Top Retreat Centers in the USA

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.

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.

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.

Situated at 8,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.