if that's what you're looking for.
At the Southern tip of Florida, you will find Everglades National Park. This is a great place for nature enthusiasts to visit and explore the unique flora and fauna, especially alligators. If you're in the mood for an island excursion, you may want to visit one or two of the Florida Keys, such as Key West or Key Largo. The bridges that connect each of the islands all the way from the tip of Florida down to Key West make for quite a unique driving experience.
The cost for hostel accommodations and other activities in Florida will greatly depend on the time of year and location. Tourist destinations tend to provide hostels for a high price. Whatever your price range is, your time spent in Florida is certain to be worthwhile!
Handwritten by local expert for Florida hostels Jessica Lippe
Travel Tips for Florida - from the Community
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Florida. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Florida. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
FAQ on Hostels in Florida
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
Finding Hostels and Prices
What hostel booking sites are best to use?
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
How much are hostels in Florida?
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in Florida here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
When to book hostels?
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Safety and Packing
Are hostels in Florida safe?
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
What to pack when staying in hostels?
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.