Top Retreat Centers in the USA
Discover outstanding retreat centers across the United States. Each center offers unique programs, settings, and approaches to support your personal growth and transformation. We've curated this collection to help you find the right retreat for your needs.
The ten retreat centers at a glance
Ten centers, ten states and provinces, and three completely different ways of charging. If you are choosing a retreat location rather than browsing, this is the comparison that decides it.
| Center | Where | What it is for | What it costs |
|---|
| Esalen Institute | Big Sur, California | Psychology, bodywork, creative arts | From about $600 a weekend, all in |
| Kripalu | Stockbridge, Massachusetts | Yoga, ayurveda, self-directed retreats | From about $400 a weekend |
| Omega Institute | Rhinebeck, New York | Holistic health, arts, social change | From about $500 a weekend |
| Drala Mountain Center | Red Feather Lakes, Colorado | Buddhist meditation at 8,000 feet | From about $400 a weekend |
| Spirit Rock | Woodacre, California | Insight meditation, silent retreats | Dana for teaching, fees for room and board |
| Menla Mountain Retreat | Phoenicia, New York | Tibetan healing arts and spa | From about $700 a weekend |
| Hollyhock | Cortes Island, British Columbia | Personal growth on a remote island | $1,500 to $2,500 a week |
| Insight Meditation Society | Barre, Massachusetts | Silent retreats, weekend to three months | Dana for teaching, set room and board |
| Feathered Pipe Ranch | Helena, Montana | Yoga and nature, May to September only | $2,000 to $3,500 a week |
| Southern Dharma | Hot Springs, North Carolina | Multi-tradition meditation, mostly silent | Sliding scale |
How to read that table
The price column is not comparing like with like. Three of these centers, Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society and Southern Dharma, follow the Buddhist dana convention: the teaching is offered freely and you pay only for room and board, then give what you can afford to the teacher at the end. A $400 weekend at one of those is not cheaper than a $600 weekend at Esalen, it is priced on a different basis, and the total you actually hand over is up to you.
Season matters more than most directories admit. Feathered Pipe Ranch runs May to September only, so a February search will find nothing there. Drala Mountain Center sits at 8,000 feet in the Rockies, which changes what a winter retreat there is like. Hollyhock is on an island reached by ferry, so travel time is part of the commitment.
Silence is the real dividing line. Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society and Southern Dharma hold silence through most retreats. Esalen, Kripalu, Omega and Hollyhock are social, conversational places with workshops and shared meals. Booking the wrong one of those two things is the single most common way a first retreat goes wrong, and it has nothing to do with price or setting.
Drala Mountain Center was known as Shambhala Mountain Center until February 2022, when it became an independent non-profit and took the new name. Older directories, and older listings for the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya on its land, still use the old one.
Esalen Institute
Big Sur, California
Perched on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Esalen Institute has pioneered personal transformation since 1962. The center offers workshops in psychology, bodywork, meditation, and the arts. Natural hot springs overlooking the ocean provide a unique healing experience. Programs range from weekend workshops to month-long residential programs.
Specialties
- •Psychology
- •Bodywork
- •Meditation
- •Creative Arts
Key Highlights
Famous hot springs, stunning coastal location, pioneering approach to human potential
Accommodation
Guest rooms and dormitory-style lodging with ocean views
Pricing
Workshop prices vary, typically starting around $600 for weekend programs including meals and lodging
Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Set in the Berkshire Mountains, Kripalu is one of the largest yoga retreat centers in North America. The facility spans 160,000 square feet and sits on 300 acres of natural beauty. You can attend structured programs or create your own retreat experience. The center emphasizes compassionate self-acceptance and teaches various yoga styles.
Specialties
- •Yoga
- •Meditation
- •Ayurveda
- •Mindful Living
Key Highlights
Extensive yoga programs, beautiful mountain setting, variety of retreat options
Accommodation
Private rooms and shared accommodations available
Pricing
Program prices vary widely, from around $400 for weekend workshops to several thousand for extended trainings
Omega Institute
Rhinebeck, New York
Omega Institute provides a diverse range of workshops and retreats focused on wellness, creativity, and social change. The 250-acre campus includes a wellness center, lake, hiking trails, and gardens. Programs attract leading teachers from around the world. You can explore everything from yoga and meditation to writing and art.
Specialties
- •Holistic Health
- •Arts
- •Spirituality
- •Social Change
Key Highlights
Diverse program offerings, renowned teachers, comprehensive wellness facilities
Accommodation
Campus lodging ranges from shared cabins to private rooms
Pricing
Weekend workshops typically start around $500 including meals and lodging
Drala Mountain Center (formerly Shambhala Mountain Center)
Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
Situated at 8,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains, Drala Mountain Center (formerly Shambhala Mountain Center) offers Buddhist meditation retreats and contemplative programs. The 600-acre property includes a Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, hiking trails, and pristine mountain environments. Programs range from introduction to meditation to advanced Buddhist teachings.
Specialties
- •Buddhist Meditation
- •Contemplative Practice
- •Mindfulness
Key Highlights
Authentic Buddhist teachings, stunning mountain location, the Great Stupa
Accommodation
Lodge rooms, cabins, and camping options available
Pricing
Program costs vary, with some starting around $400 for weekend retreats
Spirit Rock Meditation Center
Woodacre, California
Spirit Rock teaches insight meditation in the Buddhist tradition. The 410-acre nature preserve north of San Francisco offers day-long sittings, weekend workshops, and extended silent retreats. Teachers include some of the most respected meditation instructors in the West. The setting provides quiet natural beauty that supports deep practice.
Specialties
- •Vipassana Meditation
- •Insight Meditation
- •Buddhist Psychology
Key Highlights
Experienced teachers, authentic insight meditation tradition, silent retreat options
Accommodation
Retreat housing includes shared and private rooms
Pricing
Most retreats operate on a dana (donation) basis for teachings, with fees for food and lodging
Menla Mountain Retreat
Phoenicia, New York
Menla combines Tibetan healing arts with modern wellness practices in the Catskill Mountains. The retreat offers programs in meditation, yoga, and traditional healing arts. A spa provides treatments based on Tibetan medicine principles. The mountain setting supports both active exploration and quiet reflection.
Specialties
- •Tibetan Healing Arts
- •Meditation
- •Spa Treatments
- •Yoga
Key Highlights
Tibetan healing traditions, spa facilities, mountain location
Accommodation
Lodge rooms and cabins with mountain views
Pricing
Weekend retreats typically start around $700 including meals, lodging, and programs
Hollyhock
Cortes Island, British Columbia (accessible from Washington)
Hollyhock sits on 48 acres of oceanfront land on Cortes Island. The center hosts programs on personal growth, yoga, art, and social change. Gardens provide organic food for meals. The remote island location creates a true escape from daily routines. You can combine structured programs with free time to explore beaches and forests.
Specialties
- •Personal Growth
- •Yoga
- •Creative Arts
- •Sustainability
Key Highlights
Island setting, organic gardens, combination of programs and free time
Accommodation
Waterfront cabins and lodge rooms
Pricing
Week-long programs typically range from $1,500 to $2,500 including meals and lodging
Insight Meditation Society
Barre, Massachusetts
Founded in 1975, IMS offers silent meditation retreats in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. The Forest Refuge provides long-term self-retreat opportunities. The Retreat Center hosts teacher-led programs from a weekend to three months. The focus is purely on meditation practice in a supportive, quiet environment.
Specialties
- •Silent Meditation
- •Vipassana
- •Metta Practice
Key Highlights
Deep silent practice, experienced teachers, long retreat options
Accommodation
Simple private and shared rooms
Pricing
Operates on dana (donation) basis for teachings, with set fees for room and board
Feathered Pipe Ranch
Helena, Montana
Set in the Montana Rockies, Feathered Pipe Ranch offers yoga and wellness retreats in a stunning natural setting. The ranch operates seasonally from May to September. Programs include yoga, meditation, wellness, and personal growth. The property includes a lake, hot tub, sauna, and miles of mountain trails.
Specialties
- •Yoga
- •Wellness
- •Nature Immersion
Key Highlights
Spectacular mountain setting, seasonal operation, outdoor activities
Accommodation
Comfortable cabins and lodge rooms
Pricing
Week-long retreats typically range from $2,000 to $3,500 including meals, lodging, and programs
Southern Dharma Retreat Center
Hot Springs, North Carolina
Southern Dharma sits on 90 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The center hosts meditation retreats from various contemplative traditions including Buddhist, Christian, and non-sectarian approaches. Silence is maintained during most retreats. The mountain environment and simple facilities support focused practice.
Specialties
- •Multi-tradition Meditation
- •Silent Retreats
- •Contemplative Practice
Key Highlights
Multi-tradition approach, mountain setting, emphasis on silence and practice
Accommodation
Simple shared and private rooms
Pricing
Most retreats ask for dana (donations) for teachings, with modest fees for food and lodging
Want to List Your Retreat Center?
Are you a retreat center owner? Join our directory and connect with people searching for their next transformative experience.
Learn About Advertising