Best Nude Beaches in the United States: Top 20

The United States has roughly two dozen clothing-optional beaches worth recommending. The variation is wide: some are county-managed public parks with full facilities, some are unofficial sand sections protected by long hikes and local tradition, some are constitutionally permissive zones in state forests. We’ve ranked the twenty best based on legal status, access, beach quality, and beginner-friendliness — not on pure size or fame. This is the considered list, with what you should know about each before going.

How We Ranked These

Four factors matter: legal stability (is the C/O status secure or contested), beach quality (sand, water, scenery, infrastructure), accessibility (parking, hiking, getting in and out without complications), and community culture (welcoming or insular, well-managed or wild). A beach that scores well on all four lands in the top ten. Scoring well on three out of four still earns a place.

We’ve excluded private beaches at resorts (those are covered in our resort guides) and beaches outside the United States. We’ve also excluded a few historically important beaches that have lost their C/O status or become unsafe. Within the US, this is what we’d actually recommend to a friend.

1. Haulover Beach (Florida)

Haulover Beach is the textbook answer. It’s the most famous clothing-optional beach in the country and arguably the most beginner-friendly. A roughly half-mile stretch at the north end of a barrier-island park, officially designated for nude use, patrolled by Miami-Dade County lifeguards. The sand is fine and white, the Atlantic surf is gentle, and the crowd is the most varied of any nude beach in the United States.

It’s busy on weekends and unforgivably hot in summer afternoons. Parking fills by 10am on Saturdays. Arrive early, park as far north as you can (lots 12-16), and walk the dune crossover to the north section. Family-tolerant during daylight, with strong photography rules actively enforced by beach ambassadors.

For a first-time clothing-optional beach experience, Haulover is the safest pick in the country.

2. Black’s Beach (California)

Black’s Beach is the West Coast equivalent — a famous, beautiful, slightly more demanding beach beneath the Torrey Pines cliffs in La Jolla. The hike down from the Gliderport adds a filtering step that keeps casual tourists away. The community at Black’s is consequently warmer and more conversational than at Haulover, with longtime visitors who recognize each other and exchange the kind of pleasantries you’d hear at a regular pool.

The crucial detail: only the section accessed from the Torrey Pines Gliderport trail is clothing-optional. South Black’s Beach, accessed via Saigon Trail near the state park, is clothing-enforced. Don’t confuse them. The Gliderport trail is the right entrance.

Lifeguards patrol the C/O section. Currents are real — multiple drownings every year — so swim with the same caution you’d use at any unguarded surf beach. Parking at the Gliderport fills early on weekend mornings. The CliffHanger Cafe at the parking lot handles pre-beach food.

3. Hippie Hollow Park (Texas)

Hippie Hollow Park is the only legally clothing-optional public park in Texas, operated by Travis County Parks since 1985. It’s perched on a rocky limestone cove of Lake Travis northwest of Austin. The terrain is unforgiving — sharp ledges, sparse shade, no sand — but the lake is beautiful and the policy is well-protected.

Strictly 18+, with ID checked at the gate. A day-use fee is collected on entry. Cameras and recording devices are prohibited park-wide. The terrain demands sturdy water shoes; this is not a barefoot beach. Lake Travis water levels fluctuate dramatically — in low-water years some entry points are unusable.

On hot weekends the cove fills with boats anchoring offshore, which creates a unique scene of land-based naturists and water-based party crowds coexisting. The LGBTQ+ presence is strong, especially on weekends.

4. Playalinda Beach (Florida)

Playalinda Beach is the long, wild north end of Canaveral National Seashore. The clothing-optional section runs from parking lot 13 northward — a serious stretch of empty white sand backed by dunes and palmetto. There’s nothing built on it. No vendors, no facilities past the parking lot, no music. The Atlantic surf is real and unguarded.

This is one of the most spectacular C/O beaches in the country, and one of the wildest. You bring everything you need and you pack it all out. The wind off the Atlantic in winter is bracing. Summer brings biting flies. Spring and fall are the best months.

The Kennedy Space Center is visible across the lagoon, which is a unique detail: you can sometimes watch a rocket launch from the beach if NASA’s calendar aligns.

5. Apollo Beach (Florida)

Apollo Beach is Playalinda’s quieter southern cousin within Canaveral National Seashore. The clothing-optional area is around parking area 5. It’s much less famous than Playalinda, which means it’s much less crowded — often you’ll have hundred-yard stretches of sand to yourself.

The trade-off: less infrastructure even than Playalinda. No vendors. Long walks from lot to sand. Mosquitoes can be brutal in late spring. But for solitude and unspoiled coast, Apollo is hard to beat. Pack water, a hat, and your most patient mindset.

6. Rooster Rock State Park (Oregon)

Rooster Rock Nude Beach is the official clothing-optional area within Oregon’s Rooster Rock State Park, set on a long sandy beach along the Columbia River east of Portland. The water is cold and slow-moving. The sand is real and forgiving. The setting — basalt cliffs of the Columbia Gorge rising on both sides — is spectacular.

Oregon’s body-freedom culture makes the state more permissive about clothing-optional beaches than most. The Rooster Rock community is established, organized, and friendly. Weekends bring regulars who’ll greet you. Weekdays are quiet.

A second clothing-optional spot in the same general area, Sandy Island, is a few miles upstream and operates as a more informal, less-managed alternative. Both work; Rooster Rock is more accessible.

7. Collins Beach (Oregon)

Collins Beach is the long-established clothing-optional area on Sauvie Island, northwest of Portland. It runs along the Columbia River, with sandy beach and easy water access. The community is mostly local Portland-area regulars, with a strong commitment to maintaining the area’s quiet, family-tolerant character.

Sauvie Island is a working agricultural island. You drive through farmland and small wineries to reach the beach. Parking requires a state day-use permit, which you can buy at the bridge entrance. The walk from the parking area to the water is short.

Glass Bar, just south of Collins, is also clothing-optional and slightly less crowded. Glass Bar Nude Beach shares the same general culture.

8. Kauapea (Secret) Beach (Hawaii)

Kauapea Beach — known locally as Secret Beach — is the long, wild stretch of golden sand on the north shore of Kauai, accessed via a short steep trail from a clifftop parking area. It’s not officially clothing-optional but has been used as such for decades.

The setting is what makes it: cliffs on both ends, a waterfall flowing onto the sand at the eastern end, blue Pacific surf, almost no infrastructure. Sea turtles are common. The water is warm. Trade winds keep the afternoon comfortable.

The trail down is steep and gets slick after rain. Once you’re on the sand, there’s no shade and no facilities. You bring everything in and pack everything out. The community is small but established — Hawaii regulars and travelers who know to come here.

9. Bonny Doon Beach (California)

Bonny Doon Beach is one of the historical Santa Cruz County clothing-optional beaches. The north end of the beach is the established C/O area; the south end is textile. The transition is informal but understood by regulars.

Access is from Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz, with a parking area on the highway side and a short walk down to the sand. The beach is small enough that you’ll see the same faces if you go regularly. The water is cold (Pacific) and the surf is real. The cliffs frame the beach and provide some afternoon shade.

For Bay Area first-timers wanting a less famous alternative to the Sonoma County beaches, Bonny Doon is the comfortable middle-ground choice.

10. San Onofre State Beach (California)

San Onofre State Beach — specifically the section around Trail 6 — has been a tolerated clothing-optional area for decades, on military-adjacent state-park land north of Oceanside. The legal status has wavered over the years, and recent enforcement varies, but the community continues to use the area.

The hike down from the parking area to Trail 6 is moderate. The beach itself is long and sandy, with reliable surf and a famously friendly surf community. The clothing-optional section is the northern stretch; the southern end is textile and crowded.

Verify current C/O policy before visiting — the area has had periods of stricter enforcement. The community is among the most welcoming on the West Coast when the policy is permissive.

11. Bare Sand Beach (North Carolina)

Bare Sand Beach is North Carolina’s longstanding clothing-optional spot on the Outer Banks. North Carolina law prohibits public nudity statewide, so the status is technically informal — but local tradition has kept the beach clothing-optional for decades, and active enforcement is rare.

The setting is classic Outer Banks: long flat sand, Atlantic surf, dunes, and minimal development. The area is accessed via short walks from public beach access points. The community is small and locals-heavy.

For East Coast naturists outside Florida, Bare Sand is the closest you’ll get to the Southern beach experience. Use discretion. Don’t push the limits of public-facing visibility.

12. Crystal Crescent Beach (Nova Scotia adjacent — note)

Crystal Crescent Beach is technically in Nova Scotia, Canada — our directory has a data note indicating an outdated state field. The actual location is the third (southernmost) cove of Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park, south of Halifax. We’re including it in this US-focused list as a North American honorable mention because it’s the best clothing-optional beach in eastern Canada and many US East Coast travelers will visit it.

The southern cove is clothing-optional by long tradition. The beach is small, the water is cold (Atlantic), and the setting — granite cliffs, golden sand, evergreen forest — is striking. Access requires a short walk from the parking area.

13. Davenport Landing Beach (California)

Davenport Landing Beach is a small, quiet alternative in the same Santa Cruz County stretch as Bonny Doon. The clothing-optional area is at the south end of the beach, separated from the textile section by a short stretch of rocks.

The beach is hard to reach from a beach-only perspective — there’s no real parking, and the walk down is over a small bluff. But for those who know, it’s a quieter option than Bonny Doon, with the same general Pacific coast aesthetic and a smaller, more locals-only crowd.

14. Sandy Island (Oregon)

Sandy Island is a Columbia River island a few miles upstream from Rooster Rock. It’s accessible only by boat — you paddle, swim, or boat over from the mainland — which keeps the crowds small and the regulars dedicated.

The island has soft sand on the river side and forested interior. The water is cold but swimmable in summer. No facilities; pack everything in and out. The community is among the most tight-knit of the Pacific Northwest beaches.

For naturalists with boats or who can kayak, Sandy Island is one of the most rewarding spots on the West Coast.

15. Bare Neck Shore (Maryland)

Bare Neck Shore is the regional clothing-optional spot for the Maryland and DC area, on Chesapeake Bay. The water is calm and warm in summer, the beach is sandy and easy to walk, and the surrounding pine forest offers shade.

The community is small and skews local-Maryland and Virginia. It’s less famous than the Atlantic beaches further south, which is the appeal — quieter, less crowded, more communal.

16-20. Honorable Mentions

Several beaches earn a mention but didn’t make the top 15 due to access constraints, smaller scale, or geographic specificity.

Glass Bar Nude Beach (Oregon) — Sauvie Island alternative to Collins Beach with a smaller, quieter crowd.

Rooster Rock Clothing Optional/Nude Beach (Oregon) — the broader Rooster Rock area beyond the main state park beach.

Secret Cove Nude Beach (Nevada) — Lake Tahoe’s clothing-optional cove on the east shore, accessible via a short hike down from Highway 28. Spectacular alpine setting and clear water.

Eastney Naturist Beach (New Hampshire) — the small but established New Hampshire option for New England travelers.

[Hippie Hollow alternates] — for Texas Hill Country travelers wanting variation, Wildwood Naturist’s Resort and Bluebonnet offer private-property options with beach-like settings.

Picking Your First One

If you’re choosing between the top three (Haulover, Black’s, Hippie Hollow), think about geography and what filter you want. Haulover is the most beginner-friendly and the easiest to access. Black’s filters by hike but rewards with a warmer community. Hippie Hollow filters by terrain and age (18+) but rewards with the most distinctive setting.

For East Coast first-timers, Haulover is the default. For West Coast first-timers, Black’s. For Texas and the South-Central region, Hippie Hollow. For the Pacific Northwest, Rooster Rock. For Hawaii visitors, Kauapea.

The deeper truth: the difference between the top five and the bottom five on this list isn’t really quality — it’s logistics. The smaller beaches are good. They’re just harder to get to, smaller in scale, and less forgiving of beginner mistakes. Start with the bigger ones, learn the rhythm, then branch out.

FAQ

Are any of these beaches legally protected for clothing-optional use? Only a few. Hippie Hollow is the only public park in Texas with a legally clothing-optional designation. Haulover Beach has formal county designation. Oregon beaches benefit from the state’s permissive nudity laws. Most other beaches operate on tradition, low enforcement, or informal local agreement.

What’s the busiest weekend at the top beaches? Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day are the peak weekends at every major beach. Haulover, Hippie Hollow, and Black’s are uncomfortably crowded on those days. Mid-week visits or off-peak weekends are dramatically more pleasant.

Are there any East Coast beaches outside Florida? A few. Bare Sand Beach (NC), Bare Neck Shore (MD), Eastney Naturist Beach (NH), and several Fire Island spots (Cherry Grove, Davis Park, Lighthouse Beach — see the directory). The East Coast outside Florida has fewer established beaches than the South or West Coast.

Is the Caribbean a better option than US beaches for naturists? For some travelers, yes. The Caribbean’s resort-based naturist tradition is more institutionalized than the US’s beach tradition. We’ve written a separate guide on Caribbean nude beaches for travelers considering the option.

Which beaches are families with kids allowed at? Most public clothing-optional beaches allow families. Hippie Hollow is 18+. Haulover, Playalinda, Apollo, Black’s, and the Oregon Columbia River beaches all allow families. Always verify the specific beach’s policy before bringing children.

What about beaches that didn’t make the list? A few traditionally important beaches have lost their C/O status or become genuinely unsafe — Mazo Beach in Wisconsin has been heavily restricted, Red White and Blue Beach in Santa Cruz closed, and a few smaller Florida beaches have been removed by enforcement. The 20 we’ve listed are the ones we’d actually recommend for visits in 2026.

Related Guides

• What to Pack for a Nude Beach: A Complete Checklist — the gear list for any beach on this ranking.
• Nude Beach Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules — the code that makes these beaches work.
• Your First Time at a Clothing-Optional Beach: What to Expect — the social walkthrough for first-time visitors.

Featured Locations

The full top ten in directory form:

1. Haulover Beach (Florida)
2. Black’s Beach (California)
3. Hippie Hollow Park (Texas)
4. Playalinda Beach (Florida)
5. Apollo Beach (Florida)
6. Rooster Rock Nude Beach (Oregon)
7. Collins Beach (Oregon)
8. Kauapea Beach (Hawaii)
9. Bonny Doon Beach (California)
10. San Onofre State Beach (California)