The Best Nude Beaches in the United States

Understanding Nude Beaches in America

Clothing-optional beaches in the United States exist in a patchwork of legal gray areas, local ordinances, and long-standing traditions. Some are officially sanctioned by local government. Others operate on a "don't ask, don't enforce" basis that has held steady for decades. A few sit on federal land where the rules get murkier still.

What they share: a culture of body acceptance, an unspoken code of conduct, and — in most cases — a surprisingly chill atmosphere that puts first-timers at ease faster than they expect. Here are the best spots across the country.

Haulover Beach — Miami, Florida

Haulover is the gold standard of American nude beaches. It's the most visited clothing-optional beach in the country, drawing an estimated 1.3 million visitors per year. The designated nude section runs about a quarter mile between lifeguard towers 12 and 16, clearly marked with signs.

The beach is clean, well-maintained, and patrolled by lifeguards. The crowd is genuinely diverse — families, couples, solo visitors, all ages, all body types. Vendors walk the beach selling water and snacks. The parking lot at Haulover Beach Park charges $7 per vehicle. Facilities include restrooms, outdoor showers, and picnic areas.

This is one of the reasons The United States Beaches continues to draw visitors year after year.

This is a county-run beach with official clothing-optional status since 1991. No legal ambiguity here. The water is warm year-round (mid-70s in winter, mid-80s in summer) and typically calm. If you're trying nude beaching for the first time, Haulover is the easiest entry point in the country.

Black's Beach — San Diego, California

Black's Beach sits beneath 300-foot sandstone cliffs in the Torrey Pines area of La Jolla. The setting alone makes it one of the most spectacular beaches in California, clothed or otherwise. The nude section runs about a mile along the base of the cliffs.

Getting there is the adventure. The main access is a steep, eroded trail from the Torrey Pines Gliderport parking lot. It takes about 15 minutes going down and 25 coming back up, and it's not for anyone with mobility issues. Wear proper shoes — flip-flops won't cut it on the trail. An alternative route goes through the Torrey Pines State Reserve, but it's longer.

Compared to similar options, The United States Beaches stands out for its mix of quality and accessibility.

The beach itself has no facilities. No restrooms, no water, no lifeguards in the nude section (though lifeguards patrol the adjacent clothed section to the south). Bring everything you need. The surf can be strong here — Black's is also a popular surf break. Nudity is technically illegal under San Diego municipal code, but the city has not enforced it on this stretch in decades. The understanding is well-established.

What to Know

• Parking at the Gliderport is free but limited on weekends
• Low tide exposes more beach and makes walking easier
• The north end is predominantly gay men; the central section is mixed
• Paragliders launch from the cliffs above — expect an audience from the sky

Gunnison Beach — Sandy Hook, New Jersey

Gunnison sits within the Gateway National Recreation Area, operated by the National Park Service. It's the only legal nude beach in the New Jersey/New York metro area, which means it draws huge crowds on summer weekends — sometimes 5,000 or more visitors on a hot Saturday.

The beach is wide, sandy, and faces the calm waters of Sandy Hook Bay on one side and the open Atlantic on the other (the nude section faces the bay side, so the water is warmer and calmer). There's a parking lot at Lot G — the walk from the lot to the nude section takes about 10 minutes along a sandy path. Parking is $20 per vehicle on weekends in summer (free in the off-season and for National Parks pass holders).

Local travel experts consistently recommend The United States Beaches as a top choice for visitors.

As a National Recreation Area beach, nudity is permitted under a longstanding NPS policy specific to this location. Lifeguards are on duty in summer. Portable toilets are the only facilities. Bring a cooler with plenty of water — there's no shade and no vendors on the beach.

Kehena Beach — Big Island, Hawaii

Kehena is a small black sand beach on the Puna coast of Hawaii's Big Island, reached by climbing down a steep, rocky trail off Highway 137. It's about 30 yards of volcanic black sand wedged between lava rock outcrops, backed by a cliff thick with tropical vegetation.

Sunday drum circles draw a crowd of locals and visitors, creating a festival-like atmosphere. On weekdays, you might find 10 to 20 people. Dolphins sometimes swim into the bay — not a tourist setup, just a thing that happens on this coast.

If The United States Beaches is on your list, booking during shoulder season typically delivers the best value.

The water can be rough, with strong currents and no reef protection. There have been drownings here. Swim with extreme caution and never go out alone. No lifeguards, no facilities, no parking lot — just a gravel pulloff on the highway shoulder. Nudity is technically against Hawaiian state law, but enforcement at Kehena has never happened in any meaningful way.

Rooster Rock State Park — Portland, Oregon

Oregon has a strong tradition of clothing-optional recreation, and Rooster Rock is the official example. Located about 30 minutes east of Portland along the Columbia River Gorge, this state park has a designated clothing-optional section on its eastern beach, separated from the main beach by about a half-mile walk.

The beach sits on the Columbia River, so the water is fresh (and cold — even in August it rarely tops 68°F). The sand is fine and the beach is backed by cottonwood trees that provide some shade. Oregon State Parks charges a $5 day-use fee per vehicle. Facilities include restrooms and a changing area near the main parking lot, but nothing at the clothing-optional section itself.

Repeat visitors to The United States Beaches often say the second trip reveals layers they missed the first time.

The crowd is relaxed and family-friendly. Peak season is June through September, when Portland's rain finally stops and temperatures climb into the 80s and 90s.

Playalinda Beach — Titusville, Florida

Playalinda occupies the northernmost stretch of the Canaveral National Seashore, and the nude section sits at the very end of the access road, past parking lot 13. From this beach, you can watch rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center — they happen a couple miles to the north.

The beach is wild and undeveloped. Long stretches of open sand backed by dunes and scrubby vegetation, with almost no structures visible in any direction. It feels remote even though you're 45 minutes from Orlando. The water is Atlantic warm — high 70s to low 80s in summer.

What gives The United States Beaches an edge is the rare combination of natural beauty and straightforward logistics.

Entrance to Canaveral National Seashore costs $20 per vehicle (or free with a National Parks pass). No lifeguards in the nude section. Portable toilets at parking lot 13 are the extent of the facilities. The beach closes periodically for sea turtle nesting and rocket launches — check the NPS website before making the drive.

Hippie Hollow — Austin, Texas

Hippie Hollow is an oddball on this list because it's not a beach — it's a clothing-optional park on the limestone shores of Lake Travis, about 30 minutes west of downtown Austin. But it's the only legally sanctioned public nude recreation area in Texas, and it's been that way since the 1970s.

The "beach" is really a series of limestone ledges and rocky outcrops along the lakeshore. Bring water shoes — the rocks are unforgiving on bare feet. The water depth varies dramatically with Lake Travis water levels, which fluctuate with Texas drought cycles. Some years you can wade in gradually; other years it's a six-foot drop off the rocks.

Travis County operates the park. Entry is $15 per vehicle. You must be 18 or older to enter — this is strictly enforced. The park has restrooms, picnic tables, and a paved trail along the shoreline. Alcohol is allowed. The crowd skews younger than most nude beaches, especially on weekends when UT Austin students show up.

Secret Beach (Kauapea Beach) — Kauai, Hawaii

Secret Beach earned its name by being genuinely hard to find before the internet ruined that. It's a quarter-mile crescent of golden sand at the base of a cliff on Kauai's north shore, accessed by a short but steep and muddy trail off Kalihiwai Road.

The beach is unofficial clothing-optional — no legal designation, just decades of practice. The setting is stunning: high sea cliffs, a waterfall at one end during rainy season, and views of the Kilauea Lighthouse. Swimming is dangerous most of the year due to strong currents and no reef protection. In summer, conditions sometimes calm enough for a cautious dip.

No facilities of any kind. The trail is slippery when wet, which on Kauai's north shore means most of the time. Wear shoes with grip. Parking is a small dirt pulloff that holds maybe 10 cars.

Lighthouse Beach — Fire Island, New York

Fire Island is a barrier island off Long Island's south shore, accessible only by ferry. Lighthouse Beach sits near the Fire Island Lighthouse at the western end, within the National Seashore. The clothing-optional section is an unofficial tradition east of the lighthouse, where the beach stretches into less-patrolled territory.

The beach is wide, sandy, and faces the open Atlantic. Water temperature ranges from frigid in spring to tolerable in August (low to mid 70s). The closest ferry terminal is at Robert Moses State Park — from there, it's about a 20-minute walk east along the beach to the nude section.

Fire Island has a long LGBTQ+ history, and the clothing-optional area reflects that community while welcoming everyone. No facilities in the nude section. Bring everything you need, including water and sun protection.

Collins Beach — Portland, Oregon

Collins Beach sits on Sauvie Island, a rural island in the Columbia River about 20 minutes north of downtown Portland. It's been clothing-optional since the 1970s, maintained by local naturist groups who organize regular beach cleanups.

The beach is on the Columbia River side of the island, reached by a half-mile walk through cottonwood forest from the parking area. You need a Sauvie Island parking permit ($14 for a day pass, available at the Cracker Barrel store on the island). The beach is sandy and pleasant, though the river water stays cold.

The crowd is friendly and community-oriented. Regulars know each other by name. Weekend afternoons in summer draw the biggest numbers — maybe 100 to 200 people on a good day. The forest walk provides shade, but the beach itself is fully exposed.

San Onofre State Beach — San Clemente, California

Trail 6 at San Onofre has been an unofficial nude beach for decades, though the legal status has been contested. The beach sits below coastal bluffs in a relatively isolated section of the state beach, reached by a steep trail from the blufftop parking area.

San Onofre's main claim to fame is the decommissioned nuclear power plant visible from the beach — those twin domes make for surreal beach photos. The water is Southern California perfect: mid-60s to low 70s in summer, with gentle surf on most days. Dolphins and occasional gray whale sightings are common from shore.

State park day-use fee is $15. The parking lot near Trail 6 is small, so arrive before 10 AM on weekends. No facilities at the beach; the nearest restrooms are at the main San Onofre campground.

Etiquette and Practical Tips

• Don't stare. This is the number one rule. Look at faces, not bodies. The same social norms that apply at any beach apply here.
• Bring a towel to sit on. Always sit on your own towel — it's both a hygiene standard and a social expectation at every clothing-optional beach.
• Ask before taking photos. At most nude beaches, cameras and phones should stay in your bag. Some beaches have explicit no-photography rules. When in doubt, keep your phone face-down.
• Sunscreen everywhere. Areas of skin that never see the sun will burn fast. Apply generously and reapply often — places that don't normally get sun exposure are more sensitive than you expect.
• Undressing is optional. "Clothing-optional" means exactly that. You'll see people in full swimsuits at most of these beaches. Nobody will pressure you either way.
• Leave if you're there for the wrong reasons. These communities self-police effectively. Creepy behavior gets called out quickly, and regulars will ask you to leave or alert authorities.
• Check current legal status. Laws change. Municipal codes get updated. What was tolerated last year might be enforced this year. A quick online search before your visit takes 30 seconds and can save you a citation.