Best Nude Beaches in United States

We’ve all heard of Miami’s South Beach. Featured heavily in iconic films such as Scarface, Miami Vice, Baywatch, Goldfinger, and Ride Along, it’s one of the world’s most famed and instantly recognizable beaches. With its iconic Ocean Drive, renowned restaurants, luxury shopping, opulent hotels and resorts, and bustling nightclubs, South Beach is possibly the world’s most popular beach destination. Additionally, Miami Beach – South was named theBest Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.”

When you arrive at South Beach, you’ll immediately notice the beach’s incredible views. From the sand, beachgoers marvel at Miami Beach’s skyline. With its art-deco architecture, dramatic modern high-rises, and sky-scraping palm trees, the skyline is arguably South Florida’s most iconic sight.

Once you walk onto South Beach’s glistening golden sand, you’ll see that South Beach is more than just a tourist destination. It’s a naturally stunning beach in its own right. With vibrant turquoise water and glistening golden, it’s the perfect place to lounge and enjoy nature while just steps from the big city. While you’re there, be sure to catch South Beach’s vibrant sunsets, which peak at around 7 pm.

Located in the small town of Muir Beach, Muir Beach is a quiet beach that is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Redwood Creek forms some wetlands, wetlands, and a lagoon near Muir Beach that is home to several shorebirds, amphibians, salmon, monarch butterflies, and water-loving plants. 

Located to the north of Trinidad, College Cove - also known as College Cove Beach - is a secluded beach with brown sand and interesting rock formations. This beach is situated below forested oceanfront bluffs and is the northern part of a larger state-protected beach named Trinidad State Beach. A large offshore rock formation named the Pewetole Island is present near this beach. In addition, there is a rocky archway near this beach named "The Portal" which separates College Cove Beach from the main portion of Trinidad State Beach. During rainy weather, a waterfall named "College Cove Falls" can also be seen near this beach. As an interesting fact, portions of the 2001 Jim Carrey film The Majestic were shot on this beach. College Cove does not have lifeguards. However, the area around this beach has picnic tables and restrooms. Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach. 

Located to the north of the village of Surfside, Haulover Beach - also known as Haulover Park Beach - is an immensely popular and large white-sand beach. This one-and-a-half-mile long beach is situated adjacent to a park named Haulover Park and Haulover Beach Park. 

Located on a peninsula named Sandy Hook, Gunnison Beach – also called Beach G – is a large two-mile-long beach with light brown sand.  This beach is a part of a national recreation area named Gateway National Recreation Area that is 27,000 acres in size.  The southern portion of this beach is popular with the LGBTQ+ community and it is often used as a nude beach since the late 1970s and the early 1980s.  Gunnison Beach is very popular and was named as one of the “8 Best Nudist Beaches Across the U.S.” by the digital media company Travel Noire.  It was also listed as one of “20 Best Beaches in New Jersey'' by the New Jersey Monthly magazine, and is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.

Gunnison Beach hours between 6 am to 9 pm.

Located on a Massachusettsan island named Martha’s Vineyard, Lucy Vincent Beach - also known as Lucinda Vincent Memorial Beach and previously known as Jungle Beach, Blue Mailbox Beach, and Barn House Beach - is a popular beach with white sand, nearby beach grass, and a few rocky portions in the town of Chilmark.  The beach is situated below steep oceanfront bluffs. The beach and the shoreline around it are known to have many unique large rock formations - these rock formations are known to be at least thousands of years old. One of the most prominent rock formations of the beach was a naturally-formed rocky spire - this spire was often the subject of many artworks and photographs by local artists and photographers. Unfortunately, this spire collapsed in 2020. Lucy Vincent Beach has been named the 34th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach." 

Located in the small town of Islamorada, Anne’s Beach is long and narrow beach situated at the center of the island city of Key West. The beach was named after a local environmentalist Anne Eaton and is filled with many locals.  Anne’s Beach is surrounded by coconut trees, has beautiful beige-colored sand, and has shallow waters making it a perfect destination for swimming. Anne’s Beach is very popular among kiteboarders, jet skiers, sailors, and paddleboarders. 

Located on the shores of Half Moon Bay within the community of San Gregorio, San Gregorio Private Beach - also known as San Gregorio Nude Beach - is a small beige sand beach.  The beach is actually a smaller part of the famous San Gregorio State Beach, which is positioned on its northern end and is separated by a bluff.  It is important to note that the beach itself is a public beach, whereas the area surrounding the beach is private property.  It has an amazing backdrop of many grassy bluffs, cliffs, and sea caves, which together provide spectacular views of the rugged coastline of Northern California, especially during sunset.  The beach is managed by the California State Park System, which protects its natural and cultural resources, so we recommend abiding by park rules and regulations to preserve the environment.

Located to the north of the city of Montara, Gray Whale Nude Beach – also known as Edun Beach and Gray Whale North Beach – is a wide beach with golden sand that is situated below oceanfront bluffs. A large natural rock wall is also present on this beach. A peculiar structure named Devil’s Slide Bunker is present in the blufftop area above this beach. This structure is an old World War Two-era bunker that was installed for protection against coastal attacks. 

Located near the southern end of the iconic and world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, Mile Rock Beach is a narrow and rocky beach that is situated along the eastern shoreline near the bluff-top Lands End park in the city of San Francisco. The beach is situated in a cove and is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Mile Rock Beach is littered with logs, so we recommend being careful while walking here.

Located in the town of Stinson Beach, Red Rock Beach is a small, rocky, and remote beach that is a part of Mount Tamalpais State Park. Also known as Little Stinson, Mickey‚Äôs, and Redrock Beach ‚Äì Red Rock Beach is a clothing-optional beach. Hot springs are the only amenity offered at Red Rock Beach. 

Located near the Golden Gate Bridge and just minutes away from Downtown San Francisco, Baker Beach is one of San Francisco’s most popular local beaches. Baker Beach’s picturesque setting and central location make it a great escape for urbanites who are fed up with the hustle and bustle of San Francisco. With rugged cliffs, clear water, smooth beige sand, and a backdrop of hillside greenery, Baker Beach feels like it is worlds away. The only reminder you’re still in San Francisco is the beach’s panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The beach’s stunning setting and central location make it incredibly popular, so during peak hours, you might have to wait for a spot in one of Baker’s two large free parking lots.

Located in the southern part of Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach is a nude beach with pale cream sand on Florida’s eastern coast.   Playalinda Beach is located in Canaveral National Seashore which has nearly 24 miles of beach – and which contains nearly 58,000 acres of barrier island, open lagoon, coastal hammock, pine flatwoods, and offshore waters.   

Reader's Digest listed this nude beach as one of the best beaches in Florida, and Conde Nast Traveller magazine also listed it as one of the best beaches near Orlando.  This Playalinda Nude Beach was listed as one of the best nude beaches in the world by the swimwear brand Pour Moi in 2023.  This beach is usually open between 6 am and 8 pm.

Located near the city of New Smyrna Beach (which has a beach by that exact same name), Apollo Beach is a large five-mile-long east-facing beach with white sand.  This beach is a part of a national seashore named Canaveral National Seashore.  Apollo Beach was featured in The Daily Telegraph newspaper’s article “Find out-of-this-world beaches on Florida’s Space Coast.”  

Apollo Beach is also considered a nude beach –  this clothing-optional portion is located near the southern end of the beach.  The beach is usually open between 6 am and 8 pm.

More Mesa Beach, located along the Santa Barbara County shoreline, is a secluded, narrow beach with light brown sand. This serene spot lies beneath the blufftop More Mesa Open Space, an undeveloped natural area perfect for those seeking a quieter experience.