Inexpensive housing options:

• HiRoad Hostel DC — Located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, steps from bars, cafes, restaurants, and shops, with a 24-hour staffed desk, laundry, lockers, and a fully equipped kitchen. Hostelworld

• Washington International Student Center — Dorm and private rooms, a shared kitchen, common areas, free breakfast, lockers, free Wi-Fi, and easy access to Metro. HostelGeeks

• Caravan Hostel DC — Located in Adams Morgan; adults-only rooms with air conditioning, private bathrooms, and free toiletries. HostelGeeks

• U Street Capsule Hostel / I Street Capsule Hostel Pod — style capsule hostels in the U Street and downtown DC areas. Hostelworld

• DC International Hostel (7th St.) — Features pub crawls, movie nights, free yoga classes, spacious dorm rooms, free Wi-Fi, and a shared kitchen in the heart of DC. Hostelz

• Mayflower Hospitality Hostel — Located less than a kilometer from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, close to the National Mall and White House. Hostelz

• Hostelworld — hostelworld.com/hostels/north-america/usa/washington-dc Lists over 12 hostels in Washington DC with real traveler reviews. Hostelworld

• Hostelz — hostelz.com/hostels/USA/Washington--DC Compares prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com, and other major platforms side by side in one click to find the best deal. Hostelz

• Hostelgeeks — hostelgeeks.com/best-hostels-in-washington-dc-usa Curated reviews and rankings of DC hostels with photos and detailed breakdowns, especially useful for solo travelers.

• Airbnb — airbnb.com Search for private rooms or shared spaces for your dates.

Places farther from the National Mall will tend to be less expensive, and the Metrorail system (https://www.wmata.com/service/rail/) is reliable, clean, and safe. It runs from 5:00 AM to midnight except for Saturdays and Sundays, when it runs until 2:00 AM. Housing close to a Metro stop can provide relatively quick access to NMNH via the Archives, Federal Triangle, Smithsonian, and Metro Center stops. Washington DC also has an extensive system of bike lanes in the downtown area (https://godcgo.com/bike/). Downtown DC is flat and easy to bike and there are many rental bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters. 

In general the northwest and southwest quarters of DC, and neighborhoods across the Potomac River in Arlington County, Virginia are more convenient to NMNH and have more amenities. There are bike lines across the 14th Street Bridge and Memorial Bridge, which connect Arlington to DC.

More information about transportation in DC can be found in the section "Transportation in D.C." in Traveling to DC.

 Contact us at CBEP2026@si.edu if you are interested in sharing a room or if you have any questions.