Hostels in Ohio 
Looking for the best hostels in Ohio? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Ohio with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Ohio hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Ohio and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Ohio
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Ohio, across 2 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 Ohio 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 Ohio. 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.
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Ohio
Ohio is an incredibly diverse state. From peaceful countryside to big cities, Ohio has something to offer all kinds of travelers, including those looking for a hostel. The state is home to Holmes County, the largest Amish population. While most of this area includes country roads and farms, some of the Amish have gotten involved in the tourism business to allow visitors to learn more about their unique lives. Even outside the county you may still find people wearing plain dress and driving buggies. Hostels and other budget accommodation may be difficult to find in these areas, but there are a few unique hostels in rural Ohio.
The biggest Ohioan cities are Cleveland and the capitol Columbus. Other notable cities include Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and Akron. In these places you can definitely find more hostel options, as well as more to do within walking distance. In Columbus you can visit the state capitol building and see a wide array of museums and parks. In Cleveland, as well as other northern cities, you can walk along Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes. Ohio is known for their amusement parks, particularly of the Cedar Fair brand. Cedar Point in Sandusky and Kings Island in Mason are worth a visit to those who enjoy fantasy and seek thrills.
Another thing Ohio is known for is all of the quirky roadside attractions. In this state alone, you can find the world's largest gavel, the world's oldest traffic light, and the world's shortest street, just to name a few. Ohio has been the birthplace or home of many U.S. Presidents, so throughout the state you can find markers noting either a birthplace or burial ground of a famous politician.
Ohio is served well by several airports and a multitude of bus stations. Train service, however, is extremely limited. The best way to travel Ohio is by car, especially if you're interested in seeing the Amish community or other countryside. Most cities and towns are also very bicycle-friendly, so you may consider bringing or renting a bike for local trips.
In many ways, Ohio is a good representation of what to expect in the average American state. The diverse population of people, the diverse terrain, and the diverse things to do make Ohio an excellent state to visit.
Handwritten by local expert for Ohio hostels Jessica Lippe
Travel Tips for Ohio - 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 Ohio. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Ohio. 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 Ohio
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 Ohio?
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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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.