No swimsuits are required at this nudist RV park
Is a Nudist RV Park for You?
RVers in general are a very accepting group of people. It really doesn’t matter what rig or gear you have, as long as you are having fun. So, what if you are an RVer who doesn’t like to wear any clothes? Where can you go to experience a little skinny dipping without getting an awkward stare or getting arrested?
How to Find Places for Clothing Optional RV Camping
If you like to enjoy clothing-optional camping, you are in luck. Along with traditional nudist resorts, there are also RV parks that cater to all types of nudists (aka naturists).
The American Association for Nude Recreation (which is celebrating 90 years in business in 2021) advocates and supports over 180 of these locations. AANR also has over 30,000 members who love to recreate nude and go on what AANR calls Nakation℠ vacations. The vacations not only cater to people who love to camp nude, but also enjoy like-minded people, beautiful locations, and a wide range of amenities.
Nudist resorts and RV parks are located in many areas around the country. Because of its fabulous beaches, Florida has quite a few to choose from. However, these parks and resorts can also be found in northern states during the warmer months as well in Canada and Mexico. In addition, the parks range from mom and pop-owned campgrounds to 4-star resorts with a variety of nudity rules.
“Nude recreation offers the freedom of traveling around the country while not having to pack very much! I also think that nude recreation is reaching a new popularity because people are coming to a point in their lives where they want to try something new. I’ve been told all the time by members that they don’t know why they didn’t try [nude recreation] when they were younger.”
Jeff Baldasarre
AANR spokesperson
All the nude RV parks and campgrounds in AANR’s membership have been thoroughly vetted by the organization. In addition, AANR checks each person in the national sex offender database before they are allowed to become a member. AANR also prefers to accept family-friendly parks to their organization and checks them for safety and privacy.
What to Expect at a Clothing Optional RV Park
So what should you expect if you are heading to a nudist RV park for your first time? Many parks lately have gone to clothing optional, but nude RVers tend to still sunbathe, swim, sleep, and lounge at their campsites in the buff.
With safety on most people’s minds, many nudist RV parks also run security checks on new visitors and don’t allow photography within the resort. In addition, some parks like to keep an even balance between male and female visitors.
“Most people feel fear at first, but once they get out there, they realize that most people are there for one reason: to enjoy the sun and swim in the pool. They also realize that people are not looking at them. This is a condition that we put on ourselves, that people are judging us. This fear lasts about 5 minutes and then they are quickly joining in on the fun.”
Jeff Baldasarre
Cypress Cove is a popular nudist RV park in Kissimmee, Florida
Cypress Cove Nudist Resort
Family owned and operated since 1964, Cypress Cove Nudist Resort in Kissimmee, Florida is one of these fun resorts. Located on 300 acres, the resort not only has a private 50-acre freshwater lake with a beach, but 83 full service RV sites. The nudist RV park also has a full resort hotel, two restaurants, boat rentals, and a store and boutique. Many members come back every year or even stay for months at a time.
“People choose nude recreation for many reasons. Sometimes they want something different and oftentimes they are looking for some feeling of freedom. Doing this type of recreation provides you with that sense of freedom and acceptance.”
Dan Whicker
Director of Sales & Marketing
Cypress Cove Resort
Security is also very important at the resort. Cypress Cove takes each visitor’s ID at the gate and checks it against the National Sex Offender Registry. The resort and its members also keep an eye on people who may be new to the resort.
Courtesy of Harry Hanbury
The Hanburys travel to multiple nude RV parks in their Mountain Newmar Aire.
For anyone new to the nude scene, take a few tips from long-timer RVers and nudists, Harry and Theresa Hanbury. The retired police officers have been RVing since the 1990s and have been visiting nude RV parks and traveling on nude cruises since their retirement.
The couple travel in their 45-foot Newmar Mountain Aire. They tow their vehicle and have a motor scooter strapped to the rear. Some of their favorite nudist resorts include Cypress Cove, Suwannee Valley Resort and Lake Como in Florida, Lake Bronson Club in Washington, and DeAnza Springs Resort in Southern California.
The Hanburys are drawn to nude recreation because of the people. They also admit they are much happier at a nude resort than at a traditional resort or campground.
“There is a lack of pretension in nudist resorts. Everyone is on the same level and not judged by their Rolex or their car. It’s a level playing field socially. We have friends that are military generals, judges, famous people from TV, and blue collar workers. It doesn’t matter what your walk of life was when you are on vacation at a nudist resort.”
Harry Hanbury, RVer and nudist
The Hanburys suggest that even if you are a bit nervous about being nude in public you should just have fun with it. Anyone who keeps their clothes on at a clothing-optional resort is looked at as a little odd. The point is to have the freedom to shed your clothes and forget the bathing suit in the pool and by the lake.
“The word ‘frolic’ is the right word to use. The first time you run into the surf you’ll feel a rush of enjoyment you wouldn’t get otherwise in a bathing suit. Theresa and I are in our 70s now and we still frolic.”
Harry Hanbury
Read campground reviews
You can learn more about Cypress Cove Nudist Resort, and find more great clothing optional RV park locations, with a quick search on RV LIFE Campgrounds. Use the RV LIFE App and RV LIFE Trip Wizard to get RV-safe GPS directions and to find other points of interest along your route.
Christina is a writer and designer who has written about camping, tiny houses, and alternative living since 2008. She recently traded in her teardrop trailer for a 13-foot fiberglass trailer from 1982.
Come to the midwest and visit Prairie Haven Nudist Park. We are located 20 miles south of Topeka, Kansas. We have 2 pools, hot tub, pickleball court and a lovely wooded setting. Our phone number is 785-793-2738 for a reservation.
We parked our rig at Prairie Haven in 2017 for a month, so we could be close to the path of the total solar eclipse. Loved it there, and I wrote about the experience in our Nomadic Nudists column for the NUSA Sun.
We spent six years roaming the country and staying at nudist RV parks. It can be expensive because you have day fees on top of site fees, but the atmosphere is so much better than most of the “textile” RV parks. Laid back, friendly and you feel your rig is more secure. I covered the life in a column for NUSA Sun magazine. It’s getting harder and harder to find vacancy at some of these places, so I’ll shut up now…don’t want to promote it too much. 😉
“The American Association for Nude Recreation (which is celebrating 90 years in business in 2021) advocates and supports over 180 of these locations.”
That’s great. How does one go about getting a list of these advocated and supported locations?
Go too their website at aanr.com and check out their club locator:
https://www.aanr.com/places-to-go/aanr-clubs
“How does one go about getting a list of these advocated and supported locations?”
The obvious answer is to join the association
We have been nudists since the mid 80s. I have had occassions when I needed to attend professional meetings. Because we usually take our RV on these trips, we like to stay at nudist resorts for 2 reasons. One is the people are always friendly. The other is security. I know my wife is safe at a nudist resort while I am at the meetings. This sets my mind at ease and allows me to focus on the meetings. Then enjoy where I am staying when I get back to the RV!
I was unable to find a media or editorial contact at RV Life, so I’m posting this here as your readers may be interested: I wrote a monthly column for a national magazine about what it’s like to travel to nudist resorts as a full-time RVer, and have now published these columns in a new book: “Sun Blocked. Traveling by RV in the states of undress”
.It’s available on Amazon, Kobo, Apple and nook
I’ve always loved your articles in NUSA and know before reading I’ve made a great Kindle purchase. Thanks for being so brilliant!
Glen Eden in Corona, California and Willamettans, near Portland, OR are also two RV (and people!) friendly resorts.
Why does RV Trip Wizard not have an “info” button on most of the clothing optional RV locations? Is it simply that no one has posted reviews yet?
Sunsport Family Naturist Resort in Southern Florida has all amenities (87 degree pool, hot tub, sauna, canuding and kayaking, restaurant, playground, sports courts) and is eco-friendly. There are an active permaculture group, solar heating, and nature trails through the jungle. Very family friendly.