Salt Lake City is a playground for travellers passionate about nature. The neighbouring Wasatch Mountains are loved by skiers, mountain bikers, and hikers, and there are heaps of cultural attractions to balance it out.

Attractions such as the University of Utah, the convention centre, and historic sites draw visitors to the city year-round. As the centre of the Mormon church, there are many beautiful temples and religious sites throughout the city.

Hostels are the perfect solution to traveling on a budget, and there are plenty in the area to choose from. To help with your research, we’ve made a list of the best hostels in Salt Lake City – so you can find the one best suited to you!

Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Salt Lake City

What to Expect from Hostels in Salt Lake City

There are a few good reasons to book a hostel over a hotel. Of course, they are a bit cheaper. In Salt Lake City, staying in a hostel can then help you have more money to do other cool outdoor adventure activities!

But it’s the social atmosphere of hostels that really sets them apart. They are a really great way to meet other travellers and start exploring the city you’re in. There’s not much better than swapping travel stories in the shared kitchen and making random connections with beautiful strangers.

When travelling in Salt Lake City, there is a range of hostels from youth hostels to religious lodgings. There is a sweet spot for the backpackers here with a few high-quality budget accommodations available! We’ve gone ahead and put them all in this one tasty article, just for you.

We rounded up the average price for a dorm room and a private room in Salt Lake City Hostels, and while the private rooms can still be on the higher end, they are comparatively cheap to the hotels in the area.

  • Dorm: $28 – $35
  • Private Room: $55 – $80

Your search for the perfect hostel can be made easier by using Hostelworld. Hundreds of hostels are listed with guest reviews, amenities, and the quirks that set each hostel apart. The hostels in Salt Lake City are mostly located within the city centre. But, it’s always worth knowing what different neighbourhoods bring to the table!

Central City – great for first-timers setting out to explore!

Capital Hill – best for those broke backpackers on a budget.

Downtown – the obvious choice for some partying & damn good nightlife.

Once you’ve nailed where you want to stay, it’s time to pick your hostel!

Best Hostels in Salt Lake City

The Best Hostels in Salt Lake City

We rounded up the three damn best hostels in Salt Lake City! It’s time to pack your bags and get out there adventuring – the hardest part of pick where to stay is over!

#1 Overall Best Hostel in Salt Lake City – Avenues Hostel

Avenues Hostel best hostels in salt lake city
This is our number one hostel in Salt Lake City
  • Free breakfast
  • Free wifi
  • Free linens 

Avenues Hostel is the best overall hostel in Salt Lake City because it really is the total package! It’s got a good price, attentive staff, a central location and free breakfast included! There’s also a piano and satellite TV – I mean, what more could you ask for?

This homey hostel will have you excited to come back and put your feet up after a long day exploring. The staff are known for being super friendly and welcoming and the hostel has a good social atmosphere.

Why you’ll this hostel:

  • Damn affordable price
  • Central location
  • Spacious kitchen – no fighting for space here!

Nestled in a quiet neighbourhood at the centre of it all, Avenues Hostel is only a short walk from main attractions like Temple Square. With the bus system and TRAX (the light rail) nearby, the whole city is super accessible. 

Not only that but it’s close to ski resorts as well! So you snow bums have a cheap place to stay before you hit the slopes – guaranteed.

There are common areas, and outdoor spaces to sit around and swap yarns with other travellers in. There are male and female dorms, and a considerate policy of not checking in anyone new after 10:30 pm so those in the dorms can sleep soundly. Private rooms are also available onsite.

#2 Best Party Hostel in Salt Lake City – Park City Hostel

Park City Hostel best hostels in salt lake city
  • $$$ 
  • Free wifi
  • Free linens & towels
  • BBQ

This hostel is off the charts! Clean and stocked full of hostel staples like free wifi and cosy common areas, it’s also quirky and full of the love the staff have for the place.

Positioned for some of the best skiing in the world, this is a powder hound’s dream! Although it’s a bit of a drive from downtown Salt Lake City, this hostel is in the heart of Park City, overlooking the ski slopes.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

  • Book exchange
  • Views of the ski slopes
  • Pool table

Park City Hostel is a great alternative to the pricey hotels in the area. It’s also ski bum approved – you can see the slopes from the terrace!

After a day in the great outdoors, you can enjoy a BBQ on the terrace. Connect with other travellers in the roomy living room or on the enormous terrace for some improv aprés-ski. When you are all socialised out, you can retreat to the dorms which are kept nice and quiet.

You’re also guaranteed to love the spacious kitchen. There’s more than enough room to stop the elbow jostling that has been known at some hostels!

# 3 Best Cheap Hostel in Salt Lake City – Reservoir Park Properties

Reservoir Park Properties best hostels in salt lake city
  • Free wifi
  • Free linens
  • Dorm only (No private rooms)

Reservoir Park is the perfect hostel for anyone travelling on a budget. It’s close to loads of Salt Lake City attractions, including the university and Temple Square.

Convenience stores, restaurants, and bars are merely a short stroll away. It’s also a cosy hostel in its own right. After travelling to South America, the owners were inspired to open it up and incorporated some true Latin American hospitality into this hostel.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

  • Super friendly staff
  • Free parking onsite
  • Quirky decor

Rooms are big and spacious, and the open dormitory setup helps keep the cost low. It’s also a great way to meet other people on the road.

You’ll also have access to the kitchen, so you won’t have to worry about eating out all the time! Time to show off your cooking skills to everyone you meet here.

There is free wifi throughout the property and common areas, so you can call home and meet new travellers. Laundry facilities are available for a small fee – so you’ll have everything you need for a comfortable stay, all for a budget price!

Reservoir Park Properties is one of our favourites in Salt Lake City but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

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More of the Best Hostels in Salt Lake City

In case those three hostels didn’t quite tickle your fancy, we’ve rounded up more awesome properties to stay at in Salt Lake City! Some of these places are a little further out of the city, or not strictly hostels, but they are still dope places to base yourself on your adventures in the city.

Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Salt Lake City – SLC Hostel

SLC Hostel best hostels in salt lake city
The perfect place to work hard, and play even harder
  • $$ 
  • Free wifi
  • Free linens, blanket, & towels

SLC Hostel is new, modern, and tidy. It’s right in the city centre, so the light rail and TRAX are an easy walk away. Within the hostel, you’ll have tea and coffee-making facilities, kitchen utensils and a microwave.

Common areas allow you to find your own space and get some work done, and computers are available. You’ll also have free wifi throughout – perfect for any digital nomad.

Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Salt Lake City – Camelot Inn & Hostel

Camelot Inn and Hostel best hostels in salt lake city
  • $$
  • Free linens & towels
  • Parking lot
  • Bike rental

A solo traveller on a budget can find value for money at the Camelot Inn & Hostel. Depending on your needs, choose from a bed in the dorm or one in a single-private room. Self-check-in is also available, so you can arrive on your own schedule.

There’s a fully equipped kitchen for you to use and off-street parking. If you’re not bringing a car, bike rental is available at a small fee. Public transport is also a short walk away, so you can easily explore everything on offer in Salt Lake City.

Best Hostel with a Private Room in Salt Lake City – Black Diamond Ski Lodge Home

Black Diamond Ski Lodge Home best hostels in salt lake city
  • $$$ 
  • Free wifi
  • Private room
  • Fireplace

At Black Diamond Ski Lodge Home, you’ll feel like you’re in your own private oasis. When you arrive home after a day on the slopes, you can relax in front of the stone fireplace in your own private area, or chat with the friendly owners who share your passion for the great outdoors.

Although it’s a bit far from downtown Salt Lake, the bus stop outside the front door goes straight to the mountain! This helps make a day out a lot easier, and more cost-effective. 

Black Diamond Ski Lodge Home is one of our favourites in Salt Lake City but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

Best Hostel for Couples in Salt Lake City – Airport BnB 

Airport BnB best hostels in salt lake city
Cosy and convenient
  • $$ 
  • Private rooms only
  • Free wifi
  • Free linens & towels

Although Airport BnB isn’t your traditional hostel, you can find a great price for a lovely space! Rooms either have a double or queen bed – perfect for travelling couples.

As the name suggests, it’s super close to the airport and just a short drive from the main attractions of downtown Salt Lake. The shared kitchen, living room, and beautiful private bedrooms will make you feel like you’re staying at a friend’s house for the weekend.

Airport BnB is one of our favourites in Salt Lake City but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

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Over to You

So, that’s our list of Best Hostels in Salt Lake City! If you’re planning an epic outdoor adventure in Utah, you’re sure to find accommodation to suit your travel style and budget.

You can’t go wrong with the Avenues Hostel, but if you decide to choose another, we’re sure you’ll have an epic time! And better yet, you won’t have to break the bank to do it.


And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!