Hostels in Rhode Island 
Looking for the best hostels in Rhode Island? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Rhode Island with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Rhode Island hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Rhode Island and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Rhode Island
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Rhode Island, across 1 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island, USA, is the smallest state in the United States of America. And despite the name and fact that it has a long eastern-coast border, it's not actually an island! Since it is one of the thirteen original colonies that led to the founding of this nation, you can find a lot of history in this area from pre-Revolutionary War to today.
Rhode Island has unique foods that you should enjoy while you're in the state, because they can be difficult to find anywhere else! Snail salad is a seafood-style dish, but instead of fish it features snails. More toned-down menu choices include grinders (sub sandwiches), hot weiners (small hot dogs), pizza strips (without cheese), and clam cake (fritter made with clams). With a large fishing industry on the Rhode Island coast, you can enjoy lots of seafood during your stay.
Speaking of the coast, many of Rhode Island attractions are seaside. You can explore lighthouses, paddle a kayak in the water, and keep a lookout for marine life. There is a long bike path that goes through several towns by the shore. While you may be allowed to swim in some areas, take note that you shouldn't treat Rhode Island like a beach vacation. It can be windy and chilly at any time of year, so pack a sweater! Newport is a popular city for coastal trips, so look for a Rhode Island, USA hostel bed here if you'd like to enjoy a stay by the water. A hostel in Rhode Island, USA, will certainly be one of the most affordable ways to visit. This area has served as a backdrop for several films and shows. While there, also check out the Newport Mansions.
As it's one of the oldest states in the country, you can visit groundbreaking landmarks in Rhode Island. The state holds the oldest of both synagogues and Baptist churches in America. Every year on the Fourth of July, you can see the oldest US Independence Day Parade. You can still visit a handful of sites from the Colonial Era, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War.
After a couple nights in a Rhode Island, USA hostel, you'll probably want to move on to see more nearby. Massachusetts, to the north and the east, is a similar state with even more historical sites. If you take a boat, you can get to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Connecticut is to the west, and New York City is just south of that.
Handwritten by local expert for Rhode Island hostels Jessica Lippe
Travel Tips for Rhode Island - 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 Rhode Island. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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.