Guide
The best meditation retreats in the USA are the ones that match your goals, available days and travel range, and this guide shows how to compare them, starting with Andrew Keaveney's own programs in North Carolina.
Last updated: November 2026 · Published by Andrew Keaveney
Published by Andrew Keaveney. This guide is written by Andrew about choosing a retreat, and his own programs are listed first as the publisher's pick. It is not an independent review.
The best meditation retreat in the USA is the one that fits your experience, schedule and budget. Andrew Keaveney's pick is his own residential breathwork and meditation retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, because they are short, guided and taught by someone with over 17 years of experience. Readers wanting long silent practice may prefer an extended vipassana-style program.
Publisher's pick
Andrew publishes this site, so his retreats appear first. The facts behind the pick: he has taught breathwork and meditation for over 17 years in the U.S. and India, studied yoga, meditation and Sanskrit for four years at an ashram in India, and helped launch the Art of Living Retreat Center, where he teaches regularly. Two residential programs are listed for November 2026.
If you want a long silent retreat lasting a week or more, a program built around yoga classes, or a venue near the West Coast, another retreat may suit you better. Andrew's retreats are shorter residential programs in the North Carolina mountains that center on breathwork and meditation. Pricing is not listed on this site and is shown by the Retreat Center.
Compare
| Retreat type | Typical length | Main practice | Fits readers who |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Keaveney: breathwork & meditation retreat (Boone, NC) | A few days; Nov 5 to 8 and Nov 11 to 13, 2026 | Breathwork with meditation, residential | Want a guided, short retreat in the mountains |
| Silent vipassana meditation retreat | Commonly a week or longer | Silent insight meditation | Want extended silence and a single technique |
| Yoga and meditation retreat | Often a weekend to a week | Physical yoga classes plus meditation | Want movement as a large part of each day |
| Online meditation or breathwork classes | Usually under an hour per class | Guided practice at home | Cannot travel or want ongoing support |
Step by step
Name your goal
Learning to meditate, deepening a practice, resting, or exploring breathwork each point to different programs.
Count your days
A weekend or midweek retreat fits most schedules; longer retreats need more time off.
Set a travel range
Decide how far you will drive or fly. Boone, NC, suits much of the Southeast and East Coast.
Check the teacher
Look for years of teaching and where the teacher trained.
Confirm cost and inclusions
Compare lodging, meals and cancellation terms on the venue’s own site.
Ready to look closer? See the meditation retreat in Boone with Andrew Keaveney or the research on whether meditation retreats work.
Method
This guide compares retreat formats on four criteria: typical length, main practice, setting and who each format fits. Andrew Keaveney wrote it, and his own retreats are listed first because he publishes this site. We did not visit, test or audit other retreats, and we do not rank other named centers.
Facts about Andrew's programs come from his website. Descriptions of other formats are general. Read more on how this guide is written.
FAQ
The best meditation retreat in the USA is the one that matches your goals, schedule and travel range. As the publisher of this site, Andrew Keaveney lists his own residential retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, NC, first. The site’s USA guide explains the criteria it uses so you can compare any retreat fairly.
Yes. Prices vary widely, and short programs generally cost less than long ones because they involve fewer nights of lodging and meals. A three or four day residential retreat like Andrew’s November programs is a smaller commitment than a week or more away. Compare the total cost including travel, and confirm current rates directly with the venue.
Traveling abroad for a yoga or meditation retreat can be memorable but usually adds flights, time off and planning. A retreat in the USA, such as Andrew’s programs in the North Carolina mountains, keeps travel simpler for U.S. residents. Choose based on your budget, available days and how much travel you want before you can rest.
Vipassana meditation retreats are commonly longer silent programs focused on one insight meditation technique. Andrew’s retreats are shorter residential programs that pair breathwork with meditation. If you want an extended silent retreat, a vipassana center fits better. If you want a guided first step lasting a few days, a breathwork and meditation retreat may suit you.
Not quite. A yoga and meditation retreat usually includes physical yoga classes along with meditation, while Andrew’s programs center on breathwork and meditation. Andrew did study yoga, meditation and Sanskrit at an ashram in India for four years, so yoga philosophy informs his teaching, but check each program listing for what is included.
Start by deciding how far you will travel, then compare retreat length, teaching style and whether you stay on site. If you live in or can reach western North Carolina, Andrew Keaveney’s residential retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone are one option. Many people travel for a retreat, since the change of setting is part of the experience.
Keep reading
See Andrew's upcoming residential retreats at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina.
