I wouldn't recommend hitchhiking. There are two prisons in the area, one being an honor camp, meaning there is not much preventing an inmate from breaking out, but his honor. There are escapees quite frequently. Some years ago, when the police were looking for an escapee, all the hitchhikers between Port Angeles and Aberdeen were stopped. Each and every one of them, about 15+ men, had a warrant out for his arrest. Scary. A young man hitchhiking from Port Angeles was picked up by a recently released prisoner on his way to Forks from Monroe. The young hitchhiker ended up stabbing the man who picked him up to death to save his own life when the man tried to rape him.
Hostels in Washington 
You are looking for hostels in Washington? Good news, you have come to the right place.
On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your Washington hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking Washington.
All Cities in Washington
We list every single hostel in Washington and the world. In total, we have 5 cities in Washington for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.
All Washington 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 Washington. 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.
Best Hostels in Hostels in Seattle
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Washington
Washington state is located on the northwest coast of the United States of America, and is often confused with Washington DC (though the two places, couldn't be any more different). Washington is home to deserts, forests, mountains, coastal islands, and a rugged coastline.
Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest and it's the city with the most hostels in the region. It's a vibrant, modern, and quite liberal city. It is a port town, and is where many visitors start their Alaskan cruises or trips into Canada. Seattle is also home to the first Starbucks, and home to legendary rock bands Pearl Jam and Nirvana. There are lots to do in the city, plenty of museums, Pike's place market, and the Space Needle (the iconic tower which offers a great view of the city).
If you love hiking, then Washington is for you. Washington has several National Parks, including Mount Rainier National Park, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, and Olympic National park.
Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier are both volcanos. Mount St Helens' most recent eruption in 1980 was one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history and it dramatically changed the mountain itself and the surrounding landscape. There is information about the eruption in the park's visitor center. There are glaciers in both parks and plenty of good hiking trails and wildlife spotting opportunities. Hostel options near St. Helens are limited, but if visiting Mount Rainier, you can find hostel accommodations in nearby Ashford.
There are also the San Juan Islands in the San Juan National Historical Park. The islands are definitely worth exploring. This is also a great place for wildlife spotting, and even whale watching. The islands are famous for sea kayaking, scuba diving, hiking, amazing sunsets, sailing, and fishing.
There are many different accommodation options throughout Washington state. In the larger cities, such as Washington and Olympia, there are plenty of hostels. In smaller towns and national parks, there are campsites and RV sites, some hostels and backpackers. Hostels and backpackers in and near the national parks are sometimes quite basic, and don't have hot water or internet. So if you're after these things, make sure you double check the listing and description before booking. If you are planning on travelling to Washington during the summer months (June - August), make sure you book in advance, as this is the school holiday period in the USA and Canada, and places book up quickly.
Handwritten by local expert for Washington hostels Kelly Sheldrick
Travel Tips for Washington - 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 Washington. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Washington. 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 Washington
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 Washington?
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 Washington 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 Washington 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.