The Best Wellness Retreats in Kansas: Three Picks, From a Benedictine Center in Atchison to 38 Acres Outside Wichita
The best wellness retreats in Kansas are quiet ones. The state has no destination spa resorts in the Arizona or California mould; what it has is a handful of long-running retreat houses run by religious communities, where you can book a private day or a few nights of silence, take a guided program or meet a spiritual director. Here are three, in the northeast, the north and the south of the state, with details checked on each center’s own website in October 2026.
At a glance
| Retreat | Where | Run by | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophia Spirituality Center | Atchison, northeast Kansas | Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica | Private and directed retreats, day programs, Zoom options |
| Manna House of Prayer | Concordia, north-central Kansas | Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia | Small retreats and workshops in a rural setting |
| Spiritual Life Center | Bel Aire, on the northeast edge of Wichita | Catholic Diocese of Wichita | Private retreats and scheduled days of reflection on 38 acres |
1. Sophia Spirituality Center, Atchison
Sophia Spirituality Center is the retreat ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, a monastery of Catholic women living by the Rule of St. Benedict in Atchison, on the Missouri River about an hour northwest of Kansas City. It has welcomed guests since it was established in 1991, and its programs are open to people of any faith.
You can come for one day or several, in person or on Zoom, and choose between a private retreat on your own, a group retreat or a directed retreat with a spiritual director, whom the center will help you find. The autumn 2026 calendar shows the range: a two-day silent retreat with spiritual direction, a retreat on dreams, a day on good judgement and a program on living with grief over the holidays.
- Address: 751 S. 8th Street, Atchison, KS 66002.
- Contact: 913-360-6173 or sophia@mountosb.org. For a private retreat, send your preferred dates through the contact form and the center will reply about availability.
- Cost: not published online; ask when you enquire. The center also rents space to groups.
2. Manna House of Prayer, Concordia
Manna House of Prayer is run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, a congregation of Catholic women religious in north-central Kansas. The sisters describe it as a space for prayer and praise: a spacious three-story building in a rural setting in Concordia, holding retreats and workshops to help women and men grow in faith and make decisions about their lives and calling.
It also does something most retreat houses do not: Manna House offers crisis services to people who need temporary housing, emergency financial help or food. That gives the place a grounded, working character. Concordia is a small town about two and a half hours by road from Wichita, and the quiet is the point.
- Address: 323 E. Fifth Street, Concordia, KS 66901.
- Contact: 785-243-4428 or retreatcenter@mannahouse.org.
- Booking: the full schedule of upcoming retreats is on the Manna House website; ask about overnight stays and costs when you book.
3. Spiritual Life Center, Wichita
The Spiritual Life Center is the Catholic Diocese of Wichita’s retreat center, opened in the fall of 1990 after a diocesan listening exercise identified the need for a place of prayer and renewal. It sits on 38 acres in Bel Aire, on the northeast edge of Wichita, and runs adult education, spiritual formation and private retreats, as well as hosting events for church and community groups.
Its program calendar for the coming weeks includes a women’s day on 14 November 2026 and an adult Advent day of reflection on 1 December 2026, which make good first visits if you are not ready for a full private retreat. For a longer stay, ask about a private retreat; the center has its own dining service.
- Address: 7100 E. 45th St. N, Bel Aire, KS 67226.
- Contact: 316-744-0167.
- Getting there: about 15 minutes by car from downtown Wichita.
Which to choose
- For a silent or directed retreat with a long tradition behind it: Sophia Center in Atchison.
- For somewhere small, rural and far from distraction: Manna House of Prayer in Concordia.
- For an easy first step or a group event near a city: the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita.
How to plan a retreat in Kansas
None of the three publishes a nightly rate online, so ask before you book. Retreat houses run by religious communities often work on a suggested offering rather than a fixed price, and many will adjust it if cost is a barrier. All three are Catholic in tradition but welcome guests of other faiths or none; on a private retreat nobody expects you to attend services, although you are usually welcome to join the community’s prayer.
If you are new to this, read what a silent retreat is before you go. For neighbouring states, see the best retreats in Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado, or what a wellness retreat costs, or go back to the Retreat Central homepage.
Sources: Sophia Spirituality Center; Concordia Sisters of St. Joseph, Manna House of Prayer; Spiritual Life Center, Diocese of Wichita.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I go on retreat in Kansas?
Three long-running options are Sophia Spirituality Center in Atchison, Manna House of Prayer in Concordia and the Spiritual Life Center in Bel Aire, on the edge of Wichita.
Is there a silent retreat in Kansas?
Yes. Sophia Spirituality Center in Atchison offers private and directed retreats, including silent retreats with spiritual direction.
Do I have to be Catholic to go on retreat at these centers?
No. All three are run by Catholic communities, but they welcome guests of any faith. Sophia Center says its programs are open to people of any faith.
How much does a retreat cost in Kansas?
None of the three publishes a nightly rate online. Ask when you book; religious retreat houses often work on a suggested offering.
Is there a retreat center near Wichita?
The Diocese of Wichita’s Spiritual Life Center is at 7100 E. 45th St. N in Bel Aire, on 38 acres about 15 minutes from downtown Wichita.