The Best Nude Beaches in the US — For Those Who Like to Keep It All the Way Real
- Amir Morris
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Let's be honest. There's something about taking everything off at the beach that hits different.
Not in a performative way. Not in a "look at me" way. In a, finally, I can just exist without layers, kind of way. Whether you're a seasoned naturist or just curious what the hype is about, nude beaches in the US are more accessible, more welcoming, and more LGBTQ+ friendly than most people realize.
I put together this guide for the gay men who want the real experience, not the sanitized, tourist-friendly version. Here are the five best nude beaches in the US worth stripping down for.
1. Gunnison Beach — Sandy Hook, New Jersey
If you've never heard of Gunnison Beach, you're missing one of the most iconic clothing-optional beaches on the East Coast. Located within Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, New Jersey, Gunnison is federally recognized as a clothing-optional beach one of the very few in the country with that distinction.
The crowd is diverse, welcoming, and heavily LGBTQ+ friendly. The beach itself is beautiful wide open sand, Atlantic water, and enough space that it never feels crowded even on peak summer weekends.
Getting there requires a short hike from the parking area which naturally filters out the casually curious and keeps the vibe intentional. Go on a weekday if you can. The energy is more relaxed and the crowd is more community-oriented.
Insider tip: Parking fills up fast on weekends. Get there before 10AM or you'll be circling.
2. Haulover Beach — Miami, Florida
Haulover is probably the most famous nude beach in the United States, and it earns that reputation. Located just north of Miami Beach, this stretch of sand within Haulover Park has a designated clothing-optional section that draws a massive, diverse crowd year round.
The gay section naturally congregates toward the northern end of the nude area. The energy is South Beach adjacent, confident, social, and very much aware that everyone is watching. In the best possible way.
Miami heat is real though. Sunscreen, water, and shade breaks are not optional here. The sun on that sand is relentless and you'll feel it in ways you won't when you're wearing anything.
Insider tip: Weekdays are significantly more relaxed than weekends. If you want the social energy, go Sunday. If you want the experience, go Tuesday.
3. Baker Beach — San Francisco, California
Baker Beach has one of the most dramatic backdrops of any beach on this list — Golden Gate Bridge views, Pacific Ocean, and San Francisco's iconic fog rolling in and out throughout the day. The northern end of the beach is the unofficial clothing-optional section and has been for decades.
The crowd here skews older and more local than a place like Haulover, this is less of a scene and more of a genuine naturist community that has claimed this space as their own. The LGBTQ+ presence is strong and the vibe is completely judgment-free.
One thing to know, the water at Baker Beach is cold. Like, genuinely cold. Pacific Ocean cold. This is not a swimming beach. It's a sunbathing, existing, taking-in-the-view beach. And for that, it's perfect.
Insider tip: Go on a clear day. The fog can roll in fast and when it does the temperature drops significantly.
4. Black's Beach — La Jolla, California
Black's Beach is the kind of place that rewards the effort it takes to get there. Located at the base of the Torrey Pines cliffs in La Jolla, San Diego, this beach requires either a steep cliff descent or a long walk from the south, neither of which is casual.
But that's exactly what makes it special. The crowd that shows up at Black's Beach made a deliberate choice to be there. The result is one of the most relaxed, community-oriented clothing-optional beaches in the country with a strong and longstanding LGBTQ+ presence.
The beach itself is stunning, dramatic cliffs, clear Pacific water, and a sense of privacy that's hard to find anywhere on the California coast. Hang gliders launching from the cliffs above are a regular sight and somehow make the whole experience feel even more cinematic.
Insider tip: The cliff trail is steep and can be slippery. Wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty and bring more water than you think you need.
5. Praia do Abricó — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
If Black's Beach rewards effort, Abricó rewards patience. Tucked away at the far end of Recreio dos Bandeirantes in Rio de Janeiro, this is Brazil's only officially recognized nudist beach, and it's one of the most genuinely peaceful clothing-optional experiences I've had anywhere in the world.
Getting there takes a bit of navigation. It's not on the main tourist circuit and that's exactly the point. The crowd that shows up at Abricó made a deliberate choice to be there, and the result is an intimate, relaxed, completely judgment-free environment with a strong LGBTQ+ presence woven naturally into the fabric of the place.
The beach itself is beautiful in a raw, unpolished way. No vendors every ten feet, no loud music, no performance. Just ocean, sand, and people existing freely in one of the most stunning cities on earth. The surrounding nature, green hills dropping into Atlantic water, makes it feel almost removed from Rio entirely.
I've been and left feeling genuinely recharged in a way the more famous beaches in Rio don't always deliver. If you're spending time in Rio, this one is worth the extra effort to find.
Insider tip: Go on Sunday. The beach is small and fills up with more gay travelers that day.
Honorable Mention Worth the Flight
Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico — Playa del Amor is one of the most legendary clothing-optional, gay-friendly beaches in the world. Liberation energy, international crowd, Pacific sunsets that will genuinely stop you in your tracks. I've been four times. Stay at least three nights. One day is not enough.
Insider tip: Stay at least three nights. One day is not enough. The beach finds you on day two.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go
Sunscreen is not optional. At any of these beaches you will be in direct sun for hours without the buffer of clothing. Apply before you arrive, bring extra, and reapply constantly. This is the one thing first-timers universally underestimate.
Photography etiquette is serious. Never photograph other people at a clothing-optional beach without explicit permission. This is a community built on trust and comfort — respect it.
Leave your judgment at the parking lot. Nude beaches attract every body type, every age, every background. The whole point is freedom from exactly the kind of critical eye you might bring with you. Check it at the door.
The Bottom Line
The best nude beach experience isn't about being seen. It's about finally feeling free enough to stop worrying about being seen at all.
These five beaches, from the dramatic cliffs of Black's Beach to the liberation energy of Zipolite, offer that feeling in completely different ways. Pick one. Go. Take everything off. You'll understand immediately why people keep coming back.
Planning an LGBTQ+ trip to any of these destinations? Book a travel consultation at amirmorris.com — I'll help you plan the whole thing.
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