The 10 Best Nude Beaches In The Us, Ranked By Travelers

Beach packing list: What to bring to the beach

This is what to pack for a perfect day at the beach.

• Nude beaches have grown in popularity, offering potential mental health benefits like improved body positivity.
• VIP Grinders ranked the best U.S. nude beaches based on factors like TripAdvisor reviews and Instagram hashtags.
• While some beaches are officially clothing-optional, others have unofficial nude sections.

Many travelers enjoy going to the beach, and some choose to bare it all at a nude beach.

Nudist beaches, where swimsuits and clothing are optional, have been around for nearly a century, with growing popularity. Some of the most famous ones can be found in Europe, such as Saint Tropez in the South of France. There are some in the U.S. too, with San Diego's Black's Beach considered to have been the first legal nude beach in the U.S. after a city vote passed in the early 1970s.

Going bare at the beach may have some mental health benefits, such as improved body positivity and self-acceptance, according to a 2017 University of London study. Many naturists, or those who participate in nonsexual nudism, report feeling a greater sense of freedom and self-acceptance when they're out and about as nature intended.

However, the legality of public nudity is murky. On federal land, such as what's owned by the National Park Service, there's no law banning nudity, so it's acknowledged that you can shed your swimsuit without being written up. Nevertheless, sometimes it depends on local ordinances. In California, for example, some beaches allow it only in certain areas. Travelers should do their research, and respect the naturist etiquette of not taking photos and avoiding any sexual behavior.

To help travelers plan their nudist beach jaunt, VIP Grinders sought to rank the best nude beaches in the U.S. In July, the platform analyzed TripAdvisor reviews, average summer temperatures and rainfall, Instagram hashtags, and Google searches of the most well-known nude beaches to determine which ones are the most beloved.

"Nude beach culture is thriving in the U.S. at the moment, where tourists and locals can step out of their comfort zones and feel free in a nonjudgmental space," said Telma Casaca from VIP Grinders in a statement to USA TODAY. "There are multiple health benefits to being nude in nature, including stress relief, and it can give visitors an empowering and grounding experience, so it's no shock the trend is growing within the U.S."

Here are the best nude beaches in the U.S.

As part of the Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach feels remote and undeveloped, with picturesque sand dunes and crashing waves. For decades, a specific section has been welcoming nudist beachgoers.

Blind Creek Beach is the only clothing-optional beach on Florida's Treasure Coast and is also located within a 409-acre coastal preserve to lend visitors a serene atmosphere.

Located just below San Francisco, San Gregorio State Beach is a sandy beach enclosed by rugged bluffs and backed by a protected estuary that wildlife call home. Besides its picturesque nature, the beach is also known as a gay nude beach.

A barrier island about 12 miles offshore of Mississippi, Ship Island has a historic fort and multiple beaches, including a small area that's unofficially known as a nude beach.

Although not quite a secret anymore, Secret Cove Beach on the shore of Lake Tahoe is a clothing-optional beach where nudists are welcome. A one-mile hike takes beachgoers to the shoreline, where they can bask in the sun or climb onto the giant granite boulders that extend into the water.

Named after an influential family who moved to San Diego's La Jolla community in the 1940s, Black's Beach is a popular spot for surfing and relaxing. Nudity is legal along the northern stretch of the beach, and some consider it to be one of the biggest nude beaches in the U.S.

A wide, undeveloped stretch of sand, Apollo Beach sits at the southern tip of Hillsborough County, and is one of two nudist beaches in the area. (The other is Playalinda, which also made the list.) Nudists can head to the end of the beach, called Beach #5.

Haulover Beach is located within the bustling Miami Beach, set on the Atlantic Ocean. This strip of sand is believed to be Florida's oldest – and only – nude beach. Naturist ambassadors are said to patrol the beach to help newbies follow proper etiquette.

Located in San Francisco's Presidio neighborhood with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach welcomes nudist beachgoers at its northern end, according to the National Park Service. Just beware of the riptides and chilly water.

Big Sur's Pfeiffer Beach sits as a stunning crescent-shaped beach with rugged rock formations and flecks of purple sand. Nudists are allowed to enjoy the north side of the beach since it's technically on federal land.