The Best Hostels in Towns You’ve Never Heard Of
Why Pintler’s Portal (Anaconda, MT) and Cloudcroft Hostel (Rolling Hills, NM) Deserve a Spot on Your Route
Some hostels make the guidebooks. Others become the reason you veer off the interstate.
They’re not in New York or L.A. or Denver. They’re tucked into mountain towns, desert outposts, and blink-and-you-miss-it places that reward the curious. The kind of places where the air smells like pine and the grocery clerk gives you trail tips.
This one’s for the hostels off the map — the kind that feel like secrets, even when the bunkroom is full.
And today, we’re spotlighting two that deserve your detour:
Pintler’s Portal Hostel in Anaconda, Montana
and
Cloudcroft Hostel in Rolling Hills, New Mexico.
🛏️ Pintler’s Portal Hostel – Anaconda, Montana
The gateway to solitude, stars, and slow mornings
Wait, where’s Anaconda? Exactly.
This old mining town in western Montana sits at the base of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness — one of the state’s most underrated trail systems. And Pintler’s Portal is your front-row bunk to it all.
✨ Why It’s Worth the Stop:
Stargazing hammocks out back
Hot showers + cozy fireplaces for post-hike recovery
Full kitchen + local beer fridge for communal dinners
Trailhead intel from locals who live and breathe the mountains
This is where hikers, bikers, and road-weary wanderers show up for one night… and stay for four. You’ll meet artists, ultralight backpackers, and solo travelers just looking to hear their own thoughts again.
“We came for a bed. We stayed for the silence. And the stars.”
— real guest review
Perfect for: Backpackers heading toward Yellowstone, Glacier, or anywhere in between.
🛏️ Cloudcroft Hostel – Rolling Hills, New Mexico
Desert soul with mountain air and sky-for-days peace
Rolling Hills isn’t on most maps. But it should be.
Set in the high desert of southern New Mexico, Cloudcroft Hostel offers a soft landing in one of the most peaceful regions of the Southwest.
✨ What Makes It Special:
Open skies + pine breezes (yes, it gets green in New Mexico)
Creative communal spaces built for musicians, readers, stargazers
Desert hikes + ghost towns nearby
A host who makes you feel like family, not just a guest
There’s a piano in the living room, locally made art on the walls, and a hammock that will absolutely derail your afternoon plans. It’s quiet, it’s quirky, and it’s full of character. No frills. No pretension. Just honest travel energy.
“Stayed for a night. Left with a new favorite town.”
- Hosteling.US traveler
Perfect for: Road trippers en route to White Sands, Santa Fe, or just chasing stillness.
🧭 Why You Should Stay in Places No One’s Talking About
You actually get to meet locals, not just other tourists.
Your dollar goes farther — and does more good.
Hostels like these are rooted. Real. Soulful.
They’re not trying to go viral. They’re trying to matter.
These places don’t need influencers. They need travelers - the kind who ask questions, who linger in the kitchen, who leave postcards instead of ratings.
Final Word: Go Where the Bunk Leads
Anaconda, Montana. Rolling Hills, New Mexico.
You may have never heard of them.
But once you’ve stayed, you’ll never forget them.
Because sometimes, the best part of the trip isn’t where you planned to go - it’s where the bunk took you instead.
🔍 Explore More Hidden-Gem Hostels Across the USA →