RAD Hostel

Colorado Springs, CO

The Vibe:

Pikes Peak is right there. You can see it from the backyard.

Open since 2018, this Colorado Springs hostel has guests from over 100 countries in the guestbook and is owned and operated by a fellow experiential traveler who strongly believes in a safe basecamp for all. This hostel is perfect for the solo-traveler, the camper van steward and the group of hikers. Why? The private back yard with a bonfire. The communal dinners sharing the day’s adventures. The Sunday pancakes with the strangers who end up becoming your hiking partner for the rest of the week.

RAD is what happens when someone builds a hostel because they actually believe in hostel and travel culture, and at RAD Hostel the traveler gets to reap the benefits of location, cleanliness, community and value.

What Makes It Different:
This hostel offers five-star amenities for budget travelers. We’re talking:

🛏️ Plush beds in quiet rooms, cleaned daily
🔥 Giant private back yard with epic views complete with good convos and mountain air
💻 Free high-speed WiFi for co-working, and fully stocked kitchen for making meals
🚗 Off-street parking (great for Camper Vans and Trucks!)
🪴 Gorgeous plantscapes throughout the common areas for good vibes
✨ Notoriously full of authentic travelers seeking adventure days and chill nights

Where RAD Hostel Sits in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs isn't a one-attraction city and RAD is positioned to prove it. The hostel's North Nevada location puts you on the north end of town, which keeps you out of the tourist cluster but close to everything worth doing.

Garden of the Gods is a 15-minute drive and the kind of place that earns its reputation. Pikes Peak is further but reachable, with the Pikes Peak Highway summit route that RAD has partnered with for guest experiences. Manitou Springs is just west, a genuinely weird little town with a Thursday night drum circle that draws locals and visitors in equal measure. Cave of the Winds is out there too, with a zip line over the canyon that RAD guests have access to as part of organized excursions.

This is Colorado Springs for people who actually want to be in Colorado Springs, not just passing through on the way to Denver.

A man with a backpack stands at a reception counter speaking to a smiling receptionist. The counter displays a colorful "Welcome" sign. Behind the counter are rolled towels, and a colorful wall mural contains an inspirational message about diversity.
Living room with gray sectional sofa, wooden coffee table, and a small white dog on a patterned rug. A Colorado flag and various international flags are displayed on the walls.
A hostel dorm room with metal bunk beds, colorful bedding, and a sunset-themed wall mural. A wooden table with benches and a fruit basket is placed on a patterned rug. A "No Smoking" sign is visible on the red door.
Bicycles parked against a wall with a mountain mural featuring a snowboarder and the hashtag #RADHOSTEL.
People sitting in an outdoor area with colorful mural, watching an event, some holding drinks.
Desk with open laptop, sunglasses, and notebook, set against a mural of sandstone formations in a room with a red door and bulletin board.
  • Parking lot sign with a car and a parking symbol on an orange background

    Parking

  • Icon of a row of six binders on a shelf.

    Secure Storage

  • Icon of a bicycle on an orange circular background.

    Bike Rack

  • Icon of a microwave oven with a steaming bowl inside, set against an orange circular background.

    Kitchen

  • White laptop icon on an orange circular background.

    Workspaces

  • Icon of a bedroom with a bed, a picture on the wall, and a clock on the wall, all within an orange circle.

    Private Room

  • White ladder-style bunk beds icon on an orange circular background.

    Shared Rooms

  • Wi-Fi signal icon on an orange circular background

    Wifi

  • Icon of a teapot within an orange circle

    Tea & Coffee

  • Showerhead icon on an orange circular background.

    Hot Showers

  • Icon of a towel hanging on a towel rack with water waves on the towel, on an orange background.

    Towels

  • Icon of a pot with steam rising, connected to a thermometer, on an orange circular background.

    Hot Tub

  • Icon of a clock with the number 24 in the center, surrounded by an arrow indicating 24-hour service, on an orange background.

    24 Hour Reception

  • Dog Friendly

  • Breakfast

You’ll love this hostel if:

You’re looking to make lots of friends

No hostel visit is complete without an outdoor adventure

You love supporting sustainable tourism and the planet

Pancake breakfasts are your jam

Two wooden Adirondack chairs on a grassy circle around a stone fire pit with a burning fire, smoke rising, and bushes nearby.

Who Stays at RAD Hostel

Solo travelers show up most, but the mix is wide. Hikers tackling Pikes Peak or the Manitou Incline. Digital nomads who need a desk and decent WiFi and aren't willing to pay hotel prices for it. Scout troops, hiking clubs, conservation corps groups using the group buyout option for a proper base camp. People attending the Colorado Springs Space Symposium who want something with more life to it than a conference hotel.

The one thing they share: they're not here for a room. They're here because something about the alternative -- the anonymous hotel, the scrolling-alone evening, the overpriced lobby bar -- doesn't sit right anymore.

Hostel Policies

  • Check-in: 5:00 PM
    Check-out: 11:00 AM

    Front desk and lobby are open 8am-11am and 5pm-9pm. The main building is accessible via the side door from 7am-9pm. Staff is always on the property.

    Check-in is 4pm-9pm. If you need to arrive early, reach out ahead of time. Early check-in may be available for a fee.

    Arriving after 9pm? Remote check-in is an option. Just give the property a heads-up as early as you can.

    Dorm guests: please be in by midnight, out of respect for your bunkmates.

    A state-issued ID or passport is required at check-in. All guests must be 18 or older to book.

    Check-out is by 11am. Late check-out may be available but will cost extra.

  • Must be 18 or older (unless traveling with a parent or legal guardian, AND booking a private room)

    Bring a valid government-issued ID + Debit/Credit Card in your name. 

    We do not accept 3rd party payment. The credit card or debit card used for payment must belong to at least one of the guests staying overnight in our facility. Please be prepared to show your card and ID at check-in.

    Payment upon arrival by credit card or debit card. We DO NOT accept cash. Credit cards may be pre-authorized prior to arrival.

    Breakfast is not included.

    One person per twin bed.

    Must be a traveler with residency outside of Colorado with a travel document.

    We have a cat, her name is Toast. (We can quarantine her for your visit, just email us!)

  • The full reservation amount is charged to your card 2 days before arrival. A $100 hold is placed at check-in for incidentals. Cash guests leave a $100 deposit instead.

    Cancellations must be made by 3pm, 2 days before your arrival date. Cancel after that window and you'll be charged the full reservation total. No exceptions.

    The person who books the reservation must be the person checking in and paying. Third-party payments aren't accepted. You may be asked to show the card you booked with.

  • All rooms are non-smoking. Smoking and vaping indoors is grounds for removal and a $250 fee. The designated outdoor patio is the only smoking area.

    Cannabis is not allowed on the property.

    Alcohol is permitted for guests 21+. Intoxicated behavior is grounds for removal without refund.

    Quiet hours are 10pm-7am. Headphones on, voices down, lights off in shared rooms.

    Visitors are only allowed in outdoor common areas. Non-registered guests cannot enter dorms or private rooms.

    This is a weapon-free property. If you're traveling with a firearm or other weapon, ask staff to secure it in the safe.

    Housekeeping enters dorms daily and private rooms every 3 days or on request. Staff may enter rooms for other business purposes as needed.

    The hostel isn't responsible for lost or stolen personal items. Lockers with padlocks are available. A safe is on-site for valuables.

    All adults on the reservation must show valid ID at check-in. All guests must be declared.

    Children of all ages must be supervised by an adult 18+ at all times on the property.

    Cooking is only allowed in the designated kitchen areas. Microwave use is fine in rooms.

    No outside linens, furniture, appliances, TVs, or cooking equipment in guest rooms.

    The property reserves the right to refuse service, add policies as needed, and remove guests for policy violations without refund.

    The full reservation amount is charged to your card 2 days before arrival. A $100 hold is placed at check-in for incidentals. Cash guests leave a $100 deposit instead.

    Cancellations must be made by 3pm, 2 days before your arrival date. Cancel after that window and you'll be charged the full reservation total. No exceptions.

    The person who books the reservation must be the person checking in and paying. Third-party payments aren't accepted. You may be asked to show the card you booked with.

    Dogs over 1 year old are welcome for $25/night. Declare your dog at the time of booking and fill out a dog agreement at check-in. Cats and puppies aren't allowed. Showing up with an undeclared pet is grounds for removal without a refund, plus a $100 cleaning fee.

    Service animals: contact the property directly to make your reservation. Emotional support animals can't be accommodated.

    This property is a hostel for travelers. El Paso County, CO residents may stay up to 2 nights. Exceptions are considered case-by-case with proof of onward travel.

    By providing your phone number at booking, you consent to receive texts about your stay, including check-in instructions, access info, and room updates. Reply STOP to opt out at any time. Your phone number is never shared with third parties for marketing.

  • One vehicle per reservation parks free. Additional vehicles are $5/night. If the main lot is full, overflow options are available on-site. Ask the front desk.