Digital detox retreats in Pennsylvania
Take a break from screens on a digital detox retreat at these rural havens, luxury resorts, and no-frills cabins.
With technology seemingly omnipresent in our lives, from the phones in our pockets to the computers we work or play on, it can sometimes feel like we’re living our lives through our screens. Indeed, half of Americans say they can’t imagine their lives without their smartphones, according to a 2022 Gallup survey, with younger generations much more likely to report feeling addicted to their phones.
While having the internet so close at hand has made knowledge, entertainment, and social connection astonishingly accessible, most anyone with a smartphone will likely admit that there are drawbacks. Research has found, for example, that social media use can increase depression and loneliness and that merely having your phone nearby can distract you from what you’re doing—even if you’re not even looking at it.
Enter the digital detox retreat.
What is a digital detox retreat?
A digital detox allows you to focus on what really matters to you, besides endless scrolling. Many people feeling stressed about their screen time and tech use have turned to specific digital detox retreats to reset themselves from constant reliance on their devices. Such retreats are an intentional vacation from screens—a chance to engage with “the real world,” so to speak, reduce stress, and ultimately develop better habits around technology use.
You can always try to shove your phone away in a drawer and try to detox from your screens at home. But many people prefer a structured retreat, especially in a beautiful location. You can join a wellness retreat or even design your own.
How to design your own digital detox retreat
You can plan a digital detox retreat anywhere—even at home—though choosing a location that naturally limits distractions can make unplugging easier. Pick a quiet place—a no-frills cabin or even a fancy resort—and decide ahead of time how you’ll stay away from your digital devices. Tell your friends and family that you’ll be offline, and if possible, share an emergency contact method like your hotel’s phone number.
Once you arrive, you’ll need to design your days so that you’re not longing for your laptop. If you haven’t signed up for a structured wellness retreat, you’ll want to create a simple daily structure—you don’t need a strict schedule, but you’ll want a general plan. Perhaps in the morning you do yoga or go on a hike, in the afternoon you set aside time for journaling or painting, and in the evening you cook your own meal with healthy, tasty ingredients. Definitely make space for self-care, whether that’s a massage or simply a luxurious bubble bath.
Don’t forget to bring the materials you’ll need for your retreat activities, like binoculars if you want to birdwatch or yarn if you plan to knit. You might also pack a favorite book or puzzle, which are great ways to engage your brain outside of screens.
While you’re on your DIY retreat, take a little time to reflect on how it feels to be disconnected and which habits you’d like to bring back with you when you reacquaint yourself with technology.
Plan a digital detox retreat in Pennsylvania
There are retreat centers, lodges, and cabins across Pennsylvania that are perfect for a digital detox. Some places have designed luxury “wellness retreats” that incorporate mindfulness practices and yoga alongside a digital detox. Other possible retreats are in rural destinations where you have to give up your phone because there’s no data service or wifi. We’ve outlined both to help you plan your ideal digital detox retreat, whether you want to invest in a lavish getaway from your screens or you’d prefer to DIY a retreat at an affordable cabin. Read on to learn where you can spend your own digital detox—but after you book, put your phone down!
Wellness retreats at the Himalayan Institute—Honesdale (Wayne County)
The Himalayan Institute, dedicated to yoga and holistic health and located in beautiful Northeastern Pennsylvania, offers a number of wellness retreats through its PureRejuv Wellness Center. Retreats are centered on different goals: “Cleanse & Restore,” “Nourish & Balance,” and “De-stress & Fortify.” While they’re not pure digital detox retreats, each retreat offers an opportunity to relax, recalibrate, and focus on yourself, ideally away from your phone. You’ll be busy enough with massages, yoga classes, and guidance for how to restructure your daily routine once you return home. Weekend retreats start at $299, not including your lodging.
Gateway Lodge of Cook Forest–Cooksburg (Clarion County)
Gateway Lodge of Cook Forest is an excellent choice for a digital detox, in part because the lack of cell service in this part of Clarion County will necessarily keep you from checking your inbox. Instead, you’ll trade the glow of your cell phone for that of a wood-burning hearth or campfire. Nestled within Cook Forest State Park, Gateway Lodge offers easy access to meditative hikes in old-growth forest and farm-to-table meals in the lodge’s restaurant. You can pick between cozy cabins or fireside suites for your forest getaway. Rates generally start at around $169 per night.
The Lodge at Woodloch–Hawley (Wayne County)
The Lodge at Woodloch, a spa resort on 500 forested acres in the Pocono Mountains, encourages its guests to book stays focused on tech detoxes, offering its own ideas for a digital detox retreat. The resort suggests taking advantage of its numerous art and fitness classes, nutritious cooking demonstrations, outdoor opportunities such as golf and hiking, and soothing spa offerings like heated “hydromassage waterwalls.”
Luxurious retreat packages are all-inclusive and include upscale accommodations, gourmet meals, more than 50 daily scheduled activities, and use of the site’s gym, pool, and other amenities. However, having everything at your fingertips does come at a price—more than $1,000 per night.
R&R Retreat at Amethyst Retreat Center–Duncannon (Perry County)
Central Pennsylvania’s Amethyst Retreat Center offers regular weekend retreats that are mostly self-directed, with options for different workshops and social events. It’s the perfect place to design your own digital detox retreat with the added bonus of structured activities like guided meditation or forest bathing. Plus, you don’t have to worry about your meals or lodging! One room at the retreat center for the “R&R Retreat” starts at $375 for the weekend for shared accommodations, and $450 for a private room.
Wellness retreats at River Mountain–Everett (Bedford County)
Tucked amid the rolling hills of south-central Pennsylvania’s Bedford County, River Mountain describes itself as a “modern mountain resort,” and indeed, you can easily book a weekend stay with all the necessary amenities in a secluded cabin, unique glamping yurt, or room in the main lodge. The views of the mountain ridge and the surrounding valley will help you slow down without waiting for your phone to light up with notifications. Rates start at around $215 per night, depending on your accommodations, with the option to add all meals for an additional price.
Besides its regular lodging options, River Mountain also has a dense calendar of retreat experiences that you can join, from general wellness retreats anyone can benefit from to more niche retreats designed especially for nurses or teachers. Because retreats are hosted by outside wellness leaders, content (and prices) vary, except that all are designed for rejuvenation.
Harmony Mountain Institute–North Abington (Lackawanna County)
Harmony Mountain Institute isn’t just any getaway—the institute’s retreat experiences are designed to be transformative and to have a lasting impact long after you leave Harmony Mountain’s expansive grounds. The personalized, Zen-inspired all all-inclusive retreats have workshops focused on holistic health, nature exploration, mindfulness, yoga, and more alongside the institute’s accommodations, which feature reflection spaces (outdoor meditation gardens as well as a lawn labyrinth) and amenities like nutritious meals and an infinity pool. Guests even have access to a “wellness concierge” to ensure they get all they can out of the experience. Still, unlocking personal growth through the retreat does require an investment of at least $2,500.
Pennsylvania State Parks–Statewide
Dozens of Pennsylvania State Parks stand ready to host you and yours for a cellphone-free vacation in the great outdoors. From tent-only campsites to modern cabins and yurts, parks throughout the Commonwealth are ideal places to post up for a week or weekend away from screens while you explore forests, lakes, and mountains and reconnect with your loved ones. State parks are particularly great options for a DIY retreat, especially if you’re on a budget, because you can book many campsites for less than $20 per night, rustic cabins for as little as $29 per night, and modern cabins for as low as $61 per night.
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