Finding stillness in the modern world is an act of rebellion and a necessity for the soul. The United States offers a surprising diversity of landscapes and lineages for the seeker, ranging from the silence of the New England woods to the high-desert energy of the Southwest.
Here are the nine best places to meditate in the US, curated to offer a sanctuary for every type of practice.
Chapter 1: Spirit Rock Meditation Center (California)
The Heart of Insight
Nestled among the golden, oak-studded hills of West, Spirit Rock is perhaps the most iconic center for Insight Meditation (Vipassana) in the West. It was founded by pioneers like Jack Kornfield to bring Buddhist teachings to modern American life. The architecture is deliberately humble, designed to blend into the landscape rather than dominate it. The primary meditation hall is a masterpiece of light and wood, offering a silence so profound it feels almost physical. Spirit Rock is ideal for those seeking structured silence; their programs range from drop-in Monday night classes to two-month silent retreats. It is a place to strip away distractions and confront the mind with gentle, supported awareness.
Chapter 2: Sedona (Arizona)
The Cathedral of Red Rocks
While many centers offer walls to keep the world out, Sedona invites you to meditate with the world itself. Famous for its red sandstone formations and “vortexes”—places where the earth’s electromagnetic energy is believed to be spiraling and concentrated—Sedona is an open-air temple.
Meditating here is often less about closing your eyes and more about soft-gazing at the horizon. Popular spots like Cathedral Rock or Bell Rock offer natural perches where the wind and heat facilitate a deep sense of grounding. It is not a single retreat center but a destination; visitors often create DIY retreats, combining sunrise meditations on the rocks with visits to the many spiritual centers in town.
Chapter 3: The Insight Meditation Society (Massachusetts)
The Deep Dive
If Spirit Rock is the welcoming heart of the West Coast, the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts, is the stern but loving backbone of the East. Founded in 1975, it is one of the oldest meditation centers in the Western world.
IMS is not a spa. It is a place for serious work. The atmosphere is rigorously silent, often described as a “monastery for laypeople.” The Retreat Center offers courses for beginners and experienced practitioners, while the adjacent Forest Refuge supports long-term personal retreats for advanced students. The setting is a grand, repurposed mansion surrounded by 400 acres of woods, offering a stark, beautiful container where the only task is to observe the breath and the mind.
Chapter 4: Esalen Institute (California)
Where the Mountains Meet the Sea
Perched on the dramatic cliffs of Big Sur, Esalen is legendary. It is the birthplace of the Human Potential Movement, where psychology, Eastern philosophy, and bodywork converged in the 1960s.
Meditation at Esalen is often integrated with movement and nature. You might meditate in a yurt, in the natural hot springs fed by the earth’s heat, or while walking through their famous farm and gardens. The sound of the Pacific Ocean crashing against the rocks below provides a constant, rhythmic mantra. It is less rigid than a traditional Zen center, making it perfect for those who want to combine meditation with creativity, dance, and community connection.
Chapter 5: Shambhala Mountain Center (Colorado)
Stupa in the Rockies
Hidden in a valley 8,000 feet up in the Colorado Rockies, this 600-acre center feels closer to the sky. The centerpiece is The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, a 108-foot-tall monument that serves as a powerful architectural anchor for meditation.
The terrain here is rugged and expansive, mirroring the vastness of the mind that Tibetan Buddhism seeks to cultivate. The center offers varying levels of comfort, from tent cabins to lodge rooms, and programs that blend meditation with indigenous wisdom, astronomy, or yoga. It is a place to feel small in the best way possible—humbled by the mountains and the intricate art of the Stupa.
Chapter 6: Green Gulch Farm Zen Center (California)
Zen and the Art of Soil
Located in a valley that opens onto Muir Beach, Green Gulch (also known as Green Dragon Temple) offers a unique integration of zazen (sitting meditation) and work practice. It is a residential Soto Zen center and an organic farm.
Here, meditation extends beyond the cushion. Guests might spend the morning sitting in the traditional zendo, followed by an afternoon harvesting lettuce or pruning fruit trees in the organic gardens. This “chop wood, carry water” approach grounds spiritual practice in physical reality. The eucalyptus-scented air and the fog rolling in from the ocean create a mysterious, softening atmosphere that invites you to let go of sharp intellectual edges.
Chapter 7: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health (Massachusetts)
The Yoga of Life
Kripalu, located in the Berkshires, is the largest yoga retreat center in North America. While its roots are in yoga, meditation is central to its curriculum. The facility is massive, formerly a Jesuit novitiate, and retains a sense of holy discipline softened by modern wellness.
Kripalu is the best choice for the “meditation curious” or those who struggle with strict stillness. Their approach is accessible, often using the body as a gateway to the mind through yoga, breathing (pranayama), and walking meditation on their lakefront grounds. The vibe is communal and cafeteria-style, offering a gentle entry point into mindfulness without the intimidation factor of a silent retreat.
Chapter 8: Rolling Meadows Retreat (Maine)
The Intimate Silence
For those who find large centers like Kripalu or Spirit Rock overwhelming, Rolling Meadows offers a distinct alternative. Located on 100 acres of pasture and woods in coastal Maine, this center typically hosts very small groups (often capped at 10 or 11 participants).
The retreats here focus on “silent yoga and meditation.” The farmhouse setting is rustic and intimate. Without the distraction of hundreds of other yogis, the silence feels thicker and more personal. The daily rhythm is slow, punctuated by vegetarian meals and the changing light over the meadows. It is an ideal spot for a digital detox and a deep nervous system reset.
Chapter 9: Southern Dharma Retreat Center (North Carolina)
The Jewel of the Blue Ridge
Tucked away in a remote cove in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Southern Dharma is a hidden gem known for its affordability and serious intent. The center is small, eco-friendly, and deeply quiet—the road to get there is steep and unpaved, signaling a departure from the ordinary world.
They are non-sectarian, hosting teachers from Vipassana, Zen, Tibetan, and Sufi traditions. Because the center is small (accommodating around 25 people), the teacher-student connection is often stronger here than at larger institutions. The surrounding deciduous forest offers a lush, green embrace, making it a perfect spot for “Noble Silence” amidst the sounds of Appalachia.