Budget-Friendly Wellness Retreats Across America That Won't Break The Bank
You've been hustling hard and now you deserve a break, preferably one where you can relax, reset, and come back feeling recharged. A wellness retreat is just the ticket if you're feeling burned out or off-balance. Think fresh air, healthy food, and a whole lot of movement and meditation. But professional wellness services, especially at luxury resorts, can be prohibitively expensive. To help relieve some financial-related stress, we've compiled a list of affordable yet highly-rated wellness retreats across America where you can rejuvenate without having to pay top dollar.
Wellness retreats come in many forms, from small group gatherings in rustic settings to personalized programs at stunning spa-focused resorts, but they all share the same goal: to promote health and personal development. A typical wellness retreat will include activities designed to benefit your well-being. These could include yoga classes, meditation sessions, and spa treatments. Most retreats also include nutritious meals and accommodation as part of the package.
According to a study published in "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," wellness retreat experiences can significantly improve many aspects of health and well-being, including stress, anxiety, sleep quality, and cognitive function. The study also suggests that the positive effects can last long after the retreat is over. With that in mind, it may be time to book yourself a self-care respite, and these budget-friendly wellness retreats are the perfect places to de-stress, detox, and reconnect with yourself. Best of all, they won't cost you a fortune.
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
The natural hot springs at Ojo Caliente in New Mexico have been soothing sore muscles for centuries. Native people first discovered the springs in prehistoric times, and the mineral-rich waters have been used for healing ever since. The Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa features a stunning spa with public and private pools fed by the mineral springs. The resort is also home to the Artesian Restaurant, which serves healthy seasonal dishes made with local ingredients and produce from the on-site farm.
The resort offers a wide range of accommodations for guests who want to stay overnight and experience the full hot springs experience. Rooms in the historic hotel are the cheapest, starting at $209 a night during the low seasons (spring and fall). You can also book a vintage trailer for $220 a night. The rates include access to the public pools and a complimentary morning yoga class. If you don't want to stay overnight, you can buy a day pass to the communal pools for $45 during the week and $65 on weekends. Spa treatments are additional.
Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring well-being. Set on 250 acres in the Hudson Valley of New York, the institute's Rhinebeck Campus offers numerous workshops and retreats throughout the year. The workshops focus on everything from holistic medicine to women's empowerment, mindfulness, and sustainable living. Omega speakers have included Deepak Chopra, Jane Goodall, Gloria Steinem, and Thich Nhat Hanh.
The Rest & Rejuvenation retreats are available from June to October and they include accommodations, three meals a day, and daily classes like tai chi and yoga. During your stay, you can meander through the gardens and meditate at the Sanctuary and Yearning Pond. You'll also have access to the Ram Dass library, where you can peruse over 7,000 books on holistic living. The most affordable lodging option is to pitch a tent on campus. Rates start at $300 for a weekend program. There are also private rooms, dorms, and tent cabins available. If you stay off-campus in a hotel or inn of your choosing, the retreat is $130 for a weekend program.
The Kentucky Castle
What better place to pamper yourself than in a castle? The Kentucky Castle is a unique property that makes for a great place to design a DIY wellness retreat. Located just outside of Lexington in Versailles, Kentucky, this striking hotel was designed in the style of a grand European castle. The low season in Kentucky typically runs from November to May, so you can often get fantastic low-season rates. The Farm View Tiny Home at the Kentucky Castle goes for $195 on weeknights in the low season. That's not a bad price considering you get a cozy bedroom that sleeps two, a kitchenette, and a porch with sweeping countryside views.
Your self-made wellness retreat can be as laid-back or lively as you like. You can start the day with a morning yoga session on the rooftop of the castle, then take a tour of the farm to get up close and personal with nature. Strolls through the fields are an easy and free way to get some fresh air and exercise. If you want to splash out a little, the hotel has a spa, a restaurant with a farm-to-table concept, and a bourbon bar with bottles from some of the best distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The hotel also hosts events like afternoon tea, murder mystery dinners, and wine-pairing dinners.
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
Sprawling across 100 acres in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health is the largest retreat center in North America. The expansive property includes gardens, forests, and quiet areas with benches that overlook Lake Mankeenac. The main building is slightly austere, as it was originally built for Jesuit monks, but the atmosphere is welcoming. The center offers a wide variety of workshops and retreats centered around yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. The retreats typically run from two to seven days and are taught by expert practitioners and thought leaders.
Retreat rates at Kripalu are surprisingly affordable compared to other wellness centers. Stays in the dorm rooms start at $95 on weeknights and include three daily meals. For a full package that includes workshops and yoga classes, the Retreat & Renewal experience is a good bet. It includes all-natural meals and access to activities like dance classes, guided hiking, traditional archery for mindfulness, and the community share circle. Rates start at $194 for a dorm room stay. If you want to include healing therapies like acupuncture, massage, and energy work, those will cost you extra.
Civana Wellness Resort & Spa
Civana Wellness Resort & Spa consistently earns spots on lists of the best spa resorts in the U.S., and it's easy to see why. This tranquil oasis occupies 20 acres in the Sonoran Desert and features minimalist buildings that allow for views out to the mountains. The rooms are sleek and modern with ADA accessible options for travelers with limited mobility. The spa is ultra-serene, and the two restaurants serve nutritious dishes that can be modified to meet all dietary needs. There is also a stunning pool, a meditation labyrinth, and a yoga lawn. You can pack quite a lot into your retreat, like aquatherapy sessions, aerial yoga classes, and intention-setting ceremonies.
You might think that a resort of this caliber would charge premium prices, but they actually offer pretty reasonable rates. If you book during mid-week, you can get a 20% discount on room rates, which can bring the cost down to $399 a night. Keep in mind that you're getting a gorgeous room, access to all the resort facilities, and up to 10 wellness classes a day. You can also use of the resort bicycles to explore the trails and the nearby, aptly named town of Carefree. All up, it's a pretty sweet deal.
Esalen Institute
Embark on a journey of self-discovery at the Esalen Institute Institute, a holistic research institute dedicated to unlocking the mysteries of the mind, body, and soul. The campus in Big Sur, California, hugs the Pacific coast and is backed by rugged mountains. Mineral hot spring baths overlook the ocean, hiking trails weave through the pines, and an organic farm produces fresh veggies and herbs for meals in the lodge. The campus is also home to an art barn, meditation hut, and rustic cabins surrounded by nature.
The self-guided retreats allow you to join classes and workshops that align with your personal journey. You can choose from activities like breathwork, yoga, and wildcrafting. Need to digitally disconnect? The rooms are purposely designed with no cell reception, televisions, or internet access. If you're on a budget, the sleeping bag spaces are the cheapest accommodation option. They start at $540 for three days and two nights.
The Esalen Institute isn't the cheapest option on this list, but you can't beat the spectacular coastal location. Most oceanfront properties in California charge premium prices just for the room alone. Here you get an all-inclusive package that includes three healthy meals a day, 24-hour use of the hot springs, and access to inspiring classes and immersive workshops.
Art of Living Retreat Center
It's hard not to feel at peace at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, N.C. The center is perched high in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and spans 380 acres. Forests surround the center on all sides and the manicured grounds have multiple places for quiet contemplation. You can switch off on a silent retreat, indulge in couples spa treatments, or enjoy a wellness escape with your besties. They also offer cleanses, Ayurveda programs, and happiness retreats at reasonable rates.
If you don't mind simplistic digs, the retreat rooms start at $200 a night for double occupancy. You don't get much more than a single bed in a sparsely decorated room, but most of the retreat rooms have windows, allowing you to gaze out at the trees and mountains. Besides, you probably won't be spending much time in your room because you'll have full access to the grounds and facilities including the steam rooms, fitness room, and hiking trails. You can also enjoy nourishing meals in the dining hall. As for the classes and workshops, there are tons to choose from, including guided meditation, kirtan singing, and pottery making.
Zen Den Yoga School
If you want to combine a beach holiday with a wellness journey, Zen Den Yoga School is your spot. Located in sunny Boca Raton, Florida, this down-to-earth yoga center offers a number of retreats for all types. Tap into your body's rhythms with a restorative yin yoga retreat, and cleanse yourself of toxins with healthy juices on a detox program. For adventurous types, they also have a retreat that combines yoga with stand-up paddle boarding.
The philosophy behind the Disconnect to Reconnect retreats is to detach from the noise of everyday life to reconnect with yourself and the world around you. The retreats start at $850 for a three-night retreat in a shared room, which works out to about $283 a night. A typical day starts with a fresh fruit smoothie and meditation on the beach, followed by yoga classes and spa services. In your free time, you can swim in the ocean, take bike rides on the beach, or lounge by the pool. For dinner, you can take a stroll into town where you'll find loads of cheap (and not-so-cheap) restaurants and cafes. If you're committed to your wellness budget, Ripe Delray and PurLife Cafe offer healthy options that won't break the bank.
Seven Springs Retreats
If you're looking for a wellness vacation that the whole family can enjoy, Seven Springs Retreats offers rejuvenating escapes for all ages in their gorgeous center in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. You and your loved ones can bunk down in a yurt decked out with traditional textiles or pitch a tent along the creek. During the day, you can take nature walks in the forest and join inspiring classes and workshops. Wellness services include sound baths, massages, and detoxifying sauna sessions.
Seven Springs Retreats offers several scheduled retreats throughout the year, including family retreats, couples retreats, shamanic healing weeks, and retreats for dads. However, if budget is a concern, a personal retreat is the way to go. If you're traveling solo, the base package will cost $225 a night for a private yurt with a two-night minimum. Add another person for just $50 more. You can also save money by cooking your own food in the center's fully equipped kitchen. However, if you don't feel like slaving over a stove, the chef can prepare plant-based meals for $20 per meal, per person.
Siddhayatan Tirth & Spiritual Retreat
Purify the body and mind at Siddhayatan Tirth & Spiritual Retreat in Windom, Texas. Surrounded by tranquil fields, this monastery and ashram is dedicated to helping people become healthier and happier. You can stop by any time for one of their personal retreats or book one of the pre-scheduled retreats that cover different aspects of the human experience. Whether you're looking to find your purpose or tap into the power of intention, they're likely to have a program that will help you achieve your goals.
Like most retreat centers, Siddhayatan Tirth & Spiritual Retreat's most affordable option is the personal retreat. It only costs $15 for meditation sessions and meals with an option to add Hatha yoga for $25 per class. Accommodation starts as low as $95 a night for a half-private room. The schedule is very relaxed, giving you tons of time to do whatever you want to unwind, and you can sign up for any of the courses that take place during your stay. Be aware, though, that the courses cost extra, and some of them can be quite pricey.
Rolling Meadows Retreats
Rolling Meadows offers yoga, meditation, and breathwork retreats in enchanting settings around the world. The U.S. events take place in South Newfane, Vermont, and Cushing, Maine. These are not spa-type retreats where you get pampered with massages and soothing treatments. Instead, the focus is on self-inquiry and personal transformation. Guests are asked to take a break from their electronic devices and commit to "shared silence," allowing participants to fully focus on the practices and delve deeper into their true selves. Classes center around releasing past patterns and purifying the body and mind.
Prices start at $1,095 for a three-day retreat, which works out to about $365 a night. That's not as cheap as some of the other retreats on this list, however, the prices are pretty much on par with what you would pay for a mid-range hotel in New England. At Rolling Meadows, you're getting a nice room in a scenic locale, healthy meals every day, and guided classes designed to help you live your best life.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center
Hidden amid the rolling hills of West Marin County, California, Spirit Rock Meditation Center is a peaceful refuge where you can work on quieting the mind. The campus encompasses 411 acres of woodland, giving you loads of space to find your happy place and zen out. The center offers programs to suit all schedules and budgets. You can drop in for the day or stay for a longer, more comprehensive retreat. Nearly all of the retreats are suitable for beginners and experienced meditators alike.
The programs at Spirit Rock are designed around Buddhist teachings, so they focus on topics like loving-kindness and compassion in action. On-land retreats run for multiple days and are designed around a particular theme. The retreats are priced on a sliding scale, so you pay what you can afford. For example, the base rate for a five-day retreat might be $1,025, but there are reduced rates for those who need financial assistance. They also offer young adult and BIPOC (black, Indigenous, and people of color) scholarship rates.
Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center
Hawaii is a haven for those looking to chill on spectacular beaches and get some serious R&R. However, an island getaway can run on the expensive side. Not so at Kirpal Meditation & Ecological Center. Situated on a 10-acre orchard on the Big Island of Hawaii, the center offers retreats from as low as $141 a night. With accommodation, three meals a day, and a daily yoga class included, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal on the island.
Everything at Kirpal was designed to integrate with the sacred land. The cabins were built by hand in strategic places to blend in with the natural scenery. The electricity runs on solar power, and the drinking water is purified rainwater. Throughout your stay, you can enjoy vegetarian meals made with produce from the garden and join yoga and meditation classes in the open-air pavilion. It's a pretty special spot to commune with nature and yourself.