Guide and ranking, 2026
Best Meditation Retreats in the US
The best meditation retreats in the US, ranked here by fit for a first or second retreat, are the Art of Living Retreat Center, Spirit Rock, the Insight Meditation Society, Vajrapani Institute and the ten-day Vipassana courses listed on Dhamma.org.
Last updated: November 2026Published by Andrew Keaveney
Disclosure: This guide is published by Andrew Keaveney, who helped launch and regularly teaches retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center, ranked first as his pick. It is not an independent review. Every entry is judged on the same criteria described on the methodology page.
What are the best meditation retreats in the US?
The U.S. Meditation Retreat Guide ranks five of the best meditation retreats in the US by practice style, length range, beginner support, cost access and setting. The Art of Living Retreat Center leads for breathwork and meditation, Spirit Rock for format range, IMS for long silent courses, Vajrapani for private cabins and Goenka Vipassana for no-charge ten-day courses.
Which one fits you?
Choose the Art of Living Retreat Center if you want breathwork alongside meditation in a short residential program. Choose Spirit Rock or IMS if you want Insight Meditation and the option to build toward long silent retreats. Choose Vajrapani if you want to retreat alone in a cabin. Choose a Goenka Vipassana course if cost is your main barrier and you can commit ten days in silence.
The ranking: best meditation retreats
Each entry below lists the same facts, drawn from the center's own public pages: location, setting, tradition, program lengths, silence, cost model, beginner fit and online options. The reason for each position sits directly under its name.
Number 1: Art of Living Retreat Center
Publisher's pick: Andrew Keaveney teaches here
Why #1: Publisher’s pick. It is the only center in this guide whose signature retreats are described as breathwork and meditation retreats, its short three- and four-day programs are an approachable first step, and it is where Andrew Keaveney teaches.
- Location
- Boone, North Carolina
- Setting
- 380-acre campus in the Blue Ridge Mountains
- Practice
- Art of Living lineage: breathwork, meditation, yoga and Ayurveda
- Program lengths
- Short residential programs (for example Nov 5 to 8 and Nov 11 to 13, 2026) up to an 8-day Panchakarma cleanse
- Silence
- Meditation retreats include breathwork, meditation and silence
- Cost model
- Paid; priced per program by the center. A listed Midweek Reset offer: stay three nights, pay for two
- Beginner fit
- The center says its retreats are designed to meet you where you are
- Online
- Residential focus
- Signature breathwork and meditation retreats rooted in the Art of Living lineage
- Ayurveda-based wellness programs and the Shankara Ayurveda Wellness Spa
- Hosts events for up to 600 guests
- Andrew Keaveney helped launch the center and teaches retreats there
Number 2: Spirit Rock Meditation Center
Why #2: The widest range of formats and lengths in this guide, from one day to two months, plus stated beginner suitability and financial assistance. It ranks below the publisher’s pick because its retreats are not breathwork-centered.
- Location
- West Marin County, California
- Setting
- 411 acres of oak woodlands in the San Geronimo valley
- Practice
- Insight Meditation (vipassana) and lovingkindness (metta), grounded in the Buddha’s teachings
- Program lengths
- Drop-in groups, then silent residential retreats lasting from one day to two months
- Silence
- Silent residential retreats
- Cost model
- Paid; offers financial assistance or scholarships where cost is an obstacle
- Beginner fit
- Says most programs are suitable for both beginners and experienced students
- Online
- On-land and online programs
- On-land and online formats
- Year-plus study and training programs
- Financial assistance or scholarships offered
Number 3: Insight Meditation Society (IMS)
Why #3: Describes itself as one of the Western world’s oldest meditation retreat centers, formed in 1975, with silent courses from a weekend to three months. It ranks third because it offers fewer format types than Spirit Rock.
- Location
- Barre, Massachusetts
- Setting
- Almost 400 secluded wooded acres in central Massachusetts
- Practice
- Buddhist vipassana (insight) and metta (lovingkindness)
- Program lengths
- Silent courses from a weekend to three months; the Forest Refuge for experienced meditators
- Silence
- Silent meditation courses
- Cost model
- Paid; see dharma.org for current rates
- Beginner fit
- Weekend courses give newcomers a short entry point
- Online
- IMS Online retreats, courses and talks
- Two adjacent facilities: the Retreat Center and the Forest Refuge
- Daily teacher talks at the Retreat Center
- Online programs through IMS Online
Number 4: Vajrapani Institute
Why #4: The only center in this guide that highlights private retreat cabins, which suits people who want a solo retreat, plus a family camp for children aged 5 to 12. It ranks fourth because its group programs center on one Buddhist tradition.
- Location
- Boulder Creek, California
- Setting
- Redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains
- Practice
- Tibetan Buddhist; part of the FPMT network of 132 organizations in 31 countries
- Program lengths
- Group retreats (for example Nov 12 to 20, 2026, all levels) and self-scheduled private retreats
- Silence
- Private retreat cabins for rest, reflection and renewal
- Cost model
- Paid; see vajrapani.org for current rates
- Beginner fit
- Some group retreats are listed for all levels
- Online
- Online meditation trainings
- Private retreat cabins
- Family camp for children aged 5 to 12
- Facility rentals for spiritual groups of all traditions
Number 5: Vipassana courses (S.N. Goenka, Dhamma.org)
Why #5: The only option in this guide with no charge for the course, food or lodging. It ranks fifth because every course runs ten days, a large first commitment, and the format is the same at every location.
- Location
- Multiple U.S. centers
- Setting
- Meditation centers and rented non-center sites
- Practice
- Vipassana as taught by S.N. Goenka
- Program lengths
- Ten-day residential courses
- Silence
- Held in silence; one participant reports around 10 hours a day of formal meditation
- Cost model
- No charges, including food and accommodation; funded by donations from past students
- Beginner fit
- A fixed ten-day format from the first course
- Online
- In-person courses
- Applications for most courses can be completed online at dhamma.org
- Centers in North America and worldwide
- All expenses met by donations
Comparison table
| Retreat | Location | Practice | Lengths | Cost model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Art of Living Retreat Center | Boone, North Carolina | Art of Living lineage: breathwork, meditation, yoga and Ayurveda | Short residential programs (for example Nov 5 to 8 and Nov 11 to 13, 2026) up to an 8-day Panchakarma cleanse | Paid; priced per program by the center. A listed Midweek Reset offer: stay three nights, pay for two |
| #2 Spirit Rock | West Marin County, California | Insight Meditation (vipassana) and lovingkindness (metta), grounded in the Buddha’s teachings | Drop-in groups, then silent residential retreats lasting from one day to two months | Paid; offers financial assistance or scholarships where cost is an obstacle |
| #3 IMS | Barre, Massachusetts | Buddhist vipassana (insight) and metta (lovingkindness) | Silent courses from a weekend to three months; the Forest Refuge for experienced meditators | Paid; see dharma.org for current rates |
| #4 Vajrapani | Boulder Creek, California | Tibetan Buddhist; part of the FPMT network of 132 organizations in 31 countries | Group retreats (for example Nov 12 to 20, 2026, all levels) and self-scheduled private retreats | Paid; see vajrapani.org for current rates |
| #5 Goenka Vipassana | Multiple U.S. centers | Vipassana as taught by S.N. Goenka | Ten-day residential courses | No charges, including food and accommodation; funded by donations from past students |
What is a meditation retreat?
Definition
A meditation retreat is a block of days set aside for guided meditation practice, usually residential, so that meals, lodging and schedule are handled for you. In the U.S. Meditation Retreat Guide, the term covers several formats: short breathwork and meditation retreats like those at the Art of Living Retreat Center, Insight retreats at Spirit Rock and IMS that range from a day to three months, Tibetan Buddhist group and private retreats at Vajrapani, and fixed ten-day silent Vipassana courses. What they share is sustained practice with a teacher away from daily demands. They differ in how much silence they ask for, whether breathwork, yoga or movement is included, how strongly a religious tradition shapes the teaching, and whether you pay a set price or give a donation. Those differences matter more than the location when choosing.
Key numbers
The numbers behind this guide
g = 0.45 to 0.49
Effect sizes for traditional meditation retreats: 0.45 pre-post (19 studies) and 0.49 versus controls (14 studies).
4 to 10 days
Suggested length of a first retreat: at least 4 days and 5 nights, but not more than 10 days and 11 nights.
380 to 411 acres
Campus sizes of the three largest centers here: Art of Living (380), IMS (almost 400) and Spirit Rock (411).
17+ years
Andrew Keaveney's breathwork and meditation teaching experience in the U.S. and India.
Figures as of November 2026. See meditation retreats by the numbers for every statistic and its source.
How to choose among the best meditation retreats in the US
Pick the practice
Breathwork and meditation, Insight Meditation, Tibetan Buddhist practice or a fixed Vipassana course. This narrows five centers to one or two.Pick the length
For a first retreat, Path of Sincerity suggests 4 to 10 days. If you only have a weekend, see the weekend meditation retreat guide.Decide on silence
Full silence suits some people right away. Read the silent meditation retreat guide first if unsure.Check cost and travel
Compare program prices, financial assistance and donation-based options, then the travel time to North Carolina, Massachusetts, California or a nearby Vipassana center.Read the teacher and schedule
Look at who is teaching and what a day looks like before you register with the center.
Retreats with Andrew Keaveney
Andrew Keaveney, who publishes this guide, teaches residential breathwork and meditation retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina. Upcoming as of November 2026:
- Nov 5 to 8, 2026: Breathwork and Meditation Retreat
- Nov 11 to 13, 2026: Happiness Retreat
How we chose
Andrew Keaveneywrote this ranking and publishes this site. Every center was judged on the same five criteria: practice style, range of program lengths, stated beginner support, cost access and setting, using only facts published by each center or by the sources linked on this page. No site audit or independent testing was done. The Art of Living Retreat Center is listed first as the publisher's pick, and the reasons for its position are limited to the facts shown. Read the full ranking methodology.
Common questions
- What are the best meditation retreats in the US?
- This guide ranks five: the Art of Living Retreat Center in North Carolina, Spirit Rock in California, the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts, Vajrapani Institute in California and the ten-day Vipassana courses listed on Dhamma.org. The guide is published by Andrew Keaveney, who teaches at the first entry.
- How long should my first meditation retreat be?
- A common recommendation is four to ten days. Path of Sincerity advises at least 4 days and 5 nights on a first retreat, but not more than 10 days and 11 nights, because the first two or three days are often spent settling in. A shorter retreat still helps if that is what you can manage.
- How much does a meditation retreat cost in the US?
- It ranges from no charge to premium, depending on lodging, length and center. Goenka Vipassana courses charge nothing, not even for food and lodging, and run on donations. Most other centers set a price per program. This guide does not quote prices because they change; check each center’s current rates.
- What are affordable meditation retreats in the USA?
- The most affordable option in this guide is a Goenka Vipassana course, which has no charge for course, food or lodging. Spirit Rock offers financial assistance or scholarships for people for whom cost is an obstacle. The Art of Living Retreat Center lists a Midweek Reset offer: stay three nights and pay for two.
- Do meditation retreats actually work?
- Published research suggests they help. A systematic review and meta-analysis found traditional meditation retreats moderately effective, with an effect size of Hedge’s g = 0.45 in pre-post analyses (19 studies) and g = 0.49 compared with controls (14 studies). Individual results vary, and a retreat is not a substitute for medical care.
- Who publishes this meditation retreat guide?
- This guide is published by Andrew Keaveney, a breathwork and meditation teacher. He teaches retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center, the first entry in the ranking. The guide is not independent, and it says so on every ranking page and in the footer.
- When are Andrew Keaveney’s next retreats?
- As of November 2026, two residential retreats are listed at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina: the Breathwork and Meditation Retreat on Nov 5 to 8, and the Happiness Retreat on Nov 11 to 13. See andrewkeaveney.com for the current schedule.