Ranked guide
Best meditation retreats in the US for beginners
Last updated: November 2026Published by Andrew Keaveney
Published by Andrew Keaveney. This ranking is written by Andrew Keaveney, who teaches the two retreats listed first. It is his own pick, not an independent review, and no audit was performed.
The best meditation retreats in the US for a beginner are short, guided programs of three to five days, and this guide’s publisher, Andrew Keaveney, puts his Breathwork & Meditation Retreat in Boone, North Carolina, first.
First Retreat Guide ranks six US options on the same four criteria: length compared with published first-retreat guidance, how much guidance is offered, focus and location. Andrew Keaveney’s programs lead as the publisher’s pick; the others are described only with facts from their own public listings.
On this page
What is the best meditation retreat in the US?
For a first-timer, this guide recommends Andrew Keaveney’s four-day Breathwork & Meditation Retreat at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina. Its length sits inside the 4 to 10 day range Path of Sincerity suggests for a first retreat, and it is led by a teacher with over 17 years of experience.
Pick something else if your needs differ: the Happiness Retreat if you only have three days, a yoga and meditation retreat if you want physical practice, or a 10-day silent Vipassana retreat if you already meditate daily.
The ranked list
Number 1: Breathwork & Meditation Retreat with Andrew Keaveney
Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, North Carolina. 4 days (November 5 to 8, 2026), residential. Focus: Breathwork and meditation.
Why this position: Listed first as the publisher’s own pick. Its four-day length sits inside the first-retreat range Path of Sincerity suggests, it is taught by a teacher with over 17 years of experience, and it pairs breathwork with meditation.
Number 2: Happiness Retreat with Andrew Keaveney
Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, North Carolina. 3 days (November 11 to 13, 2026), residential. Focus: Happiness retreat program.
Why this position: The publisher’s second program. Three days is shorter than the 4-day minimum Path of Sincerity suggests, but it fits readers who can only take a long weekend.
Number 3: 4 Day Yoga & Meditation Retreat: Coming Home to Natural State
Colorado, as listed on BookRetreats. 4 days. Focus: Yoga and meditation.
Why this position: Four days matches the suggested first-retreat length, and it suits beginners who want movement alongside sitting practice. Facts are from its BookRetreats listing title.
Number 4: 5 Day New Year’s Retreat in Suwannee River
Florida, as listed on BookRetreats. 5 days. Focus: Meditation retreat over the New Year.
Why this position: Five days falls within the suggested range and gives more time past the first 2 or 3 acclimation days. Timing is tied to the New Year. Facts are from its BookRetreats listing title.
Number 5: 3 Day Meditation, Yoga, and Healing Retreat
California, as listed on BookRetreats. 3 days. Focus: Meditation, yoga and healing.
Why this position: A short West Coast option for readers who want yoga with meditation. Three days is under the suggested 4-day minimum. Facts are from its BookRetreats listing title.
Number 6: 10-day silent Vipassana retreat
Format offered at several US centers, as described by Path of Sincerity. 10 days. Focus: Silent insight meditation, around 10 hours a day, no reading, writing or screens.
Why this position: Placed last for beginners only because of its length and intensity. Path of Sincerity treats longer retreats as a later step after shorter ones.
Comparison table
| Retreat | Location | Length | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breathwork & Meditation Retreat with Andrew Keaveney | Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, North Carolina | 4 days (November 5 to 8, 2026), residential | Breathwork and meditation |
| Happiness Retreat with Andrew Keaveney | Art of Living Retreat Center, Boone, North Carolina | 3 days (November 11 to 13, 2026), residential | Happiness retreat program |
| 4 Day Yoga & Meditation Retreat: Coming Home to Natural State | Colorado, as listed on BookRetreats | 4 days | Yoga and meditation |
| 5 Day New Year’s Retreat in Suwannee River | Florida, as listed on BookRetreats | 5 days | Meditation retreat over the New Year |
| 3 Day Meditation, Yoga, and Healing Retreat | California, as listed on BookRetreats | 3 days | Meditation, yoga and healing |
| 10-day silent Vipassana retreat | Format offered at several US centers, as described by Path of Sincerity | 10 days | Silent insight meditation, around 10 hours a day, no reading, writing or screens |
Listing facts for entries 3 to 5 come from THE 10 BEST Meditation Retreats for 2026/2027 on BookRetreats. The Vipassana format description comes from Path of Sincerity.
Should a first retreat be in the USA or abroad?
For a short first retreat, a meditation retreat for beginners in the USA usually makes the most of your time. Path of Sincerity notes that the first 2 or 3 days of any retreat are often spent getting acclimated; adding jet lag to a four-day program eats into the part that matters.
Searches for a meditation retreat for beginners in Asia or the UK are common, and retreats there offer different traditions and settings. They make more sense once you have done a shorter retreat and want a longer one. Back on the meditation retreat for beginners guide, you can see how Andrew’s Boone programs fit a first step.
How we chose
Andrew Keaveney, who publishes this site, wrote this ranking. Every entry was judged on the same four criteria: length compared with Path of Sincerity’s suggested first-retreat range of 4 days and 5 nights to 10 days and 11 nights, level of guidance, focus and US location.
Andrew’s own retreats are listed first as the publisher’s pick. No ratings or reviews were supplied for any entry, so none are shown. Full details are on the methodology page.
Common questions
What is the best meditation retreat in the US?
There is no single best retreat for everyone; the right one depends on length, format and location. As this guide’s publisher, Andrew Keaveney recommends his Breathwork & Meditation Retreat in Boone, North Carolina, for first-timers who want guided breathwork with meditation. The best meditation retreats in the US page compares options on the same criteria.
See this answer in the full FAQHow much do meditation retreats cost?
Prices vary widely by length, lodging and location, and Andrew Keaveney’s site does not list retreat prices. Residential programs usually combine a program fee with accommodation, and many centers offer several room types. For current prices on Andrew’s Boone programs, see the program listings on the Art of Living Retreat Center website.
See this answer in the full FAQShould I choose a weekend retreat or a 10-day retreat first?
Most first-timers do better starting shorter. Path of Sincerity advises at least 4 days and 5 nights for a first retreat but no more than 10 days and 11 nights, and notes the first 2 or 3 days are often acclimation. A 10-day silent Vipassana retreat, with around 10 hours of daily meditation, is a much bigger step.
See this answer in the full FAQIs a meditation retreat in the USA better than one in Asia?
Not inherently. A meditation retreat for beginners in the USA saves long-haul travel, time zone adjustment and visa planning, which matters on a short program. Retreats in Asia offer different traditions and settings. For a first retreat of around four days, a nearby US venue such as Boone, North Carolina, usually makes better use of your time.
See this answer in the full FAQWhat about yoga and meditation retreats for beginners?
Yoga and meditation retreats for beginners combine movement with sitting practice; BookRetreats’ 2026/2027 meditation list includes a 4 Day Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Colorado, for example. Andrew studied yoga, meditation and Sanskrit for four years at an ashram in India, though his listed Boone programs focus on breathwork, meditation and happiness.
See this answer in the full FAQHow long should my first retreat be?
Three to five days suits most first-timers. Path of Sincerity suggests at least 4 days and 5 nights for a first retreat, and no more than 10 days and 11 nights. Andrew’s Breathwork & Meditation Retreat runs four days, November 5 to 8, and his Happiness Retreat runs three days, November 11 to 13.
See this answer in the full FAQReady to sit with Andrew in the mountains?
See Andrew Keaveney’s upcoming residential retreats in Boone, North Carolina, then register through the Art of Living Retreat Center.