Retreat Centers in the USA: An Independent Directory
A directory of real retreat centers: monasteries, meditation and yoga centers, ashrams and wellness campuses running their own programs on their own land. Each is known for something specific, and knowing which is which keeps you out of the wrong room.
The land a center stands on decides as much about a week as its program does.
Monasteries, ashrams, meditation and yoga centersOfficial site on every entryNo sponsored places
We run small women's retreats of our own, and they are not in this list. Our retreats with Milena
The catalog
Monasteries, ashrams, meditation and yoga centers by theme
Each center keeps its own dates, prices and programs, and they change often. What stands here is the place itself, what it is known for, and where it can be found.
Retreat centers in the USA, by state
Sedona, Arizona
Mii amoSedona, ArizonaDestination spa inside Boynton Canyon selling fixed-length all-inclusive wellness journeys.their site
Arizona
Miraval Arizona Resort & SpaTucson, ArizonaAll-inclusive wellness resort in the Catalina Foothills with mindfulness, equine and spa programming.their site
Canyon Ranch TucsonTucson, ArizonaWellness resort combining medical consultations, fitness and spa services on one desert campus.their site
CIVANA Wellness Resort & SpaCarefree, ArizonaWellness resort north of Scottsdale where a daily schedule of classes is included in the stay.their site
California
Esalen InstituteBig Sur, CaliforniaWorkshop campus on the Big Sur cliffs, with clifftop hot springs and programs running since 1962.their site
Spirit Rock Meditation CenterWoodacre, CaliforniaInsight meditation center in Marin County with residential retreats in the Theravada tradition.their site
Green Gulch Farm Zen CenterMuir Beach, CaliforniaCoastal Zen practice center and organic farm, one of the three San Francisco Zen Center sites.their site
Tassajara Zen Mountain CenterCarmel Valley, CaliforniaZen monastery in a remote canyon with natural hot springs; opens to guests in the summer season.their site
1440 MultiversityScotts Valley, CaliforniaCampus in the redwoods with weekend programs on mindfulness, relationships and work.their site
Deer Park MonasteryEscondido, CaliforniaPlum Village monastery in the hills north of San Diego; retreats and days of mindfulness with the monastics.their site
The Expanding Light RetreatNevada City, CaliforniaRetreat of the Ananda community in the Sierra foothills, teaching in the lineage of Paramhansa Yogananda.their site
Mount Madonna CenterWatsonville, CaliforniaCommunity-run center above Monterey Bay with yoga, Ayurveda and seasonal programs.their site
Vajrapani InstituteBoulder Creek, CaliforniaTibetan Buddhist center in the Santa Cruz Mountains offering group courses and solitary cabin retreats.their site
Sivananda Ashram Yoga FarmGrass Valley, CaliforniaClassical Sivananda ashram with a fixed daily schedule of asana, satsang and karma yoga.their site
Shasta AbbeyMount Shasta, CaliforniaSōtō Zen monastery at the foot of Mount Shasta where lay guests keep the monastic schedule.their site
Dhamma MaṇḍaNorth Fork, CaliforniaNorthern California Vipassana Center: free ten-day Goenka courses held in noble silence.their site
New Camaldoli HermitageBig Sur, CaliforniaCamaldolese Benedictine hermitage above the Pacific; guests take private retreats in the monastic rhythm.their site
Florida
The Franciscan CenterTampa, FloridaFranciscan retreat center in Tampa offering directed, silent and group retreats.their site
Amrit Yoga InstituteSalt Springs, FloridaLakeside institute teaching Amrit Yoga and Yoga Nidra, with trainings and silent immersions.their site
Our Lady of Florida Spiritual CenterNorth Palm Beach, FloridaPassionist retreat center on the Intracoastal, offering directed and silent weekend retreats.their site
New York State
Omega InstituteRhinebeck, New YorkHudson Valley campus running hundreds of summer workshops, including the Omega Women's Leadership Center.their site
Blue Cliff MonasteryPine Bush, New YorkPlum Village monastery in the Hudson Valley; mindfulness retreats led by monks and nuns.their site
Sivananda Yoga RanchWoodbourne, New YorkCatskills ashram with classical hatha yoga, twice-daily satsang and teacher trainings.their site
Zen Mountain MonasteryMount Tremper, New YorkCatskills monastery where guests join residents for zazen, work practice and week-long retreats.their site
Garrison InstituteGarrison, New YorkFormer monastery on the Hudson, now a center for contemplative retreats and applied-research programs.their site
Menla Retreat & Dewa SpaPhoenicia, New YorkTibet House US retreat center in a Catskills valley, with a spa built around Tibetan medicine.their site
Vermont
Karmê ChölingBarnet, VermontShambhala meditation center in the Northeast Kingdom, open for weekend and month-long programs.their site
Weston PrioryWeston, VermontBenedictine community known for its sung liturgy; guests come for quiet days and private retreats.their site
North Carolina
Art of Living Retreat CenterBoone, North CarolinaBlue Ridge campus with breathwork programs, silent retreats and an Ayurvedic spa.their site
Southern Dharma Retreat CenterHot Springs, North CarolinaSmall nonprofit center in the mountains hosting teacher-led silent retreats across traditions.their site
KanugaHendersonville, North CarolinaEpiscopal conference and retreat center in the Blue Ridge, with guest programs and summer camps.their site
Texas
Miraval Austin Resort & SpaAustin, TexasAll-inclusive wellness resort on Lake Travis with mindfulness, equine and spa programming.their site
Dhamma SirīKaufman, TexasSouthwest Vipassana Center: free ten-day Goenka courses held in silence.their site
Colorado
Drala Mountain CenterRed Feather Lakes, ColoradoMountain retreat center with the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, formerly known as Shambhala Mountain Center.their site
Crestone Mountain Zen CenterCrestone, ColoradoZen center in the Sangre de Cristo range with long silent practice periods.their site
Hawaii
Lumeria MauiMakawao, HawaiiRestored plantation estate in upcountry Maui hosting yoga and educational retreats.their site
Hawaii Island RetreatKapaʻau, HawaiiOff-grid eco-lodge and spa on the North Kohala coast, used for yoga and wellness retreats.their site
Wood Valley TemplePāhala, HawaiiTibetan Buddhist temple and guest house in a eucalyptus grove, known as Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling.their site
New Mexico
Upaya Zen CenterSanta Fe, New MexicoZen center and monastery known for retreats on chaplaincy, end-of-life care and social engagement.their site
Ghost RanchAbiquiú, New MexicoEducation and retreat center on the landscape Georgia O'Keeffe painted, run by the Presbyterian Church.their site
Vallecitos Mountain Retreat CenterTaos County, New MexicoOff-grid center in a mountain valley, hosting silent retreats for people in demanding helping professions.their site
Lama FoundationSan Cristobal, New MexicoIntergenerational spiritual community on Lama Mountain, open for summer retreats and hermitage stays.their site
Monastery of Christ in the DesertAbiquiú, New MexicoBenedictine abbey at the end of a long dirt road, where guests keep the monastic hours.their site
Other states
Saint Meinrad ArchabbeySt. Meinrad, IndianaBenedictine archabbey with a guest house where visitors join the monks for the daily office.their site
Abbey of GethsemaniTrappist, KentuckyTrappist monastery where Thomas Merton lived; guests make silent private retreats.their site
Kripalu Center for Yoga & HealthStockbridge, MassachusettsYoga and health center in the Berkshires with open R&R stays and professional trainings.their site
Insight Meditation SocietyBarre, MassachusettsSilent insight retreats in a former Catholic novitiate, from weekends to the three-month course.their site
Vipassana Meditation Center — Dhamma DharāShelburne, MassachusettsThe first Goenka vipassana center in North America, running donation-based ten-day courses.their site
Eastern Point Retreat HouseGloucester, MassachusettsJesuit retreat house on the Atlantic, known for silent Ignatian retreats with a spiritual director.their site
Magnolia Grove MonasteryBatesville, MississippiPlum Village monastery in the Mississippi Delta, with mindfulness retreats and days of practice.their site
Feathered Pipe RanchHelena, MontanaYoga retreat ranch in the Rockies running summer programs with visiting teachers.their site
Breitenbush Hot SpringsDetroit, OregonWorker-owned hot springs community in the Cascades with rustic lodging and its own retreat calendar.their site
Great Vow Zen MonasteryClatskanie, OregonMonastery of the Zen Community of Oregon, with sesshins and long-term residential training.their site
Himalayan InstituteHonesdale, PennsylvaniaCampus in the Poconos teaching yoga, meditation and Ayurveda in the Himalayan tradition.their site
Pendle HillWallingford, PennsylvaniaQuaker study and retreat center with daily silent worship and short sojourner stays.their site
Mepkin AbbeyMoncks Corner, South CarolinaTrappist monastery on a former plantation along the Cooper River, open for private retreats.their site
Satchidananda Ashram — YogavilleBuckingham, VirginiaIntegral Yoga ashram built around the LOTUS interfaith shrine, with trainings and silent retreats.their site
Cloud Mountain Retreat CenterCastle Rock, WashingtonQuiet forest center hosting silent retreats across Buddhist traditions.their site
Wild Rice RetreatBayfield, WisconsinScandinavian-inspired campus on wooded land by Lake Superior, with yoga, art and writing retreats.their site
Centers beyond the United States
Bali
COMO Shambhala EstateBali, IndonesiaResidential health retreat above the Ayung river gorge, with resident wellness practitioners.their site
Bali Silent RetreatTabanan, BaliSilent retreat under Mount Batukaru with an organic garden and no scheduled talking.their site
Costa Rica
Blue Spirit Costa RicaNosara, Costa RicaRetreat centre on a hill above Guiones beach, hosting visiting yoga and meditation teachers.their site
India
Tushita Meditation CentreDharamsala, IndiaTibetan Buddhist centre above McLeod Ganj, known for its introductory ten-day courses.their site
Vipassana International Academy — Dhamma GiriIgatpuri, IndiaThe main Goenka vipassana centre, where courses are given on a donation basis.their site
Mexico
Rancho La PuertaTecate, MexicoDestination spa in Baja California operating since 1940, with week-long all-inclusive stays.their site
Thailand
Suan Mokkh International Dharma HermitageChaiya, ThailandForest hermitage running monthly ten-day silent retreats with anapanasati practice.their site
Portugal
Vale de MosesCentral PortugalFamily-run yoga retreat in restored mountain hamlets in the Serra da Lousã.their site
Japan
Koyasan Eko-inKoyasan, JapanShingon temple lodging on Mount Koya where guests join morning prayers and meditation.their site
Elsewhere
Gaia HouseDevon, EnglandInsight meditation retreat centre in a former convent, running silent retreats year-round.their site
Plum VillageThénac, FranceThe monastery Thich Nhat Hanh founded in the Dordogne; lay guests join retreats with the monastics.their site
Kopan MonasteryKathmandu, NepalTibetan Buddhist monastery on a hill above Kathmandu, running month-long November courses.their site
Questions
What people ask about this list.
What kind of places are in this directory?
Organizations that run their own property and publish their own program. Monasteries and temple lodgings, meditation and yoga centers, ashrams, wellness campuses. Travel agencies, tour operators and teachers renting someone else's venue are a different business, and that business is not here.
Why are there no ayahuasca or plant-medicine retreats here?
Centers built around ayahuasca, psilocybin or other psychoactive ceremonies are deliberately excluded. Their legal status differs from country to country and the medical risks are real, so this directory does not send anyone there.
Do these centers publish their own dates and prices?
Yes. Every center keeps its own calendar and its own rates, and programs change often enough that the center's own site is the version that holds.
Where next
Which kind of retreat week you actually need
The guides sort retreats by what they really ask of you, and the cost page explains what moves the figure.
A week after which the thing that would not move for years has finally moved.
Go on a retreat with MilenaThe retreat guidesWhat a retreat costs
Read here as a language of symbols. Medical, legal and financial questions belong with a professional.
