Explore America Travel Scholarship
The Explore America Travel Scholarship gives young Americans with limited resources and travel experience the opportunity to learn and grow through solo hostel travel. Recipients plan their own adventure to a HI USA hostel destination city of their choice, and receive free dorm overnights plus a $1500 travel stipend to make their dream trip a reality.
Applications for Explore America 2025 are now closed. To be alerted when applications open in spring 2026, sign up for our Programs and Events emails.
This experience planted a seed of inspiration within me, igniting a newfound passion for exploring diverse cultures. I am now more motivated than ever to seek out additional travel opportunities that will allow me to learn and grow as an individual.
Joely Castillo, Explore America Recipient New York City, NY
This trip opened up my horizons. It showed me how much there is to discover even just in the United States, and how travel can affect you and shape you in ways that you don’t expect.
Betty Barnett, Explore America Recipient Pagosa Springs, CO
It was a very eye-opening experience to get to know strangers and explore the city together, with the wealth of experiences from our backgrounds and where we came from. It’s a unique experience that you can’t get anywhere else other than hostelling.
Desiray Le, Explore America Recipient Santa Ana, CA