Monastery stays and sacred guesthouses
Staying at a monastery is one of the most direct ways to experience contemplative life. MonkMap lists abbey guesthouses, convents, hermitages, and monastic communities that welcome retreat guests and visitors.
Search by tradition, region, and experience type to find monastery lodging that fits your schedule, from a weekend silent retreat to a longer guest stay.
Communities open to monastery stays
Monasteries and retreat centers that welcome overnight guests or extended stays.
Abbey of Gethsemani
TrappistTrappist, Kentucky, United States
The oldest working Trappist monastery in the United States, founded in 1848 and home to Thomas Merton for 27 years. Its guesthouse welcomes men and women of all faiths for silent, unstructured retreats, with hours of prayer and miles of wooded trails open to guests.
Visit websitevisitor-friendlyretreat stayssilent retreatpublic prayerAbbey of St. Walburga
BenedictineVirginia Dale, Colorado, United States
The Abbey of Saint Walburga is a Benedictine community of contemplative nuns in Virginia Dale, Colorado. Their life centers on the Divine Office, lectio divina, silence, hospitality, and the Rule of Benedict. The abbey offers a retreat setting for guests seeking prayerful quiet, with the community’s farm and rural land forming part of its monastic environment.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysAbhayagiri Buddhist Monastery
TheravadaRedwood Valley, California, United States
A Thai Forest Tradition monastery on 250 acres of northern California woodland, in the lineage of Ajahn Chah. It is a working monastery rather than a retreat center, welcoming day visitors and short guest stays that share the community's daily rhythm of practice and work, all free of charge. Evening chanting and Dhamma talks are open and livestreamed.
Visit websitevisitor-friendlypublic prayeronline teachingsvolunteer stayCresco, Pennsylvania, United States
American Zen Buddhist Temple, also known as Vairocana Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery in South Abington Township, Pennsylvania. The official site presents the community as a Zen Buddhist temple offering meditation, ceremonies, and Buddhist teaching. The monastery serves both resident practitioners and lay visitors.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysYeagertown, Pennsylvania, United States
Ananda Buddhist Monastery and College is a Buddhist institution in the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania. Its official materials present monastic, educational, and devotional activities for the community. The listing is retained for further verification of current location details and public institutional information.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysAnnunciation Monastery
BenedictineBismarck, North Dakota, United States
Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, North Dakota, is home to Benedictine Sisters who follow the Rule of St. Benedict. The community emphasizes prayer, lectio, and service, and offers hospitality with a focus on prayerful presence. The monastery hosts retreats and public Masses, and welcomes prayer requests as part of its ministry.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysAranya Bodhi Hermitage
TheravadaJenner, California, United States
Aranya Bodhi Hermitage is a Theravada Buddhist hermitage located on the Sonoma Coast in Northern California. It is part of the Dhammadharini Bhikkhuni monastic community, which supports women monastics and the revival of full bhikkhuni ordination. The hermitage is situated in a forest environment where the community practices meditation and the Noble Eightfold Path. The site engages in fire abatement efforts to protect the natural setting and offers opportunities for retreat and community involvement.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysAssumption Abbey Guest House
BenedictineAva, Missouri, United States
Assumption Abbey Guest House is part of Assumption Abbey, a Cistercian monastery in Ava, Missouri. The official guest-house page describes a dedicated wing of the monastery for individuals and groups making retreats. Guests may join the monks for Mass and the Divine Office while staying in the rural abbey setting.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBethesda, Maryland, United States
Avatamsaka Vihara is a Dharma Realm Buddhist Association branch in Bethesda, Maryland. The DRBA branch listing identifies it as a local place for Buddhist practice within the association’s network. The original hermitage name is retained from the seed data, but the official DRBA source uses the Vihara name.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBellarmine Jesuit Retreat House
CatholicBarrington, Illinois, United States
Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House is a retreat center in Barrington, Illinois, rooted in Catholic contemplative life. It belongs on MonkMap for visitors looking for structured retreat time, contemplative workshops, guided practice periods, quiet days, or a setting where ordinary life can slow down. Because the record does not yet include an official website, publish it as a research lead until guest access, retreat availability, and contact details are confirmed.
Visit websiteretreat stayssilent retreatIndiana, United States
Benedict Inn Retreat & Conference Center is a retreat center in Indiana, rooted in Benedictine monastic life. It belongs on MonkMap for visitors looking for structured retreat time, contemplative workshops, guided practice periods, quiet days, or a setting where ordinary life can slow down. Because the record does not yet include an official website, publish it as a research lead until guest access, retreat availability, and contact details are confirmed.
Visit websiteretreat stayssilent retreatBenedictine Abbey of Christ in the Desert
BenedictineAbiquiu, New Mexico, United States
The Benedictine Abbey of Christ in the Desert is a monastic community near Abiquiu, New Mexico, following the Rule of Benedict. The abbey welcomes day visitors and overnight guests for self-directed retreat, silence, liturgical prayer, and reflection in a remote desert setting. Guest accommodations and meals are available by reservation, with the church and art gallery also open to visitors during scheduled times.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysCullman, Alabama, United States
Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman, Alabama is home to the Benedictine Sisters of Cullman. The sisters describe their life as one of monastic prayer, community, and ministry shaped by the Gospel and the Rule of Saint Benedict. Their official materials emphasize seeking Christ in communal life and service.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBenedictine Sisters of Erie
BenedictineErie, Pennsylvania, United States
Mount St. Benedict Monastery is the Benedictine Sisters of Erie’s monastery in Erie, Pennsylvania. The community follows the Rule of Saint Benedict and describes its life through prayer, community, and service. Its official site also connects the sisters with ministries of hospitality, justice, education, and spiritual formation.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBenedictine Sisters of Virginia
BenedictineBristow, Virginia, United States
The Benedictine Sisters of Virginia live at Saint Benedict Monastery in Bristow, Virginia. Their official site presents the community’s life through prayer, hospitality, and service rooted in the Rule of Saint Benedict. The sisters also maintain ministries and spiritual programs connected with their monastic home.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBenet Hill Monastery
BenedictineColorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Benet Hill Monastery is a Benedictine women’s community in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The sisters describe their life through Benedictine values including hospitality, reverence for creation, and shared spiritual practice. Their official offerings include worship, learning programs, and retreat opportunities in online, hybrid, and in-person formats.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBenet Hill Monastery
CatholicColorado, United States
Benet Hill Monastery sits on a wooded property at the north edge of Colorado Springs, home to the Sisters of Benet Hill, a community of Benedictine women who describe themselves as contemporary Benedictines: living by the Rule of St. Benedict while staying engaged with the world outside the enclosure. Their guiding values are the ones Benedict wrote down in 516 CE, hospitality to strangers and respect for all creation, and their public posture is a simple one: come exactly as you are. The setting is the draw. Guests stay in retreat houses tucked into the pines, with trails, prayer sites, a forest labyrinth, and the St. Benedict Columbarium Garden on the grounds. The sisters frame a stay here as time to step away from screens and schedules, in solitude or in company, in silence or in conversation, or some mix of the two.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBerkeley, California, United States
Berkeley Buddhist Monastery is located at 2304 McKinley Avenue in Berkeley, California. The monastery hosts Buddhist ceremonies, meditation sessions, lectures, and retreats, and its official site also presents classes and online resources for Buddhist study. It is associated with the Institute for World Religions and maintains links to broader Dharma Realm Buddhist Association practice settings.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBhavana Society
TheravadaHigh View, West Virginia, United States
A Theravada forest monastery and meditation center in the West Virginia hills, founded in 1982 by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. It offers regular silent meditation retreats, cabin and dorm housing, and a path for lay residents and those seeking ordination, supported entirely by donation.
Visit websiteretreat stayssilent retreatvolunteer stayBhāvanā Society
TheravadaHigh View, West Virginia, United States
Bhāvanā Society is a Theravada Buddhist Forest Monastery and meditation center located in High View, West Virginia. It offers a monastic community and hosts various retreats including meditation, insight dialogue, and youth camps. The center provides free retreats with food and lodging, and it is accessible by car with no public transportation available. The monastery is temporarily closed until March 1, 2026, with online Dhamma talks available.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysPine Bush, New York, United States
Maple Forest Monastery’s monastic community relocated into Blue Cliff Monastery, an 80-acre Plum Village tradition monastery in Pine Bush, New York. Blue Cliff was founded in 2007 by monastic and lay practitioners in the lineage of Thích Nhất Hạnh. Its official programs include days of mindfulness, retreats, and meditation practice for monastics and lay visitors.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBodhi Monastery
BuddhistLafayette, New Jersey, United States
Bodhi Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located on 188 acres in Sussex County near Lafayette, New Jersey. It supports a monastic community of monks and nuns and promotes the study and practice of Buddhism as an integral whole, emphasizing ancient Pali teachings and early Mahayana philosophy. The monastery offers daily chanting liturgy, meditation programs, Dharma lectures, and study classes. Public group meditation and Dharma talks are held regularly.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBodhi Monastery
TheravadaBrooklyn, New York, United States
Bodhi Monastery is a Theravada Buddhist monastic community in Brooklyn associated with teachings, retreats, and Dharma programs led by monastics and senior teachers. Its public programming has included insight and concentration meditation, Dharma talks, and events connected with figures such as Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi and Sister Sayalay Susila. For MonkMap, it belongs in the monastery category as a Buddhist practice and study center rather than as an overnight retreat house.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysLafayette, California, United States
Buddha Gate Monastery in Lafayette, California, is a Zen Buddhist community offering guided meditation sessions, chanting, and retreats. The monastery hosts regular public meditation events including One Incense Meditation and half-day retreats, welcoming practitioners of all levels. It emphasizes Chan Buddhist teachings and provides opportunities for merit dedication and community participation.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSeattle, Washington, United States
Buddha Jewel Monastery in Seattle, Washington, is a Zen Buddhist monastery offering a range of meditation and Buddhism classes, including guided meditation and sutra study. The monastery hosts free Dharma events and ceremonies supported by donations, with a focus on maintaining a pure and healthy environment. Classes are suitable for all levels and include both English and Chinese language offerings. The community emphasizes a healthy lifestyle and prohibits solicitation and business activities on site.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysOklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Buddha Mind Monastery is a branch of Fo Guang Shan in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The monastery offers Humanistic Buddhism programs, meditation, Dharma services, and cultural activities. Its official site identifies the community as part of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysCalifornia Tendai
BuddhistCobb, California, United States
California Tendai is a Buddhist temple community in Cobb, California, practicing the teachings of Tendai Buddhism. The community focuses on the study and practice of Tendai, which integrates Indian and Chinese Buddhist philosophies. They offer weekly online and in-person Dharma talks and Gongyo services. The community emphasizes understanding the unity within Buddhist traditions and the interconnectedness of all things.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysVung Tau, Hawaii, United States
Chan Khong Monastery, established in 1970 on TaoPhung mountain in Vung Tau city, is a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monastery. It was the first monastery founded by the Master pursuing the renovation of Vietnamese Zen and has hosted multi-year Buddhist study and practice programs. The community includes monks and nuns and has served both monastic practitioners and laity.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysCitrus Heights, California, United States
Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center is a Catholic retreat house in Citrus Heights, run by the Passionists of Holy Cross Province. The mission is stated simply: to support the personal reflection and spiritual growth of everyone who comes, according to their own needs, by holding a safe, welcoming, and prayerful environment and offering ministries of inspiration, education, and guidance. The Passionists bought the land from the Cross family estate in 1946 and moved into a small house on the property in November 1949, on the feast of Christ the King. The main retreat building opened on May 7, 1950, built to hold thirty retreatants with a chapel, dining room, library, and two offices. It has grown in stages since: eighteen rooms added in 1957 out of relocated military barracks from Mather Air Base, then the Holy Cross Building in 1987 with forty more rooms, three small conference rooms, and the large Quinn Room assembly space. The approach is part of the experience. A private drive lined with tall oleanders opens onto a white statue of St. Paul of the Cross, and guests frequently describe the arrival as stepping onto holy ground. The grounds hold a Memorial Garden dedicated to St. Paul of the Cross, the Garden of the Lord's Passion laid out as an outdoor Way of the Cross, a grotto for Our Lady of the Passion ringed by large redwoods, a shrine to Our Lady of Fatima, a labyrinth, a landscaped courtyard with a fountain and benches, and a number of smaller spots set aside for quiet prayer. Program offerings: Preached weekend and midweek retreats. Led by the Retreat Team, mixing scheduled conferences, communal prayer and Eucharist, and open personal time. Reconciliation is available, as is time with one of the retreat leaders. There are stretches of silence and stretches of conversation. The frame is individual work done in the company of others. Twelve Step retreats. Some of the first retreats in California for men and women in Alcoholics Anonymous were held here, and the center still runs a regular Twelve Step series plus weekly AA meetings. Newcomers and long timers alike are invited. Directed retreats and days of recollection. Plus seasonal offerings: Advent and Lent days of prayer, an Ash Wednesday day of prayer, one day bereavement retreats, a Triduum retreat, and a New Year's Eve retreat. Married couples and engaged retreats, and eastern spirituality retreats. Hosted groups. Parishes, Catholic schools, dioceses, deacon and priest retreats, universities, youth organizations, and other Christian churches bring their own programs to the facility. Roughly 3,000 people attend the center's own programs each year, with another 4,000 or so coming through as hosted groups. Two related ministries operate from the site: an Institute for Counseling and Spiritual Direction, and the Spiritual Life Institute, founded to offer spiritual education and build ecumenical connections. The Community of Passionist Partners brings lay men and women, married and single, into the work alongside the religious community. What to expect This is a Catholic house rooted in the Passionist charism of preaching the Passion of Jesus, so it suits someone seeking that tradition better than someone looking for a purely secular stay, though other Christian groups regularly use the facility and the ecumenical door is genuinely open. Rooms are single occupancy with private bathrooms, air conditioned and heated, each with a writing desk and lounge chair, most looking out on old growth oak and redwood. Two suites add a sitting area and kitchenette. Meals come from a full kitchen with two chefs and a corps of volunteers. Wi-Fi is generally limited to common areas rather than guest rooms. The center notes that it aims to offer retreats regardless of ability to pay, supported by volunteers and benefactors. Practical details Location: 6520 Van Maren Lane, Citrus Heights, CA 95621 Phone: 916.725.4720 Email: christtheking@passionist.org Tradition: Roman Catholic, Passionist (C.P.), Diocese of Sacramento Founded: retreat building completed May 1950, community on site since 1946 Lodging: 67 single rooms with private baths, including two suites Meeting space: four conference rooms, groups from 10 to 110, AV and Wi-Fi available Dining: maximum occupancy 120 Office hours: weekdays, generally 9am to 5pm, closed weekends Website: christthekingretreatcenter.org
Visit websiteretreat stayssilent retreatChuang Yen Monastery
BuddhistCarmel, New York, United States
Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, New York, is a Buddhist monastery that serves as a monastic community and retreat center. It offers opportunities for meditation, chanting, Dharma teachings, and monastic guidance. The monastery provides a quiet environment conducive to Buddhist practice and spiritual growth. Public prayer and meditation times are available, with guest policies and retreat availability detailed on their website.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysFort Worth, Texas, United States
Chùa Hương Đạo, also known as Vipassana Bhavana Center, is a Theravada Buddhist monastery located in Fort Worth, Texas. It serves as a center for meditation practice and Buddhist teachings. The monastery provides a place for spiritual learning and community engagement within the Theravada tradition.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysChùa Phổ Minh
BuddhistAnderson, Indiana, United States
Chùa Phổ Minh is a Vietnamese Buddhist monastery located in Anderson, Indiana. Established in 1993, it features traditional East Asian architecture with meditation and prayer rooms. The monastery hosts spiritual activities including Buddhist festivals, Dharma classes, and community events. It serves as a cultural and religious center for the local Vietnamese Buddhist community.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysConception Abbey
BenedictineConception, Missouri, United States
Conception Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Conception, Missouri, founded in 1873. The monks describe their life through prayer, work, hospitality, education for future priests, and proclamation of the Gospel. The abbey also offers retreats rooted in Benedictine tradition.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysConception Abbey Guest Center
CatholicConception, Missouri, United States
Conception Abbey Guest Center extends the hospitality of the Benedictine monks in Conception, Missouri. The center offers a rural setting for individuals and groups seeking prayer, silence, and spiritual renewal. Its official programs are framed around Benedictine spirituality and encounters with Christ.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysIndianapolis, Indiana, United States
Dagom Geden Kunkyob Ling Buddhist Monastery in Indianapolis follows the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It offers public Dharma teachings and introductory classes via Zoom, focusing on foundational Buddhist principles such as Lam Rim, meditation, and compassion. The community welcomes all levels of practitioners and provides opportunities for questions and learning. The monastery supports both in-person and remote participation.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysEscondido, California, United States
Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, California, is a Zen Buddhist monastery established by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and part of the Plum Village community. It offers a monastic setting focused on mindfulness and meditation practices, hosting retreats such as the annual Teen Retreat and various public mindfulness events. The monastery supports a living community of monastic sisters and brothers and provides opportunities for learning and practicing mindfulness in daily life.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysDhammasala Forest Monastery
TheravadaPerry, Michigan, United States
Dhammasala Forest Monastery is a Theravada Buddhist monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition located on 28 acres of forested land in Perry, Michigan. Founded in 2000, it offers a monastic community with living quarters, a temple, meditation shelters, and walking paths. The monastery hosts daily food offerings and weekly Dhamma classes, and it is available for retreats from May to September. Visitors can participate in meditation, chanting, and Dharma teachings in a forested setting.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysDharma Jewel Monastery
BuddhistAtlanta, Georgia, United States
Dharma Jewel Monastery in Atlanta, Georgia, is a Buddhist monastery offering meditation classes, monthly ceremonies, and meditation retreats including one-hour guided sessions and half-day retreats. The monastery provides instruction in sitting meditation and Buddhist principles, with public programming suitable for various levels of experience. It also hosts children's meditation classes and promotes a vegetarian lifestyle.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysDharma Seal Monastery
BuddhistWalden, New York, United States
Dharma Seal Monastery in Walden, New York, is a Buddhist monastery with regular public Dharma ceremonies, chanting, sutra recitation, and festival observances. Its official schedule emphasizes ritual practice, communal meals, and prayers for world peace and well-being. The listing is strongest for visitors seeking Buddhist ceremony and community practice rather than a generic retreat center.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysHendersonville, North Carolina, United States
Embracing Simplicity began in 2004 as a trans-lineage Buddhist contemplative order founded by Venerable Pannavati and Venerable Pannadipa in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Its work is now carried within Heartwood Mandala, where the community presents the order’s lineage, teachers, and contemplative training. The listing is retained under the hermitage name because that is the historical form in the source data, while the official web presence now identifies the broader Heartwood Mandala context.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysEmpty Cloud Monastery
BuddhistWest Orange, New Jersey, United States
Empty Cloud Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located in West Orange, New Jersey. It is a gender-inclusive monastic community that offers meditation, Dharma study, and retreats. The monastery supports overnight visits and short residencies for those wishing to deepen their practice. Public events include weekly meditation evenings, volunteer mornings, and mindfulness afternoons.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysGaden KhachoeShing Monastery
BuddhistBloomington, Indiana, United States
Gaden KhachoeShing Monastery is a Tibetan Gelugpa Buddhist monastery located in Bloomington, Indiana. Founded in 2007, it preserves the teachings of the Gaden Nyengyu Gelukpa lineage. The monastery offers regular Dharma teachings and ceremonies and welcomes visitors by appointment. It is situated on a 128-acre property that combines seclusion with proximity to the city.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysCincinnati, Ohio, United States
Gaden Samdrupling Tibetan Buddhist Monastery and Heritage Center is located in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Its official materials connect the center with Tibetan Buddhist teachings, cultural preservation, and community practice. The monastery provides a setting for classes, ceremonies, and Dharma activities.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysGlastonbury Abbey
BenedictineHingham, Massachusetts, United States
Glastonbury Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Hingham, Massachusetts, founded in 1954. The monks live a Catholic monastic life centered on prayer, work, community, and hospitality. Individual and group retreat houses allow guests to enter a quiet Benedictine setting and, when available, join the community for the Liturgy of the Hours.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysGold Buddha Sagely Monastery
BuddhistKenner, Louisiana, United States
Gold Buddha Sagely Monastery in Kenner, Louisiana, is a branch of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association. It hosts Dharma talks, lecture series, and special events. The monastery maintains a social media group for news and events and provides public programming related to Buddhist teachings.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysLos Angeles, California, United States
Gold Wheel Sagely Monastery is a Zen Buddhist monastery located in Los Angeles, California. It offers regular events such as sutra recitations, Dharma talks, and precept classes both onsite and online. The monastery commemorates important Buddhist anniversaries and provides opportunities for communal practice and study. It serves as a center for Buddhist teachings and ceremonies in the local community.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysClatskanie, Oregon, United States
Great Vow Zen Monastery is a residential Zen Buddhist community located in Clatskanie, Oregon, affiliated with the Soto Zen tradition. Founded in 2002 by Zen Community of Oregon, it offers a monastic environment for lay and ordained practitioners focused on zazen, sesshin, and spiritual training. The monastery supports a dynamic practice life under the guidance of co-abbots and provides opportunities for residency and retreat practice.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysKingston, Arkansas, United States
Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery is a small monastic community located in the Ozark mountains of Northwestern Arkansas, devoted to the practice of zazen within the Soto Zen tradition. It follows the contemporary Soto Zen styles of Kosho Uchiyama Roshi and Shohaku Okumura Roshi, emphasizing the practice of shikantaza (just sitting). The monastery aims to realize the ancient teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha and Eihei Dogen Zenji through sincere practice as a universal offering. It is led by Shoryu Bradley and serves as a place for meditation and spiritual development.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysGyuto Wheel of Dharma Monastery
BuddhistMinneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Gyuto Wheel of Dharma Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its official site describes the monastery as a Western branch connected with Tibet’s Gyuto Monastery and guided by the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. The community works to share Tibetan Buddhist teachings and preserve Gyuto’s monastic and tantric traditions.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysHoly Cross Monastery
InterfaithWest Park, New York, United States
Holy Cross Monastery is an Episcopal Benedictine monastery in West Park, New York. The community belongs to the Order of the Holy Cross and centers its life on prayer, worship, hospitality, and service. Its official guest ministry welcomes retreatants to share the silence and rhythm of the monastery.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysHoly Name Monastery
BenedictineSt. Leo, Florida, United States
Holy Name Monastery in St. Leo, Florida, is a Benedictine monastic community committed to prayer, hospitality, and service. The monastery offers opportunities for private and directed retreats, group retreats, and spiritual guidance, with guests able to join the Sisters for liturgical prayer and Mass. As of early 2026, the monastery is not accepting new retreat reservations but continues its commitment to prayer and community service.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysHoly Trinity Monastery Center
CatholicSt. David, Arizona, United States
Holy Trinity Monastery Center in St. David, Arizona occupies the former Benedictine monastery property founded in 1974 in the Olivetan tradition. The monastery itself was dissolved in 2017, and the official site now presents the nonprofit center as a place for spiritual renewal. Its grounds include retreat accommodations, a chapel, library, and desert walking areas used by visitors and groups.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysHoly Wisdom Monastery
BuddhistMadison, Wisconsin, United States
Holy Wisdom Monastery is an ecumenical Benedictine monastery in Madison, Wisconsin. The community welcomes people for prayer, hospitality, spiritual programs, and care for the land. The listing repairs a malformed source name while preserving the original slug for import stability.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysHoly Wisdom Monastery
InterfaithMiddleton, Wisconsin, United States
Holy Wisdom Monastery in Middleton, Wisconsin, is an ecumenical Benedictine community of women religious from diverse Christian traditions. The monastery offers a rhythm of daily prayer including the Liturgy of the Hours and weekly Sunday Assembly worship, which is open to all and livestreamed. It provides retreats, spiritual guidance, and programs focused on prayer, hospitality, justice, and care for the earth. The community welcomes guests for worship, retreats, and participation in various spiritual and environmental activities.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysIlluminata House of Prayer and Hermitage
InterfaithDonaldson, Indiana, United States
Illuminata House of Prayer and Hermitage is located on the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ property in Donaldson, Indiana. The hermitage is presented as a place for solitude and prayer, with forest, prairie, and walking paths near Lake Galbraith. Its official page notes overnight bedrooms and accessibility for retreatants seeking quiet reflection.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysImmaculata Monastery & Spirituality Center
BenedictineNorfolk, Nebraska, United States
Immaculata Monastery & Spirituality Center in Norfolk, Nebraska, is a Benedictine community run by the Missionary Benedictine Sisters. The center offers private chapel visits, retreats, spiritual direction, and prayer groups, with daily Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours prayed four times daily. Facilities include meeting spaces, overnight accommodations, and a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel open 24 hours. Certified spiritual directors assist guests during retreats.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysCherry Hill, New Jersey, United States
Jizo-an Zen Community is a diverse lay contemplative Zen Buddhist community founded in 1985 and located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It offers public programs, retreats, and meditation opportunities both in-person and online. The community emphasizes living the teachings of loving-kindness, compassion, and benevolent service, fostering inclusivity and spiritual refuge for all seekers. Jizo-an maintains a Zendo for meditation and prayer and is committed to addressing social issues within and beyond its sangha.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysReedsburg, Wisconsin, United States
Korinji Monastery is a Rinzai Zen training monastery located near Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Founded in 2013, it serves as the headquarters of Rinzai Zen International and offers a rigorous curriculum including meditation, koan training, martial arts, tea ceremony, and other traditional Japanese Buddhist practices. The monastery hosts retreats, classes, and public rituals, and provides opportunities for monastic residency and ordination. It is situated on forested land and welcomes people of all backgrounds to participate in its programs.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysLong Beach, California, United States
Long Beach Sagely Monastery is a branch of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association founded by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua. Located in Long Beach, California, it offers Buddhist teachings, daily recitations, and Dharma events. The monastery provides online access to lectures and ceremonies via Zoom and YouTube. It is a living monastic community dedicated to Buddhist practice and study.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSomerset, New Jersey, United States
Mahamevnawa Buddhist Meditation Center of New Jersey is a Theravada Buddhist monastery in Pittstown, New Jersey. It is part of the Mahamevnawa network founded by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero and teaches meditation and the Buddha’s teachings to lay communities. The center’s official site lists programs, sermons, and retreats for English-speaking practitioners.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysTampa, Florida, United States
Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery Florida is a Theravada Buddhist monastery located in Tampa. It operates as a branch of the Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery in Sri Lanka and offers meditation classes suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners. The monastery holds regular events including Sunday meditation and sutta study, Saturday Bodhi Puja, and monthly Sinhala Dhamma and meditation programs.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMahapajapati Monastery
TheravadaPioneertown, California, United States
Mahapajapati Monastery is a Theravada Buddhist monastery for women in Pioneertown, California. Founded in 2007, it is situated on high-desert land and presents itself as a contemplative community balancing solitude with shared practice. Its official site identifies Ayya Gunasari as abbess and spiritual director.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMary Mother of the Church Abbey
BenedictineRichmond, Virginia, United States
Mary Mother of the Church Abbey is a Benedictine monastic community located outside Richmond, Virginia. The monks live according to the Rule of Saint Benedict, centering their lives on prayer and work. The abbey operates Benedictine College Preparatory School and offers daily communal prayer including Mass and the Divine Office. Visitors may contact the community for information about prayer times and visits.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysCamden, Maine, United States
Meetingbrook Dogen & Francis Hermitage in Camden, Maine, is a quiet place dedicated to the practice and study of contemplation, Zen meditation, and engaged service. It offers daily silent sittings and Sunday evening practices that include meditation, chanting, and mindful eating. The hermitage integrates Zen Buddhist and Christian contemplative traditions, emphasizing silence, presence, and compassionate service. All events are free, open, and informal.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMepkin Abbey
TrappistMoncks Corner, South Carolina, United States
A Trappist monastery on a former plantation along the Cooper River north of Charleston, founded in 1949 by monks from Gethsemani. Guests join the community for silent meals and seven daily prayer services, and the public gardens and grounds are open to day visitors.
Visit websitevisitor-friendlyretreat stayssilent retreatpublic prayerBrooklyn, New York, United States
Metta Parami Monastery is a Theravada Buddhist monastery in Tafton, Pennsylvania, connected to New York-area supporters in the seed data. The official site presents the monastery as a place for meditation, Dhamma practice, and monastic residence. Because the current official location differs from the New York source row, the listing should be reviewed carefully in later deduplication work.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysPomona, California, United States
Middle Land Chan Monastery is a Chan Buddhist monastery in Pomona, California. Its official site identifies the monastery with the Linji school of Chan and offers classes, ceremonies, and meditation programs. The center presents its work as helping visitors encounter Buddhist wisdom through study and practice.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMonastery of Our Lady of the Desert
BenedictineGobernador, New Mexico, United States
Monastery of Our Lady of the Desert is a Benedictine monastic community of women located in Gobernador, New Mexico. The community lives by vows of stability, conversion of life, and obedience, dedicating themselves to prayer, silence, solitude, and hospitality. Their mission includes interceding through prayer for the needs of the world and offering a life centered on monastic values.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMonastery of St. Gertrude
BenedictineCottonwood, Idaho, United States
The Monastery of Saint Gertrude is a Benedictine community in Cottonwood, Idaho, and serves as the Center for Benedictine Life. Its campus includes the chapel, Spirit Center, historical museum, inn, and ministries that connect sisters, oblates, volunteers, and visitors. The community presents Benedictine spirituality through prayer, hospitality, formation, history, and retreat programming.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMonastery of the Holy Cross
BenedictineChicago, Illinois, United States
The Monastery of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation in Chicago. The monks live according to the Rule of Benedict, with a daily rhythm of Mass, the Divine Office, Gregorian chant, silence, work, and hospitality. Public worship and vocational monastic experience weekends connect visitors with the community’s liturgical life.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMost Holy Trinity Monastery
CatholicPetersham, Massachusetts, United States
Home to the Maronite Monks of Adoration, a Catholic monastic community in the Eastern Maronite tradition. Individual men and small groups of men are welcome for silent retreats in the guesthouse, joining the monks for the Divine Office, Mass, and adoration in a secluded setting without cell or internet access.
Visit websiteretreat stayssilent retreatpublic prayerMother of God Monastery
BenedictineWatertown, South Dakota, United States
Mother of God Monastery in Watertown, South Dakota, is a Benedictine monastic community of women committed to a balanced life of prayer, work, study, and leisure. They celebrate daily liturgies including the Liturgy of the Hours and Mass in their chapel. The community emphasizes hospitality and spiritual growth through prayer and daily readings. The rural setting supports their monastic values and communal life.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMount Angel Abbey
BenedictineSaint Benedict, Oregon, United States
Mount Angel Abbey Retreat House is the guest ministry of Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon. The official retreat site offers lodging, meeting spaces, and retreat programs in the Benedictine tradition. Guests are invited into the abbey’s prayer and quiet hilltop setting.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMount Angel Abbey
BenedictineSt. Benedict, Oregon, United States
A Benedictine abbey on a hilltop butte in Oregon's Willamette Valley, founded in 1882 by monks from Switzerland. Its Saint Benedict Guesthouse hosts individuals and groups, and visitors come for the Alvar Aalto library, the museum, and the chance to pray the Hours with the community.
Visit websitevisitor-friendlyretreat stayspublic prayerMount Saviour Monastery
BenedictinePine City, New York, United States
Mount Saviour Monastery is a Benedictine monastery in Pine City, New York. The monks follow the Rule of Saint Benedict in a life of prayer, work, and hospitality. Their official materials describe guest accommodations and a farm setting that supports the monastery’s rhythm of monastic life.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysIthaca, New York, United States
The North American seat of the Dalai Lama's personal monastery, in the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Monks rotate in from Dharamsala, and the public is welcome for evening meditations, classes, and seasonal retreats.
visitor-friendlypublic prayerretreat staysNew Camaldoli Hermitage
CatholicBig Sur, California, United States
A Camaldolese Benedictine hermitage perched in the Santa Lucia Mountains above the Pacific. Guests of any faith stay in simple rooms or hillside cottages for silent retreats, joining the monks for daily liturgy and the Hours.
Visit websitevisitor-friendlyretreat stayssilent retreatpublic prayerOur Lady of Guadalupe Abbey
BenedictinePecos, New Mexico, United States
Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey is an Olivetan Benedictine monastery near Pecos, New Mexico. The community follows the Rule of Benedict and the constitutions of Saint Bernard Tolomei, receiving guests for individual and group retreats. Guesthouses, hermitages, Mass, the monastic office, and a thousand-acre high-desert valley make it a strong fit for silence, prayer, and monastic hospitality.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysOur Lady of Guadalupe Monastery
BenedictineSilver City, New Mexico, United States
Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery is a Benedictine monastery located in Silver City, New Mexico. The cloistered community offers daily public Mass and the chanting of the Divine Office in their chapel, which is open to the public without appointment. Visitors may access the giftshop during specified hours but tours are not available. The monastery provides a schedule of liturgical services including Mass, confessions, and chant times.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysIsanti, Minnesota, United States
Pacem in Terris Hermitage Retreat Center in Isanti, Minnesota, offers a simple hermitage environment focused on silence and solitude. It supports Zen Buddhist contemplative practice and provides a retreat setting for individuals seeking quiet and solitude. The center emphasizes a hermitage experience conducive to meditation and reflection.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysHenderson, Nevada, United States
Padma Rigdzin Ling is a Buddhist monastery and retreat center in Henderson, Nevada. The official site identifies it with the Palyul lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and names Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche among its guiding teachers. The center offers Dharma teachings, practice sessions, and retreat opportunities for students.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysPecos Monastery
CatholicPecos, New Mexico, United States
Pecos Benedictine Monastery is a Benedictine monastery in Pecos, New Mexico. Its official web presence describes a retreat setting in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and a ministry of spiritual renewal. The monastery’s retreat work includes programs, lodging, and hospitality for people seeking prayer and quiet.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysPrince of Peace Abbey
BenedictineOceanside, California, United States
Prince of Peace Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Oceanside, California. The abbey presents its life through the Benedictine rhythm of prayer and work, and it welcomes guests for prayer, reflection, and retreats. Its retreat ministry includes monk-led programs as well as self-guided days of recollection.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysCumberland, Rhode Island, United States
Providence Zen Center in Cumberland, Rhode Island, is the Head Temple of the Kwan Um School of Zen in the Americas. It is an active Buddhist sangha offering daily meditation, chanting, Dharma talks, retreats, and guest stays with opportunities for both beginners and experienced practitioners. The center provides free meditation instruction classes and hosts regular public practice sessions and retreats. Guest stays are available with shared and private accommodations, supporting deepening Zen practice.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysQueen of Angels Monastery
BenedictineMt. Angel, Oregon, United States
Queen of Angels Monastery in Mt. Angel, Oregon, was the historic home of the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel, a community living according to the Rule of Benedict. Built in 1888, the monastery served for generations as a center of prayer, work, hospitality, and retreat ministry, including Shalom at the Monastery. In 2023 the sisters transferred care of the property to Catholic Community Services, making the listing historically important but requiring review for current guest access.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSacred Heart Monastery
BenedictineDickinson, North Dakota, United States
Sacred Heart Monastery is the home of Benedictine Sisters in Dickinson, North Dakota. The community describes its life as communal, apostolic, Christian, and shaped by prayer and work. The sisters have been present in North Dakota since 1910 and moved to Dickinson in 2019.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSacred Heart Monastery
BenedictineYankton, South Dakota, United States
Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, South Dakota, is home to the Yankton Benedictines, a community of Benedictine sisters. The monastery offers a Peace Center for silent personal retreats, spiritual direction, and enrichment programs. Retreatants can join the community for prayer and meals or enjoy solitude in a setting overlooking the Missouri River. The monastery also supports vocations, oblates, and offers spiritual resources and a gift shop.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSacred Heart Monastery
BenedictineRichardton, North Dakota, United States
Sacred Heart Monastery in Richardton, North Dakota, is a Benedictine priory home to 31 sisters. It is part of the Saint Gertrude Federation and offers a monastic community life. The monastery provides a retreat environment with a focus on prayer and liturgical life.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSaint Andrew's Abbey
BenedictineValyermo, California, United States
Saint Andrew's Abbey in Valyermo, California, is a Benedictine monastic community dedicated to prayer and work. The abbey offers a spiritual home for retreatants with a variety of retreats led by retreat masters, including preached, group, private, and youth retreats. The monks maintain a daily rhythm of liturgy and hospitality, and the abbey supports its community through handcrafted ceramics and spiritual publications. Retreats include lodging and meals, and the community prays the Liturgy of the Hours daily.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSaint Benedict Abbey
BenedictineStill River, Massachusetts, United States
Saint Benedict Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located in Still River, Massachusetts. The community follows the monastic journey of postulancy, novitiate, and solemn profession, dedicating their lives to prayer and obedience to Christ. The abbey offers a glimpse into monastic life and emphasizes a vocation of complete dedication to God. It serves as a spiritual center for those discerning a monastic calling.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSaint Benedict's Abbey
BenedictineBartonville, Illinois, United States
Saint Benedict's Abbey in Bartonville, Illinois, is an ecumenical Benedictine community of men and women within the Catholic tradition. The community prays and works for the reconciliation and unity of Christians. The Abbey welcomes all baptized Christians to participate in its liturgical prayer life, including the Liturgy of the Hours and daily Mass. It offers a peaceful monastic environment with public prayer services and spiritual ministries.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSaint Benedict’s Monastery
BenedictineSt. Joseph, Minnesota, United States
Saint Benedict’s Monastery in Saint Joseph, Minnesota, is a Benedictine community of women living according to the Rule of Benedict. The sisters pray the Liturgy of the Hours three times daily and continue ministries shaped by prayer, work, hospitality, education, and service. The monastery also preserves its history through the Haehn Museum and Whitby Gift Shop.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSaint Bernard Abbey
CatholicCullman, Alabama, United States
Saint Bernard Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Cullman, Alabama, where the monks live according to the Rule of Benedict and gather for regular daily prayer. The abbey grounds include a retreat center, preparatory school, and the Ave Maria Grotto, giving visitors a mix of monastic worship, retreat hospitality, and devotional pilgrimage space.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSaint John's Abbey
BenedictineCollegeville, Minnesota, United States
Saint John’s Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Collegeville, Minnesota. The monks follow the Rule of Saint Benedict through prayer, work, hospitality, and community life. Their official ministries include Saint John’s University, Saint John’s Preparatory School, Liturgical Press, retreat hospitality, and several abbey workshops.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSaint John's Abbey Guesthouse
BenedictineCollegeville, Minnesota, United States
Saint John’s Abbey Guesthouse in Collegeville, Minnesota extends the hospitality of Saint John’s Abbey to guests of all faiths. It sits within the abbey’s central Minnesota setting of woodlands and lakes. The guesthouse offers a place to experience quiet, prayer, and the life of a Benedictine community.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSaint Joseph Abbey Retreat Center
BenedictineSaint Benedict, Louisiana, United States
Saint Joseph Abbey Retreat Center, located in Saint Benedict, Louisiana, is a Benedictine abbey retreat facility offering a peaceful setting on 1,100 acres for reflection, prayer, and spiritual growth. The center provides 30 guest rooms, a chapel, conference rooms, and hosts silent retreats open to adults, including abbey-sponsored and outside group retreats. It supports liturgical prayer, reconciliation, and offers hospitality with meal services and meeting spaces. The retreat center underwent a major renovation in 2017 and is a member of the Association of Benedictine Retreat Centers.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSaint Leo Abbey
CatholicSaint Leo, Florida, United States
Saint Leo Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the hills of Pasco County, Florida, with roots reaching back to 1889. The monks describe their life as one of prayer, work, conversion, hospitality, and worship, serving both the local Catholic community and Saint Leo University. Retreat guests are welcomed for spiritual refreshment in a setting shaped by the Rule of Saint Benedict.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSaint Meinrad Archabbey
BenedictineSt. Meinrad, Indiana, United States
A Benedictine archabbey in southern Indiana, founded in 1854 from Einsiedeln in Switzerland and home to a seminary. The Archabbey Guest House offers monk led retreats year round, the public is welcome at the Liturgy of the Hours, and the monks support those discerning a monastic vocation.
Visit websitevisitor-friendlyretreat stayspublic prayerdiscernment programSaint Scholastica Monastery
BenedictineBoerne, Texas, United States
Saint Scholastica Monastery in Boerne, Texas, is home to the Benedictine Sisters of Boerne. The community embraces the Benedictine tradition of hospitality and prayer, welcoming guests to join in silent prayer gatherings and other spiritual practices. The monastery offers sacred spaces and ways to journey with the community through prayer and ministry.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSakya Monastery
BuddhistSeattle, Washington, United States
Sakya Monastery in Seattle offers access to the Buddha’s teachings within a community of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners. It provides opportunities to learn from qualified Tibetan Lamas and participate in various practices and pujas, both in-person and online. The monastery hosts public classes, ceremonies, and special events, with a traditional setting and a focus on Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSarasota Forest Monastery
TheravadaEnglewood, Florida, United States
Sarasota Forest Monastery is a Theravada Buddhist monastery in the Thai Forest tradition located in Englewood, Florida. It offers a monastic community with regular public programs including chanting, meditation, and Dhamma talks. The monastery holds weekly Sunday programs and occasional group practice sessions open to beginners. The setting includes forest meditation areas and facilities for communal activities.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMount Shasta, California, United States
Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery, near Mount Shasta, California, is a training monastery in the Serene Reflection Meditation tradition of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. Founded by Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett, it supports a resident monastic community and offers retreats, ceremonies, teachings, spiritual counseling, meditation, and chanting. Public visits and Sunday programming are available by arrangement through the abbey’s current visitor schedule.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysCottonwood, Idaho, United States
Spirit Center at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho, is a Benedictine retreat center offering 22 guest rooms and facilities for groups up to 120. The center emphasizes Benedictine spirituality, including communal prayer, silence, and Lectio Divina, and provides opportunities to live according to the Rule of Benedict alongside the monastic community. The grounds include a historical museum, forested areas, and art spaces, supporting contemplative renewal and cultural heritage.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Joseph, Minnesota, United States
The Spirituality Center•Studium is a ministry of Saint Benedict’s Monastery in Saint Joseph, Minnesota. It welcomes women and men of all faiths for solitude, prayer, reflection, retreats, spiritual direction, centering prayer, and study. Hermitages, a labyrinth, and scholarly programs extend the monastery’s Benedictine hospitality into silence, learning, and creative work.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSravasti Abbey
CatholicNewport, Washington, United States
Sravasti Abbey is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Newport, Washington. Founded by Venerable Thubten Chodron, it is a residential monastic community for Westerners practicing in the Tibetan tradition. The abbey offers teachings, retreats, and community practice centered on Buddhist ethics, meditation, and service.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysFlorence, Arizona, United States
An Athonite Greek Orthodox monastery in the Sonoran Desert, founded in 1995 by monks from Mount Athos. Open to visitors at no cost during set daytime hours, with overnight pilgrim guest houses by arrangement and a welcoming but strict rule of conduct.
Visit websitevisitor-friendlyretreat stayspublic prayerSt. Benedict's Abbey
BenedictineBenet Lake, Wisconsin, United States
St. Benedict’s Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Benet Lake, Wisconsin. The monks follow the Rule of Saint Benedict through prayer, common life, pastoral ministry, and hospitality. Their official site connects the abbey with retreats, priestly formation, and service to the church.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Benedict's Abbey
BenedictineAtchison, Kansas, United States
St. Benedict’s Abbey is a Catholic Benedictine monastery in Atchison, Kansas, with roots reaching to 1857. The monks live according to the Rule of Saint Benedict and describe their life through prayer, work, and fraternal community. Their apostolic work includes co-sponsoring Benedictine College and Maur Hill-Mount Academy and serving pastoral needs in the region.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysCullman, Alabama, United States
St. Bernard Abbey Retreat & Conference Center is the guest and retreat ministry of the Benedictine monks of Saint Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama. The center provides lodging, meeting space, and a setting for personal or group retreats connected to the abbey’s daily rhythm of prayer. Guests can experience Benedictine hospitality while remaining close to the abbey church, grounds, and monastic community.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Emma Monastery
BenedictineGreensburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Saint Emma Monastery is a Benedictine priory in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, associated with the Bavarian Federation. The community offers a Catholic monastic setting rooted in Benedictine prayer, community life, and hospitality. It is best listed as a monastery with potential retreat relevance, while current guest arrangements should be checked directly before publication.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Gregory's Abbey
BenedictineThree Rivers, Michigan, United States
Saint Gregory’s Abbey in Three Rivers, Michigan, is a Benedictine monastic community in the Episcopal Church. The monks live under the Rule of Benedict and center their day on the Eucharist, Divine Office, prayer, and hospitality in the Abbey Church. Guests come for retreat, worship, and spiritual renewal within an Anglican Benedictine setting.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Gregory's Abbey
BenedictineShawnee, Oklahoma, United States
St. Gregory’s Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The monks describe their life through prayer, common life, hospitality, and service under the Rule of Saint Benedict. Their official site presents the abbey’s values and ministries as expressions of Benedictine monastic life.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Joseph's Abbey
TrappistSpencer, Massachusetts, United States
A Trappist community in the hills of central Massachusetts, known for its Trappist Preserves and liturgical vestments. The abbey welcomes guests for contemplative retreats shaped by its life of silence, prayer, and work.
visitor-friendlyretreat stayssilent retreatpublic prayerSt. Mary Monastery
BenedictineRock Island, Illinois, United States
St. Mary Monastery is a Benedictine monastery located in Rock Island, Illinois. The community includes 18 perpetually professed sisters and maintains a monastic life rooted in the Benedictine tradition. The monastery offers a setting for prayer and spiritual life and can be contacted for information about guest opportunities and public prayer times.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Mary's Abbey
BenedictineMorristown, New Jersey, United States
Saint Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, New Jersey, is a Benedictine abbey whose retreat center is shaped by the daily prayer and hospitality of the monks. Guests come for spiritual retreat, quiet reflection, and access to a monastic Catholic setting connected with the abbey’s liturgical life.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Paul's Monastery
BenedictineMaplewood, Minnesota, United States
St. Paul's Monastery in Maplewood, Minnesota, is a Benedictine community dedicated to living the Gospel through prayer, hospitality, and spiritual companioning. The monastery offers a rhythm of communal and personal prayer and hosts retreats and workshops through its Benedictine Center. It serves as a spiritual home for Sisters, Associates, Oblates, and guests seeking contemplative presence and hospitality in the Benedictine tradition.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Paul's Monastery
CatholicSt. Paul, Minnesota, United States
St. Paul’s Monastery is a Benedictine community of women in St. Paul, Minnesota. The sisters describe their life through worship, hospitality, and spiritual companioning. Their official site welcomes people of many faith and cultural traditions to the monastery’s home and grounds.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Paul’s Monastery
BenedictineSt. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Saint Paul’s Monastery in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is a Benedictine community of sisters rooted in prayer, hospitality, and the Rule of Benedict. The monastery is located on Benet Road and serves as a place of Catholic monastic presence, community life, and spiritual connection in the Twin Cities.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSt. Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery
OrthodoxSouth Canaan, Pennsylvania, United States
Founded in 1905, the oldest Orthodox monastery in North America, tied to the Orthodox Church in America and its seminary. Long a destination for pilgrims, it is best known for its large annual Memorial Day pilgrimage.
visitor-friendlypublic prayerSt. Walburg Monastery
BenedictineCovington, Kentucky, United States
Saint Walburg Monastery in Covington, Kentucky, is a Benedictine monastery of women founded in 1859 by sisters from Eichstätt, Germany. The community’s official history emphasizes its European Benedictine roots, long service in the United States, and continuing life of prayer and community. For MonkMap, it is best presented as a historically rooted Benedictine monastery rather than a retreat-center-first destination.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSubiaco Abbey
CatholicSubiaco, Arkansas, United States
Subiaco Abbey is a Catholic Benedictine monastery in Subiaco, Arkansas, founded in 1878. The monks follow the Rule of Saint Benedict through a daily rhythm of prayer, work, hospitality, and community life. The abbey’s official presence also connects the monastery with education and retreat hospitality on its campus.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysCarmel Valley, California, United States
The first Zen monastery established outside Japan, founded in 1967 and run by San Francisco Zen Center. The remote Ventana Wilderness valley opens to guests each summer for hot springs, zazen, and teacher led retreats, then closes for intensive monastic practice. Its parent center also streams dharma talks and online practice.
Visit websitevisitor-friendlyretreat staysonline teachingspublic prayerThe Hermitage Community
InterfaithThree Rivers, Michigan, United States
The Hermitage Community in Three Rivers, Michigan, is an interfaith hermitage offering individual and group retreats focused on attentiveness to God. The community provides lodging in private rooms, an apartment, and rustic cabins, with shared bathrooms and meals served Wednesday through Sunday. Guests may participate in Morning Prayer and have access to walking trails and a prayer labyrinth on the 62-acre property. Spiritual direction and massage services are available by appointment.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysThe Mountain Hermitage
TheravadaTaos, New Mexico, United States
The Mountain Hermitage is a Theravada Buddhist retreat center located in Taos, New Mexico. It offers intensive meditation retreats including Vipassana and concentration practices, led by experienced teachers. The facility provides a quiet, natural setting with private rooms and vegetarian meals, supporting both beginners and experienced practitioners. Retreats are held at the Hyperslow Retreat Center at San Geronimo Lodge, emphasizing mindfulness and insight meditation.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysFort Worth, Texas, United States
Thiền Viện Quang Chiếu is a Zen Buddhist monastery located in Fort Worth, Texas. It operates as a monastic community with regular hours for contact and presumably practice. The monastery provides a place for meditation and Buddhist activities, as indicated by its official contact information and presence online.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysTibetan Monastery
BuddhistNew York, New York, United States
The Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center has long been known as a Tibetan monastery in Washington, New Jersey, despite its New York-facing seed source. Its official site presents the center as a place for Tibetan Buddhist study, meditation, and retreat practice. The listing needs later geographic cleanup because the verified official location is New Jersey rather than New York.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysBloomington, Indiana, United States
The Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center and Kumbum Chamtse Ling Monastery in Bloomington, Indiana, was established in 1979 to promote Tibetan culture and support Tibetan and Mongolian communities. Located on 90 acres south of Bloomington, it offers a peaceful environment for meditation, reflection, workshops, teachings, retreats, and ceremonies. The center serves as a cultural and religious hub for Tibetan exile communities and Mongolian groups from Mongolia, Kalmykia, Buryatia, and Tuva.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysTransfiguration Monastery
BenedictineWindsor, New York, United States
Transfiguration Monastery is a Benedictine women’s monastery in Windsor, New York. The sisters describe their life through prayer, monastic community, and Benedictine hospitality. The monastery’s official materials invite visitors into retreats, spiritual programs, and the quiet rhythm of the sisters’ prayer.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysGrand Prairie, Texas, United States
Trung Tâm Phật Giáo Khuôn-Việt - Chùa Pháp Quang is a Zen Buddhist monastery located in Grand Prairie, Texas. It serves as a Buddhist center offering religious ceremonies and community activities. The monastery maintains a schedule of events and provides opportunities for Buddhist practice and observance.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysIrving, Texas, United States
Lien Hoa Buddhist Monastery is a Vietnamese Buddhist monastery in Irving, Texas. Its official presence identifies the monastery as a place for Buddhist worship, ceremonies, and community practice. The listing should retain the bilingual source context while using the shorter official monastery name.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysGarden Grove, California, United States
Vairocana Zen Monastery is a Zen Buddhist monastery located in Garden Grove, California. It features a Zen Hall and gardens designed for meditation and offers Zen-Three and Zen-Seven retreats along with meditation classes. The monastery aims to clarify the essence of Zen Mind teachings through various skillful means. Branches have been established in Arcadia, California, and Mexico City, Mexico.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysWat Phothisomphan
TheravadaDes Moines, Iowa, United States
Wat Phothisomphan is a Theravada Buddhist monastery located in Des Moines, Iowa, serving primarily the local Laotian community. Established in 2009 in a former Baptist church building, it emphasizes Buddhist meditation alongside cultural and religious practices. The community holds monthly Tak Bat alms-giving services and weekly dharma talks and chanting meditations in both Laotian and English. The monastery combines traditional Theravada teachings with Lao cultural traditions.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysSterling, Virginia, United States
Wat Yarnna Rangsee Buddhist Monastery is a Thai Buddhist monastery in Sterling, Virginia. The official site presents the temple as a place for Buddhist worship, ceremonies, meditation, and community gatherings. It serves Thai and broader Buddhist communities in Northern Virginia.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMims, Florida, United States
White Sands Buddhist Center, also known as White Sands Monastery, is a Vietnamese Buddhist center in Mims, Florida. Founded in 2005, it occupies a 31-acre site and presents itself as a place for meditation, mindfulness, and Buddhist learning. The center’s official materials identify Venerable Thích Tâm Thiện as its teacher and describe ongoing work on a Serenity Stupa.
Visit websitepublic prayerretreat staysMount Tremper, New York, United States
A Western Zen training center on 220 forested acres in the Catskills, founded by John Daido Loori and home of the Mountains and Rivers Order. Resident monastics and lay trainees host meditation retreats and introductory programs for people of all backgrounds.
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Common questions
- Can anyone stay at a monastery?
- Many monasteries welcome guests of any background, though some retreats are limited by gender, tradition, or season. Always confirm policies, availability, and costs on the community's official website before you visit.
- What is the difference between a monastery stay and a retreat center?
- A monastery stay usually means living alongside a monastic community on their daily schedule of prayer, work, and rest. A retreat center may offer more flexible programming. Both can provide quiet, structure, and spiritual focus.