Salt Lake City is an awesome place. Most of the residents are not Mormons -- there are a lot of non-Mormons here. I meet people every month who originally planned on being here for only a few days and end up extending their stay for several weeks. Salt Lake City is a very friendly town to Mormons and non-Mormons. I'll give you an example. The other day I met two young travelers from England -- they were dressed like punks. They asked me if I knew a nice place for them to visit. I recommended the Temple Square where the old Mormon temple is located. Later that day, the same young travelers extend their stay three more days! I bet if they did not feel welcome, they would have left right away. I am not originally from Utah -- I was born in Africa and grew up in Europe. I have been all around the world and I can honestly say that Salt Lake City is my favorite place to live. I like it here because of the friendly people that live here (Mormon and non-Mormon). I like the city layout and all the beautiful mountains surrounding downtown Salt Lake.
Hostels in Utah 
Looking for the best hostels in Utah? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Utah with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Utah hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Utah and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Utah
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Utah, across 5 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 Utah 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 Utah. 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 Utah
Utah is known as the "canyon lands" of the United States. It is here that you will find some of the most spectacular scenery to be had in the United States. You could spend weeks here and still not get the chance to see it all.
The capital city of the state of Utah is Salt Lake City and it's where you will find the most options for hostels in Utah. This city was home to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and has some spectacular skiing if you are here in the winter months (including in the nearby town of Park City). Salt Lake City is also home to the largest population of Mormons in the country, and they have a spectacular Tabernacle choir that has won quite a number of awards. They are well worth seeing if you get the opportunity. There are a few different hostels that you can stay in during your time here.
The rest of Utah is home to hostels that are scattered around the region with only one hostel in each location. Moab is a great location to base yourself for the exploration of the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks that are home to some stunning natural formations. The most famous of these is the Horseshoe Canyon. Not only is it picturesque, but you will also find some incredible art from the natives on the rock faces here.
The two other national parks that are not to be missed are Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. Both are home to some amazing hiking and you can spend days to weeks exploring in these parks. There aren't currently any hostels in the area, but that may change eventually. To be able to explore these regions properly, you will need a car. Public transport in and around these regions is not great.
Another not miss as you travel through Utah is Lake Powell, which straddles the border of Arizona. It is a man made lake that acts as a water reservoir to this region and is home to magnificent scenery. You can use this as a base with which to explore the Glen Canyon Recreational Area.
Handwritten by local expert for Utah hostels Globetrotter
Travel Tips for Utah - 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 Utah. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Utah. 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 Utah
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 Utah?
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 Utah 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 Utah 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.