3 Best Hostels in Anchorage -Hiking trails, Majestic Glaciers and City Life

Best Hostels in Anchorage

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, USA, boasting rugged mountains, epic views, quirky locals, and unique wildlife.

For most travelers seeking adventures amidst nature, Anchorage is the first port of call, filled with opportunities to understand more about the indigenous groups and crafts of the region.

The city is all about craft beer, coffee shops, and many places to get your dining and drinking. If you plan a trip to Alaska and love to backpack the roads less traveled, you should make your stop in this city. Our guide will help you to pick the best hostels in Anchorage.

Our favorite hostels in Anchorage are:

  1. Base Camp Anchorage - best for solo travelers
  2. Ingra House Hotel - best for travelers on a budget
  3. Gardenside Bed and Breakfast - best for families
  4. Extra: Maria's Creekside B&B - best for couples

Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.

However, this city isn’t famous for its accommodation and options are limited.

Only a handful of hostels offer affordable and comfortable stays. To help you make the most of your trip, we have researched and narrowed down the best hostels in Anchorage, Alaska.

If you’re traveling throughout the USA, we have other guides that might come in handy, like our best hostels in the USA article. Planning on crossing the border? Check out our best hostels in Canada recommendations.

This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…

  • are tired of crappy hostels!
  • want a social Hostel to actually meet people
  • are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience

You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to β€œBest Hostels In” here.

Quick Introduction to Anchorage

Average price for a bed: Hostels in Anchorage cost around 39$ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room has an average of around $96 per night. This is a rough average, just to give you an idea.

Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelz.com or Hostelworld.com.

Check-In and Check-Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 pm), while the Check-Out time is before 11:00 (11 am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.

🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:

The 3 Best Hostels in Anchorage are …

Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Anchorage.

  1. Base Camp Anchorage – best for solo travelers
  2. Ingra House Hotel – best for travelers on a budget
  3. Gardenside Bed and Breakfast – best for families
  4. Extra: Maria's Creekside B&B - best for couples

These are our favorite hostels in Anchorage. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.

Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

🦸 Solo Traveler: Base Camp Anchorage
πŸ€‘ Budget-friendly:Ingra House Hotel
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘¦ Family Hostel: Gardenside Bed and Breakfast
πŸ‘©β€β€οΈβ€πŸ‘¨ Couple Hostel: Maria's Creekside B&B
πŸ‘― For Groups:Gardenside Bed and Breakfast

1. Base Camp Anchorage

Base Camp Anchorage is the first on our list of best hostels in Anchorage. It’s an excellent accommodation for people who love the outdoors. It is conveniently located and is just a short walk from the cafes, late-night avenues, bars, and restaurants.

The owners are really helpful and have great suggestions for travelers looking for wonderful hikes and stunning scenery in Alaska.

There are many relaxing common areas and outdoor spaces, and it even features a sauna providing the utmost relaxation. If you plan camping and want to pick up some camping gear, there are several recreational equipment shops nearby.

Book Base Camp Anchorage here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

Base Camp Anchorage Dorms

Even though Base Camp is small, it has a pretty welcoming and cozy vibe. Once you arrive, get ready to be greeted by diverse travelers from all around the globe!

The hostel has four-bed dorms and a private room where the guests can stay. If you stay in the dorm, you are provided with your security locker for your belongings.

It also features standard amenities, including free WiFi, laundry services, book exchange, a shared kitchen, and public computers for guests to use.

The staff and the owners are really helpful and knowledgeable of Anchorage and will provide you with great suggestions for activities to do in the area.

The best choice in Anchorage for

  • Backpackers
  • Solo travelers
Book Base Camp Anchorage here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

Base Camp Anchorage Base Camp Anchorage Garden Β 

2. Ingra House Hotel

Ingra House HotelΒ is one of the best hostels in Anchorage. It’s a European-style hostel reconstructed in 2005 into a three-story, 40-room building. There are three shared kitchens, six shared bathrooms, and a coin-op laundry facility on site.

The best part about Ingra house hostel is that it also offers rooms for disabled people with wheelchair ramps, handicap-modified kitchens, and handicap-accessible bathrooms. Of all the accommodations in Anchorage, Ingra House Hostel is the most economical!

Book Ingra House Hotel here

Check prices at:
Booking.com |

Ingra House Hotel BBQ

Every room comes fully furnished with comfortable beds, linens, built-in wardrobes, a television, and a refrigerator. The hostel provides WiFi throughout the property, making it the ideal workspace for digital nomads who don’t mind the lack of a shared working space.

The shared kitchen is well equipped with all facilities and has a coffee maker, dining table, dishes galore, and a four-burner range. Furthermore, this place excels in safety, cleanliness, and staff commitment.

The level of services and dedication offered by the owners is simply unmatched. Alaskans manage the hostel with many decades of experience in travel and adventure. Therefore, they can provide you with lots of recommendations for experiences and activities,

A great choice for

  • Digital nomads
  • Budget-consciousΒ 
Book Ingra House Hotel here

Check prices at:
Booking.com |

Ingra House Hotel Kitchen Β Ingra House Hotel

3. Gardenside Bed and Breakfast

Gardenside Bed and BreakfastΒ is a great choice for staying in Anchorage. The friendly host offers guests a warm welcome, and it is considered one of the best hostels in Anchorage for families, especially for its quadruple room.

Popular areas of interest near the hostel include Sullivan Arena, Ben Boeke Ice Arena, and Mulcahy Stadium. The superior-rated, 3-star accommodation is well furnished and provides rooms with garden views.

The Gardenside Bed and Breakfast includes a tranquil patio, terrace, BBQ grills, strong WiFi, and free parking. The rooms are nicely designed, with coffee-making amenities, a hospitality tray, and a TV.

In addition, the deluxe rooms include a private bathroom and flat-screen TV,

Every day, guests are treated to buffet-style breakfast, including fresh coffee, a selection of hot and cold drinks, and other delicious breakfast options. The best thing about the hostel is that the guests can engage in many activities, such as hiking and cycling.

This is one of the best hostels in Anchorage for

  • Families
Book Gardenside Bed and Breakfast here

Check prices at:
Booking.com |

Gardenside Bed and Breakfast Gardenside Bed and Breakfast Lounge Gardenside Bed and Breakfast Garden

4. Maria's Creekside B&B

Maria's Creekside B&B offers a heartwarming and romantic atmosphere, making it one of the best hostels in Anchorage for couples. The beautiful decor, loads of wooden furniture, and welcoming vibes of the host make you feel super comfortable.

The hostel is highly budget friendly and provides you with the best amenities. It is surrounded by Campbell Creek Park and several biking and hiking trails.

Also, it is located along Campbell Creek and offers secluded accommodations hardly 7-8 minutes from Downtown Anchorage. As you step outside the property, you can find several restaurants, coffee shops, and plenty of local shopping and attractions.

Book Maria's Creekside B&B here

Check prices at:
Booking.com |

Maria's Creekside B&B

There are three large guest rooms, and each has a private bath. The rooms are traditionally decorated, and every room features a seating area, work desk, and flat-screen TV.

If you wish to savor the local cuisine of Anchorage, then a made-to-order breakfast option is also available.

The staff at the hostel is really helpful and does its best to take care of all your needs. They provide assistance and easy access to all kinds of outdoor activities.

This is one of the best hostels in Anchorage for

  • Couples
Book Maria's Creekside B&B here

Check prices at:
Booking.com |

Β Maria's Creekside B&B Terrace Maria's Creekside B&B Lounge

Best Hostels in Anchorage for Solo Travelers?Β 

We think that the best hostel in Anchorage is Base Camp Anchorage. They have awesome facilities, the owners are super friendly and will make you feel right at home and will help you out if you run across any issues during your trip.

We also really love the overall comfortable and laid-back feel of this Anchorage hostel.

Book Base Camp Anchorage here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

Base Camp Anchorage Garden

More Hostels worth a mention

At the moment, we think you are all set with the hostels we just shared with you. We always try to keep our guides super fresh and up to date. We might add more hostels worth a mention here in the future if we feel that it could enrich your travel and hostel experience.

One hostel you may have come across while searching for the best hostels in Anchorage Alaska is Qupqugiaq Inn Anchorage. We think it’s quite isolated and not very comfortable. It also recently got a lot of bad comments so we can’t recommend it to you.

What about the cheapest hostels in Anchorage?

Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Anchorage.

  1. Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Anchorage
  2. add your dates
  3. Order the listings by price

Simple as that.

Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.

Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.

Any Discounts?

You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.

It is completely free to join!

How to book?

The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.

We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.

Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld

We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Anchorage best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.

The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.

Download the Hostelworld App here

QR Code to Download your Hostelworld app with one scan
Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!

The best way to find hostels: Hostelgeeks website and Hostelworld App

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Our Favorite Hostels in Anchorage put on a map + sights

We’re listing all the three best Anchorage hostels on a map to give you an idea of the location and distances between them.

We also have a few suggestions for things to do in Anchorage:

Begin your visit with a stop at the Alaska Native Heritage Centre or the Anchorage Museum, where you can study the history and culture of the native population. There are other museums as well, such as the Alaska Museum of Science and Nature, where you can learn about the natural history, bears, fossils, and more of the area.

You can rent a car and take Hatcher Pass Road up to the Talkeetna Mountains to the Independence Mine State Historical Park. It’s a former gold mining site and makes for a picturesque location.

If you wish to discover Alaska through food, Anchorage is a premier location showcasing the region’s culinary traditions. There are various options, from fresh seafood to delicious smoked meats. Also, Anchorage has a lot of breweries, products of which can be found on the menus of local restaurants, and Travelers can tour them and sample the best local craft beer.

Did you know Alaska is home to some of the most beautiful national parks in the US, and that 5 of them are in Anchorage? The most widely known is Denali National Park, home to America’s tallest peak. The parks provide visitors with unrivaled animal spotting, hiking trails, and more.

Don’t miss the Chugach Mountains that serve as the perfect backdrop for the Anchorage skyline. It is situated in the most accessible natural areas in all of Alaska, and you can reach by car in just 20 minutes from downtown Anchorage. The most accessible one is a flattop mountain, which offers trails for every hiking level.

Anchorage is a perfect place for seeing the exotic animals of the region. Urban moose can easily be seen in city parks and even in backyards. You can schedule a boat tour for whale watching or book a helicopter excursion to see bears fishing nearby. Some of the most majestic animals can be found in or near Anchorage.

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FAQs

Here we share with you the most asked question:

Any questions about hostels in Anchorage?

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Flights to Anchorage?

We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.

Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.

Our Step-by-Step Guide to Skyscanner

review of Skyscanner flight searches

So here you have it, a great list of the best hostels in Alaska Anchorage.Β 

Here are all our US Hostel Guides:

Party hostels in the US:

If you decide to cross the border, we also have a few guides for the best hostels in Canada:

Over to you

Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!

Your question will help us to improve this Anchorage guide.

Last note: Our commitment

This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.

Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks

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