11 Best HOSTELS NEAR Lax Airport [2023!]

No trip to California is complete without visiting Los Angeles. The centre of the global film industry, you won’t want to miss seeing the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame or visiting Universal Studios.

When visiting LA, the chances are you’ll pass through the city’s huge international airport LAX. Hotels nearby can be extremely expensive, so hostels are a good way to save yourself some cash on your trip!

We’ve put together this list of the best hostels near LAX, taking into account into account your personality and travel style!

So, let’s take a closer look at the best hostels on offer near LAX. We’re sure that you’ll find something on our list that matches up to your taste perfectly!

Quick Answer: Best Hostels Near Lax Airport

#1 Overall best hostel near LAX – USA Hostels Hollywood
#2 Best hostel near LAX to catch an early flight – Freehand Los Angeles
#3 Best hostel near LAX for solo travelers – HI Los Angeles Santa Monica
#4 Best party hostel near LAX – Banana Bungalow Hollywood
#5 Best hostel for business travelers near LAX – Podshare Venice Beach
#6 Best hostel for couples near LAX – The Venice beach Hostel
#7 Best hostel near LAX for families – Orange Drive Hostel
#8 Best budget hostel near LAX – Melrose Hostel
#9 Best luxury hostel near LAX – Samesun Venice Beach
#10 Best hostel with a private room near LAX – Surf City Hostel

 

#1 – USA Hostels Hollywood

• Overall best hostel near LAX •

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  • Cost – $$
  • Distance to Lax Airport 21.7 km/13.5 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by Airport shuttle: 40 – 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 4 hour 32 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 40 minute – 1 hour 15 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by train: 1 hours 43 minutes
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 56 minutes

USA Hostels Hollywood is the best hostel near LAX Airport. When reading the description, it may sound far away but most of the hostels on this list are around the same distance away. That’s nothing to worry about though as there’s an excellent public transport system that will get you there!

There’s plenty to love at this fun and sociable hostel, including weekly BBQs, free use of iPads and lockers, and even hostel walking tours to exciting places like Runyan Canyon, and of course – the Hollywood Sign!

The hostel is a great place to chill too – enjoy the large outdoor patio before having a great night’s sleep in your comfy privacy pod! Oh, and did we mention that breakfast is included?!

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#2 – Freehand Los Angeles

• Best hostel near LAX to catch an early flight •

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  • Cost – $$
  • Distance to Lax Airport 20.44 km/12.7 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by Airport shuttle: 24 – 45 minutes
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 4 hour 17 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 24 – 45 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by train: 1 hour 19 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 57 minute

Freehand Los Angeles is the best hostel near LAX to catch an early flight as the hostel offers an airport shuttle service to take the stress out of getting to and from LAX! This place feels more like a hotel than a hostel – a large part of that is thanks to the facilities on offer, which include a rooftop swimming pool and bar, a restaurant, and a fitness centre!

Breakfast is included, as is free Wi-Fi, so you can keep everyone back home updated with what you’re up to! And there’s plenty to do nearby – some of LA’s best restaurants, bars and nightlife are within a stone’s throw of the hostel!

Heading to San Diego? Save some money with our guide to the coolest hostels in San Diego!

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#3 – HI Los Angeles Santa Monica

• Best hostel near LAX for solo travelers •

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  • Cost – $$$$
  • Distance to Lax Airport 14.32 km/8.9 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 2 hour 59 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 22 – 50 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by train: 1 hour 59 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 1 hour 9 minute

If you’re travelling solo to Los Angeles, then there’s nowhere better to stay than HI Los Angeles Santa Monica, the best hostel for solo travellers near LAX! The hostel organises a number of fun and exciting tours which make it easy to meet like-minded travellers and make new friends! The fact that this hostel is also along a famed bar crawl route doesn’t hurt either!

The hostel is just a block away from the famous Santa Monica beach, so you’ll have plenty of time for sun, sea, and sand during your stay. Back at the hostel, enjoy the regular events such as comedy nights, walking tours, and museum visits organised by the hostel’s friendly and outgoing staff!

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#4 – Banana Bungalow West Hollywood

• Best hostel near LAX for solo travelers •

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  • Cost – $$$$
  • Distance to Lax Airport 17.06 km/10.6 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 3 hour 35 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 35 – 1 hour 30 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by train: 1 hour 44 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 1 hour 18 minute

Another of the best hostels for solo travellers near LAX is the fun and vibrant Banana Bungalow West Hollywood. This fun and friendly hostel offers free BBQs, cheap and filling dinners, and shuttles to some of LA’s hottest attractions. In fact, there’s an event on every night, so you’ll have absolutely no trouble meeting people here!

The hostel is on the Melrose strip on the West Side of Hollywood, right by Beverley Hills so it’s in a prime location for Hollywood star spotting! Back at the hostel, there’s a tiki-inspired courtyard which is a great place for gatherings with other international travellers, and a regular movie nights!

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#5 – Banana Bungalow Hollywood

• Best party hostel near LAX •

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  • Cost – $$$
  • Distance to Lax Airport 21.89 km/13.6 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 4 hour 36 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 55 – 1 hour 50 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by train: 1 hour 7 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 43 minute

Not to be confused with the previous hostel on this list, Banana Bungalow Hollywood is the best party hostel near LAX Airport! Once previously a hotel, this retro-designed property offers regular parties, tours, and barbeques, so you’re sure to be entertained and enjoy your stay here!

The courtyard is lined with palm trees and a cool sidewalk café, the best place to buy drinks, while the billiards room offers dancing, live music, and a stage for karaoke and comedy performances. On long and sunny summer evenings, there’s a tiki garden where you can enjoy refreshments, sunbathing, and of course, music!

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#6 – Podshare Venice Beach

• Best hostel for business travelers near LAX •

Podshare Venice Beach
Podshare Venice Beach is the best hostel for business travelers near LAX

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  • Cost – $$$$$
  • Distance to Lax Airport 9.98 km/6.2 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 2 hour 6 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 20 – 55 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by train: 1 hour 33 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 1 hour 22 minute

Thanks to its co-working spaces and areas where you can set up your laptop or tablet and access your emails on the high-speed Wi-Fi, Podshare Venice Beach is the best hostel for business travellers near LAX. There are several charging stations to so you can keep your electronics topped up with battery too!

The hostel’s comfortable pods mean that you pretty much have your own private space and are guaranteed a good night’s sleep! In each pod, you’ll find a TV with access to Netflix and Hulu, and a reading light if you’d prefer to curl up with your book! There’s also an excellent breakfast made up of coffee, tea, cereal, and bread, so no need to head out searching for a café before you get down to business!

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#7 – The Venice Beach Hostel

• Best hostel for couples near LAX •

The Venice Beach Hostel
The Venice Beach Hostel is the best hostel for couples near LAX

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  • Cost – $$
  • Distance to Lax Airport 8.53 km/5.3 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by Airport Shuttle: 16 – 45 minutes
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 1 hour 47 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 16 – 45 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 46 minute

The Venice Beach hostel has comfortable private double rooms, so it’s the best hostel for couples near LAX Airport! It’s a small and clean hostel in a safe area, so you can be assured of a pleasant and secure stay. It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Venice Beach, so you and your other half can stroll along the sand, take in a street performance, or head for a romantic meal to one of the many restaurants in the area – and because you’ve saved money on your accommodation you’ll be able to go all out!

The Venice Beach Hostel isn’t just great for couples – there’s plenty for all types of travellers here, including free Wi-Fi, a patio where you can smoke, and a big screen TV which shows live sporting events. Best of all, it’s super easy to get to LAX as there’s a free shuttle service between 9.30am and 6.30pm!

MUST READ! We’ve organized the best places to stay in Long Beach for all types of trips!

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#8 – Orange Drive Hostel

• Best hostel near LAX for families •

Orange Drive Hostel
Orange Drive Hostel is the best hostel near LAX for families

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  • Cost – $$$
  • Distance to Lax Airport 21.4 km/13.3 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by Airport Shuttle: 40 – 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 4 hour 26 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 40 – 1 hour 15 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by train: 1 hour 1 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 43 minute

Orange Drive Hostel has a lot going for it. Due to its private family rooms, we think it’s the best hostel near LAX for families. However, it’s also one of the best hostels near LAX to catch an early flight as it offers an airport shuttle, and it’s pretty cosy and luxurious too! We’d almost forgot to mention that it’s a great hostel for solo travellers near LAX, but we thought that you’d probably work that out from the patio, common room (with free movies), and discounted pub crawls too!

When travelling as a family, there are plenty of benefits if you stay at Orange Drive Hostel. It’s close to several cool attractions like the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In fact, many stars from it once used this as a boarding house – including Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, and Kim Novak!

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#9 – Melrose Hostel

• Best budget hostel near LAX •

Melrose Hostel
Melrose Hostel is the best budget hostel near LAX

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  • Cost – $
  • Distance to Lax Airport 20.76 km/12.9 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 4 hour 23 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 35 minute – 1 hour 5 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by train: 1 hour 17 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 1 hour 17 minute

The Melrose Hostel offers some of the most reasonably priced rooms and beds in Los Angeles, so it’s the best budget hostel near LAX. Just because it’s a budget hostel shouldn’t lower your expectations though – you still get plenty of bang for your buck! The first big plus point on the hostel list is as soon as you wake up – a delicious free breakfast!

It’s easy to meet people here too, just head up to the rooftop terrace, where you can relax and sunbathe, chat to fellow travellers, or just admire the amazing views of LA. That’s before you use the free Wi-Fi to upload snaps of the views to Instagram, obviously!

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#10 – Samesun Venice Beach

• Best luxury hostel near LAX •

Samesun Venice Beach
Samesun Venice Beach is the best luxury hostel near LAX

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  • Cost – $$$
  • Distance to Lax Airport 10.3 km/6.4 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 2 hour 9 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 22 – 55 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by train: 1 hour 20 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 1 hour 15 minute

With views of the Pacific Ocean and a prime location on Venice Beach, this place is pretty special. In fact, we’d go as far to say as it’s the best luxury hostel near LAX! If you can afford to splash out on a private room here, you’ll definitely think you’re in a hotel. Big and comfy beds, a private bathroom, and light and airy rooms all make you feel like you’re getting more than what you paid for!

The dorms aren’t bad either, and there’s always something going on at Samesun Venice Beach, so you should consider this if you’re travelling solo too! Trivia night, open mic, and live bands make it super easy to integrate with the crowd and make new friends!

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Need more specifics? Here are the best neighborhoods in San Diego to stay!

 

#11 – Surf City Hostel

• Best hostel with a private room near LAX •

Surf City Hostel
Surf City Hostel is the best hostel with a private room near LAX

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  • Cost – $$$
  • Distance to Lax Airport 12.71 km/ 7.9 miles
  • Time to Lax Airport by walk: 2 hour 44 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by taxi: 16 – 40 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by train: 1 hour 24 minute
  • Time to Lax Airport by bus: 51 minute

Thanks to its affordable choice of twin private rooms, Surf City Hostel is the best hostel near LAX with a private room. It’s right by Hermosa Beach, which is a great place to sunbathe, swim, and of course – to surf! As well as being right on the beach, you also have a number of bars, restaurants, and nightlife spots within walking distance. There’s even a cinema too! One thing’s for sure, you won’t be bored when you stay here!

Surf City Hostel is one of the best options near LAX for long term travellers too. They offer the chance to volunteer at their hostel in exchange for free accommodation!

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USA Hostels Hollywood

  • Free WiFi, Free Breakfast, 24 Hour Security
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Freehand Los Angeles

  • Free WiFi, 24 Hour Reception, 24 Hour Security
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HI Los Angeles Santa Monica

  • Free WiFi, 24 Hour Reception, Free Breakfast
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Banana Bungalow Hollywood

  • Free WiFi, Security Lockers, Free Breakfast
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Podshare Venice Beach

  • Free WiFi, Luggage Storage, Free Breakfast
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The Venice beach Hostel

  • Free WiFi, Housekeeping, Free Breakfast
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Orange Drive Hostel

  • Free WiFi, Free Breakfast, 24 Hour Security
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Melrose Hostel

  • Free WiFi, Free Breakfast, 24 Hour Security
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Samesun Venice Beach

  • Free WiFi, Free Breakfast, 24 Hour Security
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Surf City Hostel

  • Free WiFi, Free Breakfast, Late check-out
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Conclusion

So, there you have it. Our list has pulled together all of the best hostels near LAX Airport, and we’re sure that you’ll have found something perfect for your travel style and even more importantly, your budget!

Yes, we’ve given you a lot of choice so if you’re struggling to make your mind up because half the list looks great, that’s perfectly understandable. Keep things simple and go for what we think is the best hostel near LAX – USA Hostels Hollywood!

Since our list only shows the best hostels near LAX, there’s no doubt that these will be pretty busy too. Don’t hesitate, as great hostels always get booked up quick. Book today to avoid any disappointment!

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***Disclaimer*** Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book your accommodation through the site, One Weird Globe will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me keep the site going :)

Clair Ricketts