Hostels in Pennsylvania 
Looking for the best hostels in Pennsylvania? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Pennsylvania with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Pennsylvania hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Pennsylvania and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Pennsylvania
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Pennsylvania, across 6 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. 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 Philadelphia
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one of the thirteen original colonies. Years later, this state has grown and now offers several cities that hostel backpackers may be interested in visiting. The state's terrain changes in different parts of Pennsylvania, from flat hills to the Appalachian Mountains. Pennsylvania enjoys all four seasons, with cold, icy winters and pleasantly warm summers.
Philadelphia is a a good city to start from, or to include as a part of any journey through New England. This is where you will find historical sites and information. The famous cracked Liberty Bell is on display across the street from the Independence Hall, the state house where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Betsy Ross's home and other sites that helped shaped the foundation of the US are within walking distance. For more modern entertainment, check out the park and steps featured in the Rocky movie, or enjoy your favorite sport with the Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, or Flyers. End the day with a Philly Cheesesteak from Geno's or another famous sandwich shop before heading back to your hostel. Philadelphia has the widest selection of hostels in Pennsylvania.
From Philadelphia, you can head west. Other than State College, a city that exists due to the university, there aren't many cities in the middle of the state. However, Amish Country is worth a visit. Go to Lancaster County to learn how this group of people go without electricity, internet access, and cars, and instead choose old-fashioned farm work, plain modest dress, and buggy-hitched horses. Many of the Amish value their privacy, which is why they ask not to be photographed, but many do work in the tourism industry to allow you to explore typical Amish homes and activities.
Stop in Pittsburgh for more big-city feel. Pittsburgh also has hostels, though limited, to go with their museums, night life, parks, and sports. From there you can complete your trek across Pennsylvania by heading north to Erie. This is a lakeside town overlooking the great Lake Erie, and both Ohio and New York are just a short drive away from this point. Finish the Pennsylvania route by heading into one of these neighboring states, or if you have a sweet tooth, head east to Hershey, the chocolate capital.
Handwritten by local expert for Pennsylvania hostels Jessica Lippe
Travel Tips for Pennsylvania - 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 Pennsylvania. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.