• Youth hostels are budget travel accommodations that range from dormitory rooms to private rooms that resemble small hotels. Youth hostels impose no age requirement or limit. The hosteling concept typically includes light traveling, usually with a backpack and a desire to mingle with people from all over the world. Three hostels are within 30 to 260 miles of Nimrod, the smallest town in Minnesota.
  
  

Hi-Mississippi Headwaters Hostel, Park Rapids, Minnesota

• The Hi-Mississippi Headwaters Hostel is located 30 miles from Nimrod inside Itasca State Park. The hostel comprises six bedrooms in an historic lodge, each containing four to six bunkbeds. Single people can rent a bed in one room, while families can reserve entire rooms for privacy. The Hi-Mississippi Headwaters Hostel also has a large kitchen, a gathering place with a fireplace and library, outdoor barbecue grills and picnic areas and complimentary Wi-Fi. According to Hostels.com, this hostel "continually ranks in the top 10 U.S. hostels for cleanliness, safety and quality." Located on Lake Itasca, the hostel is near the beach and the bicycle and canoe rental center. Hiking trails run throughout the park, and the headwaters of the Mississippi River is a 20-minute walk away.
  
  

Minneapolis International Hostel, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• The Minneapolis International Hostel is located 160 miles from Nimrod inside a converted Victorian mansion that is minutes from the uptown area of Minneapolis. The hostel includes a fully equipped kitchen, bed linens, mixed-sex, same-sex and family dormitory-style rooms and a common area with a DVD and TV. A bus stop across the street from the hostel can transport travelers to downtown Minneapolis. The Minneapolis International Hostel is near the Lyn-Lake district, a bohemian neighborhood filled with art galleries, indie businesses, bars and affordable ethnic cuisine at restaurants such as the Falafel King and La Bodega.
  
  

Pleasant Valley Lodge, Gary, South Dakota

• The Pleasant Valley Lodge is located on a larger property 260 miles from Nimrod that also contains cabins. The hostel area of Pleasant Valley includes a men's and a women's bunk room. Amenities include a TV/DVR viewing area, a dining room and a gathering area that includes a fireplace, a piano and card and board games. The town of Gary is known for its historic Native American sites, including an Indian burial ground, an ancient Indian compass made of rocks and an Indian mound. A series of paved bike trails run through the area, which is also known for birdwatching.