Summer Travel: 10 Catholic Pilgrimage sites in the United States
A Summer Pilgrimage Journey from Cincinnati
Summer is a wonderful time to step away from routine and draw closer to God through travel. Pilgrimage is not simply sightseeing—it is prayer in motion. Across the United States are sacred places where faith, history, and devotion meet. Many are within a day’s drive of home, while others invite a longer journey of reflection and renewal.
Below is a practical and spiritual guide to ten of the most meaningful Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the country.
1. Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption
Location: West Bend, Iowa
Distance from Cincinnati: ~10.5 hours
The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption consists of nine grottos depicting scenes in the life of Jesus. Built from minerals and petrified wood, it is believed to be the largest grotto of its kind in the world.
Why Visit:
- Unique devotional art made entirely of stone
- Meditation on the life of Christ
- A peaceful Midwestern pilgrimage stop
2. Chapel of the Holy Cross
Location: Sedona, Arizona
Built directly into the red rock buttes of Sedona within the Coconino National Forest, this chapel rises dramatically from the desert landscape. Sedona is about a 2-hour drive from Phoenix.
Why Visit:
- Stunning desert setting
- Quiet place for prayer and reflection
- Symbol of faith rising from the wilderness
3. Ave Maria Grotto
Location: Cullman, Alabama
Distance from Cincinnati: ~6 hours
Often called “Jerusalem in Miniature,” this four-acre park contains 125 miniature reproductions of famous religious structures from around the world.
Why Visit:
- Ideal stop on the way to Florida
- Beautiful gardens and walking paths
- A reminder of the universality of the Church
4. Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Location: South Bend
Distance from Cincinnati: ~4 hours
While many visit Notre Dame for football, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is the true spiritual heart of the campus. It contains one of the largest collections of 19th-century French stained glass in the world.
Why Visit:
- Reverent liturgy and sacred beauty
- Historic Catholic university setting
- Opportunity for confession and Mass
5. Saint Anthony Chapel
Location: Pittsburgh
Distance from Cincinnati: ~4.5 hours
Saint Anthony Chapel houses more than 5,000 relics—one of the largest collections outside the Vatican.
Why Visit:
- Extraordinary relic collection
- Deep connection to the saints
- Powerful place for intercessory prayer
6. Mother Cabrini Shrine
Location: Golden, Colorado
Dedicated to Frances Xavier Cabrini, this shrine sits in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Pilgrims often visit the spring that has flowed continuously for generations. Golden is about a 45-minute drive west of Denver.
Why Visit:
- Beautiful mountain setting
- Shrine to America’s first citizen-saint
- Tradition of healing and renewal
7. El Santuario de Chimayó
Location: Chimayó, New Mexico
Known as the “Lourdes of America,” this shrine welcomes hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year, especially during Holy Week. Chimayo is about a 40-minute drive northeast of Santa Fe New Mexico
Why Visit:
- One of the most famous pilgrimage sites in North America
- Tradition of healing soil
- Deep Hispanic Catholic heritage
8. Mission San Juan Capistrano
Location: San Juan Capistrano
Founded in 1776, this mission is one of the most historic Catholic sites in the United States and is known as the “Jewel of the California Missions.” San Juan Capistrano is an hour away from both Los Angeles or San Diego.
Why Visit:
- Rich Catholic and American history
- Connection to early missionaries
- Famous annual return of the swallows
9. National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion
Location: Champion, Wisconsin
Distance from Cincinnati: – 7.5 hours
This shrine marks the site where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Adele Brise in 1859. It is the only Church-approved Marian apparition site in the United States.
Why Visit:
- Unique Marian apparition site
- Peaceful rural prayer setting
- Strong focus on catechesis and evangelization
10. Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
Location: St. Louis
Distance from Cincinnati: ~6 hours
This magnificent cathedral blends Byzantine and Romanesque architecture and contains one of the largest mosaic collections in the world.
Why Visit:
- Awe-inspiring sacred art
- Historic American Catholic landmark
- A place to reflect on perseverance in faith
Honorable Mentions for Shrines in the United States
Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics
The Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics is home to one of the largest documented collections of holy relics in the United States and stands at the heart of the historic Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches. ⛪ The Shrine is located about an hour north of Dayton.
The Shrine houses more than 1,200 relics of the Saints, including five relics of the True Cross. For generations, pilgrims have journeyed here seeking spiritual renewal, quiet prayer, and inspiration from the lives of holy men and women who faithfully followed Christ.
Visitors from around the world come to experience this sacred environment—rich in holiness, history, and devotion. The Shrine remains a powerful reminder that the communion of saints is not just a doctrine, but a living connection to those who walked before us in faith. ✝️
National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios
The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine, Florida—America’s oldest Marian shrine—marks the birthplace of Catholic faith in what would become the United States.
In late August 1565, a Spanish fleet commanded by Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sighted land on the feast of St. Augustine of Hippo (August 28). In honor of the saint, they named their settlement St. Augustine.
Just days later, on **September 8—the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary—**Menéndez and his companions came ashore. At that moment, Florida was claimed for Spain, and the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States was founded.
Upon landing, Father Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, chaplain of the expedition, celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving. This historic liturgy is recognized as the first Catholic Mass in what is now the United States, establishing the first parish and planting the roots of the Catholic faith in the New World.
In 1587, Franciscan missionaries formally established Mission Nombre de Dios, which became the foundation for evangelization throughout Spanish Florida. Today, pilgrims continue to visit this sacred site to pray—especially mothers and families seeking the intercession of Our Lady of La Leche, patroness of childbirth and family life. 👶🙏
Suggested Pilgrimage Routes from Cincinnati 🚗
Weekend Pilgrimages (2–3 days)
- South Bend, Indiana — Basilica of the Sacred Heart
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — Saint Anthony Chapel
- Champion, Wisconsin — Our Lady of Champion
- St. Louis, Missouri — Cathedral Basilica
One-Week Pilgrimage
Midwest Route:
Cincinnati
→ Notre Dame
→ Wisconsin
→ Iowa
→ St. Louis
→ Return
A Pilgrim’s Reflection
Travel can be recreation—but pilgrimage is transformation. Each stop becomes a prayer, each mile an offering, each destination a reminder that God walks with us on the journey.
As summer approaches, consider setting aside time not just for vacation, but for pilgrimage. You may return home rested—but more importantly, renewed in faith. 🙏
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