Florida Best Beaches Guide to Nude Beaches

Sunning in the altogether

Florida's balmy temperatures are perfect for nude swimming or soaking up the sun in your birthday suit. Unfortunately, finding a nude beach in Florida (with the exception of the one legally-sanctioned nude beach) means finding a secluded stretch of sand. The general rule for nude bathing in Florida is "Bare if you dare" - nudity is a crime on many Florida beaches, and the irregular enforcement of public indecency laws means taking your clothes off is a bit of a gamble. Though a number of Florida beaches have earned reputations as skinny-dipping locations, many naturists have been fined and even arrested.

The following is a list of one official public nude beach and nine unofficial nude beaches. Please keep in mind that laws change frequently, so ask locals before sunning in all your glory in any of these locations:

  1. Haulover Beach: The only legal beach on this list, this beach draws nude bathers of every age, shape and sexual orientation. The clothing-optional sections are well-marked and maintained by the county, so you can sun without fear.
  2. Apollo Beach: While nude sunning is illegal, it's generally tolerated if you are discrete. Nearby Daytona offers naturist accommodations.
  3. Playalinda Beach: This undeveloped beach is secluded enough to make most nudists feel comfortable. While it also draws eco-tourists with binoculars, don't worry - they come to gawk at the wildlife, not you.
  4. John D. MacArthur Beach State Park: Also known as Air Force Beach, this park hasn't been a legal nude beach since the 1980s. A sub-tropical paradise, you can usually get away without a bathing suit if you don't actually cross the park's boundaries.
  5. Hobe Sound: A secluded spot where celebrities like Celine Dion build multi-million dollar mansions, Hobe Sound has views that outshine the glitz. Cautious naturists can catch some rays in the buff since most people come to escape the crowds.
  6. St. Lucie Inlet State Reserve: This state reserve offers the same seclusion, celebrity homes and warnings as nearby Hobe Sound. Nude bathing isn't legal here, so strip with caution.
  7. South Beach: The anything-goes approach to life here makes unofficially clothing-optional beaches easy to find.
  8. St. Vincent Wildlife Refuge: Uninhabited and accessible only by boat, you'll have to share your spot of beach with sea birds and turtles.
  9. Gulf Islands National Seashore: Although nude bathing isn't legal, long stretches of deserted beach means most naturists can skinny dip in peace.
  10. Navarre Beach (Eglin Air Force Base): While you can depend on warm weather, the social climate changes quickly. Authorities used to turn their heads, but now nude bathers need to exercise caution.
Write A Comment
Add your comments:
Enter the code (case sensitive)
Read Comments
THe Hobe sound National Wildlife Refuge is a gorgeous beach and if you walk down a 1/2 mile or so, it is fairly easy to nude provided that you are discreet. I've enjoyed many nude days there and occasionally have met other nudists although most seem rather unfriendly. I would recommend it to any person or couple since the beach is long and never crowded.
Posted on 8/10/2012 7:39:00 AM by Anonymous
My boyfriend and I are vacationing in Beverly Hills, Flroida. It is in between Ocala and Tampa. We are searching for a clothing optional beach in our area. Any suggestion- does anyone knpow where we can sunbath in the nude?
Posted on 7/5/2012 7:52:00 AM by Anonymous
I go to McArthur to sun m bns...no one bugs me except for the occasional gay man. I would love to go with a female so that I am not bugged. I go during the week when its really quiet.
Posted on 6/10/2012 12:53:00 PM by Anonymous
This page has incorrect information on it. The Apollo Beach that has legal clothing optional sun bathing is on the east coast, part of the Canaveral National Seacoast Park. It is just south of New Symrna Beach, Fl, NOT the Apollo Beach near Tampa. Here are directions for finding the correct Apollo Beach: Make your way to New Symrna Beach, Fl (Google Map it) and find Lytle Ave aka 1A aka South Causeway and take that to the beach. This becomes A1A / E 3rd Ave. This will bear to the right and go south. It becomes A1A / S Atlantic Ave. Take this all the way to the park entrance. Pay the ranger $5.00 and drive all the way to the last parking lot (lot #5 southern most end of Apollo). With your clothes still on, walk to the beach, turn right (south) and walk down about 1000 feet to where you see the other happy people without clothing. There you may disrobe. Enjoy!
Posted on 4/30/2012 9:23:00 AM by Anonymous
Cool!
Posted on 4/14/2012 11:24:00 AM by Anonymous
Ok, I'm in Tallahassee and I'm looking for a relatively safe nude beach in North Florida.
Posted on 3/30/2012 9:44:00 AM by Anonymous
My female roommate and I are taking a trip to St. Pete this spring and are looking for a naturist beach to visit.
Posted on 3/11/2012 7:27:00 AM by Anonymous
is topsail still a good place to go. wish to take the wife but she saya that it has to be secluded.
Posted on 3/8/2012 9:24:00 PM by Anonymous
The Apollo Beach referred to here is in Cape Canaveral National Seashore... not the one near Tampa.
Posted on 2/15/2012 5:21:00 PM by Anonymous
Please take a look at a Florida state map for Apollo Beach and Daytona Beach -- which you say are nearby each other. They are in the same state but that is about it. Daytona is on the Atlantic side and Apoilo Beach is across the bay from Tampa. That's a GOOD four-hour drive.
Posted on 2/5/2012 4:33:00 PM by Anonymous
Where is Apolla Beach parking lot #5? is that just west of HWY 41?
Posted on 1/3/2012 12:57:00 PM by Anonymous
ok....i found it! Google ' Howard Frankland Bridge Tampa Hillsborogh Florida' and fourth DOES intercept it on the southern end. However, it looks questionalble since it's so close to hwy 275......hmmm....anyone have any thoughts?
Posted on 1/3/2012 12:48:00 PM by Anonymous
In response to a post 2-3 people down, they say 'Tried to find the beach at the fourth St. Bridge nothing but fisherman, can you be more specific please about how to get there. '.................I agree! He's talking about the Howard Frankly Bridge and i can't find 4th and that bridge on a map........ if you go on a map website, you can't find where 4th hit's ANY bridge....i'd love to find a nude place like this to visit when we go in March 2012......can anyone help with this location or another location?
Posted on 1/3/2012 12:39:00 PM by Anonymous
This post was written a year ago....is it still true that you can go here? One of the most beautiful (and secluded) beaches in Florida is located on the Gulf coast in the Panhandle at Topsail State Preserve, a Florida State Park. The beach here is about five miles long, with no structures in sight. Few nudists go to this park simply because they do not know about it. The dunes are magnificent, and the wide, white quartz sand beach is inviting. The best way to go to this beach is to enter through the Park entrance and pay the six dollar per car day-use fee (or stay in the Park’s tent or RV camping areas). A tram runs every hour (every 2 hours in the winter) between 9am and sunset. The tram will take you to the beach access walkway (about 1 mile) which also has restrooms and showers. Once you are on the beach, walk west about a quarter mile and there you are. You can see any approaching beach walkers from a great distance…plenty of time to cover-up. You can walk around the dunes or swim in the Gulf nude. Park staff does not patrol the beach, and it is very rare to see a Sheriff’s ATV. I have visited this beach many times in years past with no problems. This beach park is located just off Hwy.98 on Hwy. 30A, about 5 miles east of Sandestin in Walton County
Posted on 10/28/2011 6:01:00 PM by Anonymous
Tried to find the beach at the fourth St. Bridge nothing but fisherman, can you be more specific please about how to get there.
Posted on 10/15/2011 12:39:00 PM by Anonymous
Not known by even many locals,clearwater/st.pete has a half mile stretch of nude friendly beach. At the base of the howard franklin bridge on the pinellas county side. Where 4th st. meets the howard franklin bridge is a small bridge you park at and walk about 100 yds.and your there. Been there every summer for six yrs. with never a problem. Alot of public sex happens there so be for warned. Not to be confused with the mangroves BEFORE the 4th st. bridge. You have to walk over the little bridge for the nude beach.
Posted on 10/8/2011 3:59:00 AM by Anonymous
it's intersted to watch and understood
Posted on 10/7/2011 11:19:00 AM by Anonymous
WOW !!! IS ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT APOLLO BEACH. BEYOND PARKING LOT 5 IT'S CLOTHING OPTIONAL . MY GIRL FREIND AND I SPENT TWO SUPER DAYS HERE, ALONG WITH ABOUT FIFTY OTHER NUDE PEOPLE. ALL FREINDLY AND OF THE SAME MIND SET, NO ONE PEEKY BOOED OR GAWKED AT ANYONE ELSE IT WAS LIKE BEING ON A CLOTHED BEACH BUT WITH ALL THE FREEDOM OF NO CLOTHES.
Posted on 9/29/2011 6:48:00 PM by Anonymous
tt would be nise if clear water & st peters woul wake up
Posted on 9/23/2011 9:05:00 PM by Anonymous
@can you do anything sexual on a nude beach? Posted on 5/19/2011 4:54:00 AM by Anonymous Really....................Wow, the answer is no, it is illegal. If you are that adventurous though, you can try to find somewhere very deserted.
Posted on 8/5/2011 6:07:00 AM by Anonymous
I want to see
Posted on 8/5/2011 6:06:00 AM by Anonymous
Good
Posted on 8/5/2011 6:06:00 AM by Anonymous
I thought America was the land of the free? So why the repression of naturism? Get modern America, like Europe , where every country has nude beaches. milesmellonie6@hotmail.com
Posted on 7/31/2011 9:50:00 AM by Anonymous
@can you do anything sexual on a nude beach? Posted on 5/19/2011 4:54:00 AM by Anonymous Really....................Wow, the answer is no, it is illegal. If you are that adventurous though, you can try to find somewhere very deserted.
Posted on 7/29/2011 12:13:00 AM by Anonymous
Amazing with the life style in Florida being laid back and the weather and beaches the nudity laws need to be reformed. It would help the states economy by drawing more visitors.
Posted on 5/29/2011 11:35:00 AM by Anonymous
very good and lovely and very good.
Posted on 5/28/2011 9:22:00 AM by Anonymous
VERY GOOD AND VERY WELL
Posted on 5/28/2011 9:20:00 AM by Anonymous
can you do anything sexual on a nude beach?
Posted on 5/19/2011 4:54:00 AM by Anonymous
who do i ask at jd mccarthur state park where nude boundaries are
Posted on 3/8/2011 9:45:00 AM by Anonymous
Thanks for offering the info..........a bit of update and clarification is needed. There is no Fl statute which prohibits "mere innocent nudity" ., Fl's indecent exposure statute has been found to prohibit only "lewd or lascivious" exposure.,..the Goodmakers case clarified that distinction. The so called "bathing suit code" in the State park regs contradicts the Fl Legislature's mandate that all park codes have statutory basis...and the bathing suit does not...........as explained above, Fl indecent exposure statute is limited to "lewd or lascivious". Re MacArthur State Park..........the absence of statutory basis challenges the state park bathing suit code, I don't understand your advisory "don't actually cross the park's boundaries," to the north of the park is a Catholic Church...are you referring to the "boundary" of the water? There have been skinny-diippers at AirForceBeach at least since WWII and still are...but you may want to identify yourself as "1 of them" when you arrive...or they will cover up in case you're not.
Posted on 2/1/2011 7:42:00 PM by Anonymous
One of the most beautiful (and secluded) beaches in Florida is located on the Gulf coast in the Panhandle at Topsail State Preserve, a Florida State Park. The beach here is about five miles long, with no structures in sight. Few nudists go to this park simply because they do not know about it. The dunes are magnificent, and the wide, white quartz sand beach is inviting. The best way to go to this beach is to enter through the Park entrance and pay the six dollar per car day-use fee (or stay in the Park’s tent or RV camping areas). A tram runs every hour (every 2 hours in the winter) between 9am and sunset. The tram will take you to the beach access walkway (about 1 mile) which also has restrooms and showers. Once you are on the beach, walk west about a quarter mile and there you are. You can see any approaching beach walkers from a great distance…plenty of time to cover-up. You can walk around the dunes or swim in the Gulf nude. Park staff does not patrol the beach, and it is very rare to see a Sheriff’s ATV. I have visited this beach many times in years past with no problems. This beach park is located just off Hwy.98 on Hwy. 30A, about 5 miles east of Sandestin in Walton County
Posted on 11/3/2010 12:21:00 PM by Anonymous
Florida Beaches Guide