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If you’ve been dreaming about going on a wellness or creativity retreat but have slammed up against sticker shock, you’re not alone — they can be expensive and out of reach for many. The average retreat in the U.S. starts at around $3,500 for five days and can skyrocket to $10,000 or more for super snazzy offerings. I don’t know about you, but those prices stress me out! Fortunately, there are a handful of affordable retreats that offer beautiful settings, inspiration and rejuvenation without the steep price tag. Find a few of our favorites and a bonus DIY option here:
Seven Springs Retreat Center, Tennessee
Organic vegetarian meals, comfy yurts and a peaceful setting are on offer at the Seven Springs Retreat Center in the serene foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The family-owned and run eco-retreat center offers a variety of events and retreats centered on yoga, meditation, hiking and creativity. There are various packages at various price points.
Pillars of Longevity Retreat, Southern Utah
Longing for a serene escape that combines movement, mindfulness and majestic natural beauty? The “Pillars of Longevity” retreat might be your ideal escape. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Capitol Reef National Park in Southern Utah, this four-day retreat (September 25-28, 2025) is designed to help you embrace aging with strength, grace, and self-compassion. Your days will be filled with invigorating fitness sessions, yoga, mindfulness techniques and nutrition workshops, and the tools to help you live healthier and happier when you get back to the “real world.” Rates start at $1,500 per person.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, California
If meditation is your jam (or you’d like it to be), head to Spirit Rock Meditation Center, a 400+ acre “refuge from everyday life” set in the hills of West Marin County, California. Founded in 1985 by renowned teacher Jack Kornfield and others, Spirit Rock is rooted in the teachings of Insight Meditation, a practice that helps cultivate awareness, compassion, and inner calm. Retreats for practitioners of all levels are offered year-round, and the cost is on a sliding scale depending on your financial situation.
Sewall House, Island Falls, Maine
The six-room Sewall House in northern Maine is steeped in history (the owner’s grandfather taught Theodore Roosevelt about the healing power of nature) and provides a laid-back escape from the daily grind. The house is filled with antique treasures and space to gather or hide away with a book. In July, they’re hosting a five-day “Aging Naturally, Powerfully, and Beautifully” retreat designed for women in midlife and taught by three "experienced older yoginis.” It includes various types of yoga (Iyengar, Yin, Kundalini), herbal treatments, and soothing Ayurvedic practices. Room and board run $1,875 plus a $600 workshop fee.
SoCal Wellness Retreats, San Diego, California
Need a break from technology? These days we all do! That’s one good reason to sign up for a Digital Detox at SoCal Wellness Retreat. During a four or seven-day screen-free stay, you’ll unplug and unwind with activities like breathwork, meditation, sound baths, yoga, and guided reflection sessions. The program is also designed to help you make meaningful connections with other participants while you escape the constant beeps and pings of the digital age. Prices start at $997 for a four-day retreat.
Self-Guided Retreats
A few years ago, I rented a sweet little country place with five friends. We journaled, cooked, read, visited with ducks on the property and bonded over the trials and tribulations of perimenopause. It cost about $350 each for two nights, and we all went home feeling refreshed. There weren’t any fancy spa treatments or gourmet meals (although ours weren’t too shabby), but we had a great time and it was a perfect mini reset that didn’t break the bank. It was a snap to plan and gave us a big bang for the buck. If you’d like to design your very own solo retreat or time away with friends, it’s easier than you might think.
Advanced planning and a commitment to prioritize your well-being are key. Start by setting an intention so that you’re clear about what you want to get out of your time away. Do you want quiet moments to write? Reconnect with your body? Unwind from a stressful job? Then, pick a location (an Airbnb can work well and fits a range of budgets), figure out the length of the retreat (you’d be surprised by how energizing a weekend all to yourself can be), block off time on your calendar, and map out a simple schedule that might include outdoor activities, meals, yoga, meditation and group time if you’re going with others. Your retreat doesn’t have to be ritzy or expensive, just all yours.
*All prices according to 2025 listings.
Have any of you taken a great vacation this year? Let us know in the comments below.
AARP (Courtesy of Spirit Rock)
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