Unwind and Heal at These Wellness Retreats in the US

Unwind and Heal at These Wellness Retreats in the US

A wellness retreat can be more than a relaxing long weekend. The right place helps you step out of your routine, reset your habits, and come home with tools you can actually use in daily life. With wellness retreats in the US growing rapidly, you now have hundreds of options that fit different budgets, personalities, and goals.

Below, you will find how to choose between them, what you can realistically expect, and specific wellness retreats in the US that are worth considering for everything from deep rest to full lifestyle resets.

Understand what you want from a retreat

Before you start scrolling through photos of infinity pools, get clear on why you want a wellness retreat in the first place. Your reason shapes where you should go and how much you should spend.

You might be looking to:

  • Reduce stress and burnout
  • Rebuild healthy habits around movement and food
  • Process a big life change
  • Deepen a yoga or meditation practice
  • Kickstart weight loss or improve sleep

Burnout is not a niche issue. In 2025, about 66% of US workers reported feeling burned out, which costs employers thousands of dollars per employee each year in lost productivity and turnover (Travel BTA). A structured retreat can interrupt that pattern and give you space to reset physically and mentally.

Once you name your main goal, it becomes much easier to decide whether you need a gentle spa-style weekend, a spiritually focused reset, or a results-driven fitness program.

Know the main types of wellness retreats in the US

Wellness retreats in the US come in more flavors than ever. As of 2026, you can choose from more than 700 options nationwide, with almost 20,000 reviews from guests who have already tried them (BookRetreats). Most retreats fall into a few broad categories.

Spa and relaxation retreats

These retreats are centered on rest, pampering, and low-pressure movement. They typically include:

  • Full-service spas
  • Gentle fitness classes like yoga, stretching, or light cardio
  • Nutritious, chef-prepared meals
  • Plenty of unstructured downtime

Places like Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas combine lakeside views, activities like paddleboard yoga and kayaking, and chef-led cooking classes that support a slower, more intentional pace for your stay (Travel BTA).

Fitness and weight loss retreats

If you want structure, accountability, and physical results, a fitness-focused retreat might fit better. Expect:

  • Daily scheduled workouts and hikes
  • Nutrition guidance and portion-controlled meals
  • Education on sustainable lifestyle changes

The Ranch Malibu in California is one of the most well-known examples. It offers seven-day programs limited to about 25 guests, with early morning hikes, yoga, plant-based meals around 1,400 calories per day, and daily massages to help your body recover (Travel + Leisure). Guests are meant to leave feeling lighter and clearer both physically and mentally (Travel BTA).

Holistic and spiritual retreats

If you are less interested in calories and more interested in inner work, holistic or spiritual retreats may resonate. These often integrate:

  • Meditation and mindfulness
  • Energy or sound healing
  • Breathwork or spiritual workshops
  • Time in nature

Mii amo in Sedona, Arizona is a prime example. Set in the red rock of Boynton Canyon, it focuses on holistic rejuvenation with a seven-night retreat model that blends spa therapies, outdoor hikes, and spiritual exploration in a dramatic natural setting (Health Travel).

Specialized health and longevity retreats

Some programs dig deeper into specific health concerns. These can support you if you are dealing with chronic conditions or want expert help with long-term wellness.

YO1 Longevity & Health Resorts in the Catskills covers 1,300 acres and offers personalized programs for issues like anxiety, stress, depression, and diabetes. With 68,000 square feet dedicated to therapy spaces and plenty of outdoor activities, you get a highly tailored experience rather than a one-size-fits-all schedule (Travel + Leisure).

Consider your budget and what is included

Wellness retreats in the US range from surprisingly accessible to extremely high-end. In 2024, prices typically ran from around 500 dollars to well over 5,000 dollars per stay, depending on location, duration, accommodations, and how much is included (Wise).

All-inclusive retreats usually bundle:

  • Lodging
  • Most meals and snacks
  • A set number of spa treatments or consultations
  • Daily activities and classes

This can raise the overall price but reduce surprise costs once you arrive. It is common for high-end destinations to charge per night at a rate similar to a full vacation. Canyon Ranch, for instance, offers more than 1,500 services across its US locations, and its Sustainable Weight Loss Program starts at around 1,125 dollars per person per night (Wise).

As you compare options, look closely at:

  • How many treatments are truly included
  • Whether airport transfers cost extra
  • Daily resort or service fees
  • Gratuities for spa and housekeeping staff

If budget is a concern, you can still find meaningful experiences. The trend toward more affordable wellness retreats in the US is growing, which makes this type of travel accessible beyond the luxury market (Wise).

Choose your ideal backdrop

The setting of a retreat shapes how you feel even before your first massage or class. The US is especially strong here, with wellness retreats spread across beaches, deserts, forests, and mountains.

According to BookRetreats, some of the top wellness destinations in the US include coastal California, the spiritual landscapes of Sedona, the lush islands of Hawaii, and the Colorado Rockies (BookRetreats). You can decide what scenery will feel most healing for you.

Desert calm in Arizona

Arizona has become a major hub for wellness. You can choose from deeply spiritual, luxury, or more budget-conscious experiences, all with big skies and dramatic landscapes.

  • Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa, Tucson
    Miraval is known for experiential wellness. In Tucson, you can combine mindfulness workshops, equine therapy, and challenge courses with spa treatments and healthy meals. Newer suites offer private plunge pools or hot tubs, and the desert views create a strong sense of escape from daily life (Reddit, Travel BTA).

  • Canyon Ranch, Tucson
    Canyon Ranch pairs holistic treatments with outdoor activities like hiking and cycling. You also get extensive health services and tailored programs, which makes it ideal if you want expert input on long-term wellness, not just a weekend away (Health Travel).

  • CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa, Carefree
    CIVANA is often recommended as a more affordable alternative to Miraval or Canyon Ranch. You still get a range of wellness classes, spa offerings, and desert scenery, but at a price point that may feel more realistic for a first-time retreat goer (Reddit).

  • Castle Hot Springs, Morristown
    Reopened after 40 years, Castle Hot Springs offers geothermal mineral springs, farm-to-table dining, sound bath sessions, scenic e-bike tours, yoga, and spa treatments. It is especially appealing if you want a romantic or adventurous wellness escape built around time in natural hot springs (Travel + Leisure).

  • Mii amo, Sedona
    Here, the red rock canyon backdrop and trail access combine with spiritual and holistic programming. You can hike directly from the property and then come back to meditation, spa rituals, and intentional time for reflection (Reddit, Health Travel).

Forests, mountains, and lakes

If you recharge best around trees and water, you have excellent options in California, Texas, the Northeast, and the Rockies.

  • Golden Door, San Marcos, California
    Golden Door sits on 600 mountainous acres with more than 30 miles of private hiking trails and even a bamboo forest. With around 80 classes weekly, daily massages, and farm-to-table meals, you are immersed in a highly structured but nurturing environment (Travel + Leisure).

  • Cal-a-Vie Health Spa, Vista, California
    This 500 acre French Provençal style resort offers three to seven night stays that blend exercise classes, mind body awareness practices, gourmet cuisine, and outdoor activities such as hiking and tennis. A 5 to 1 staff to guest ratio means very personalized attention (U.S. News Travel).

  • Lake Austin Spa Resort, Texas
    With only 40 rooms on a quiet stretch of lake, this retreat emphasizes a more intimate feel. You can kayak, take paddleboard yoga, or join chef-driven cooking classes that support healthier eating at home (Travel BTA).

  • The Lodge at Woodloch, Pennsylvania
    The Wellness Reboot program here focuses on exploring new healthy habits in an active yet luxurious setting. You have access to hiking, fitness classes, and spa time in a wooded lakeside environment (Health Travel).

  • Canyon Ranch, Lenox, Massachusetts
    This New England location combines fitness and nutrition consultations with spa treatments and seasonal outdoor activities like kayaking in warmer months and cross-country skiing in winter. It can be a strong choice if you want four season access to nature along with expert guidance (Travel BTA).

Oceanfront escapes

Sometimes you just want the sound of waves with your yoga mat.

  • Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, Florida
    Carillon sits on Miami’s North Beach and has one of the largest spas on the East Coast. You can mix traditional spa days with boot camps, boxing, yoga, hydrotherapy circuits, cryotherapy, and even flotation tanks, all while staying in ocean view suites or rooms (Travel + Leisure).

  • Amrit Ocean Resort, Singer Island, Florida
    Opened in 2024, Amrit offers 155 wellness oriented rooms and more than 100,000 square feet of spa facilities. Programs are organized around five pillars of wellness, mindfulness, fitness, nutrition, relaxation, and sleep, so you can build a stay that targets the areas you care most about (U.S. News Travel).

Look for qualified staff and thoughtful programs

The quality of the team you work with can make or break your retreat. Across the US, wellness retreats are increasingly staffed by skilled yoga teachers, holistic healers, therapists, and nutritionists. This means you do not need prior experience to benefit from a program, even if you are a complete beginner (BookRetreats).

Some programs also cater to specific groups. Road Scholar, for example, designs wellness retreats for adults 50 and older across several states, and most participants are women. Many programs are women only and emphasize community and learning alongside relaxation (U.S. News Travel).

As you research, pay attention to:

  • Credentials of medical or therapeutic staff
  • Maximum group size
  • How personalized the itinerary is
  • Whether there is follow up support after you leave

A well designed retreat continues to support you after you go home, through new habits, knowledge, and sometimes remote check ins.

One review summary found that about 70% of participants reported sustained improvements in psychological well being for up to six months after attending a wellness retreat in the US, especially when programs integrated mind, body, and spirit practices (BookRetreats).

Plan your timing for impact and value

The global wellness tourism sector has grown quickly and reached around 6.3 trillion dollars in 2023, which is about 6% of global GDP (U.S. News Travel). That growth means more options for you, but also more demand.

To make the most of your retreat:

  • Look at shoulder seasons for lower rates and fewer crowds
  • Ask about weekday versus weekend pricing
  • Book early if you are targeting popular destinations like Malibu, Sedona, or Miami
  • Consider how much vacation time you can realistically take without stressing yourself out before or after the trip

If this is your first wellness retreat, a three or four night stay can be a comfortable starting point. You will have enough time to decompress and try different offerings without feeling overwhelmed or locked into a long program.

Bringing the retreat home

The most valuable part of wellness retreats in the US is not the pool or the robe. It is the small practices you can bring home.

While you are there, pay attention to:

  • How you feel after certain classes or therapies
  • Which daily rhythms help you sleep better
  • How your energy shifts when you eat differently or use your phone less

Before you check out, pick two or three practices to keep. That might be a brief morning stretch routine, one breathing exercise you can use on stressful workdays, or a new approach to dinner that leaves you feeling lighter at night.

You do not need to recreate the entire retreat at home. Instead, let your stay act as a reset button that makes healthier choices feel more natural and more enjoyable.

If you begin by clarifying what you really need, then match that to the right environment, budget, and team, you can use a wellness retreat not just as a break, but as a turning point in how you care for your mind and body.

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