There’s something wonderfully liberating about realizing the swimsuit you packed is completely unnecessary. Across the U.S., a small collection of resorts has turned clothing-optional travel into an experience designed specifically for gay men, whether that means reading naked beside a quiet Palm Springs pool, wandering through acres of West Virginia wilderness with nothing on or joining a much more mischievous crowd after dark. The settings vary wildly, from tropical Key West courtyards to an extravagant Venetian-style retreat on Fire Island, and so does the atmosphere. Some are intimate and luxurious, others unabashedly social and sexually charged. What they share is simple: clothes are optional, comfort comes first and nobody is going to judge your tan lines. Here are 10 gay men’s naturist resorts in the U.S. for a clothing-free getaway.
- Island House Key West, Key West, Florida
If you’re going to leave the swimsuit at home, Key West is a pretty fabulous place to do it. Island House has been welcoming gay men since 1976, and its 39 rooms surround a clothing-optional playground where the heated pool, Jacuzzis, sauna, steam room, gym and café-bar are available around the clock. Things get considerably livelier during Hot Naked Sunday and Wednesday’s Hot Naked Humpday pool parties, with music, drinks and giveaways around the pool. Registered guests also get four drinks during the daily 5–6:30 p.m. happy hour. When you finally put some clothes back on, Key West’s famous Duval Street nightlife is within easy reach.
- Pineapple Point, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Two tropical acres hidden behind the streets of Fort Lauderdale make Pineapple Point feel more like a private gay hideaway than a conventional hotel. Clothing is optional around the lush grounds, where you can choose between the sociable main pool and quieter lap pool, soak in two hot tubs or disappear into a hammock beneath the palms. Breakfast, snacks and evening happy hour add to the pampering, while bicycles and beach gear make excursions easy. You don’t even need to sleep here to experience it: non-guests can currently buy a $40 day pass from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., although you’ll need to call that morning because numbers are limited.
- The Grand Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sometimes bigger really is better, particularly when it means four pools and plenty of room to find your own favorite corner. The Grand Resort & Spa operates a sprawling gay men’s clothing-optional retreat encompassing The Grand, Worthington, Alcazar and Villa Venice, with 96 rooms and apartments spread across the interconnected properties. When you’re not sunning yourself, there are hot tubs, a gym and a full-service spa for massages and other treatments. The location is another major perk: Fort Lauderdale Beach is close by, and Sebastian Street Beach, one of the city’s best-known gay beach hangouts, is an easy addition to a day in the sun.
- The Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa, Wilton Manors, Florida
Can’t decide whether you want to socialize or hide away with a book? At The Cabanas, you don’t have to. This clothing-optional gay men’s guesthouse sits on the waterfront in Wilton Manors and gives you two distinct pool scenes, including a livelier social area and space to take things slower, plus a hot tub, tropical grounds and a men’s day spa. A tiki bar keeps drinks and light bites close at hand, while Wilton Drive, the heart of the city’s gay bar and restaurant scene, is just minutes away. Locals and travelers staying elsewhere can join the fun too: day passes currently run from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for $30, rising to $40 on holidays.
- Santiago Resort, Palm Springs, California
Step through the gate and Palm Springs suddenly becomes a lot quieter, and considerably less clothed. Santiago is an intimate, adults-only gay men’s resort built around a swimsuit-optional pool and spa that stay open 24 hours a day, so an early-morning naked swim or late-night soak is entirely up to you. Continental breakfast and poolside lunch are included, as are bicycles for exploring beyond the property, while the always-open cantina keeps drinks and snacks handy. There are no day passes, which helps preserve the private atmosphere for overnight guests. Just factor the current $24 daily amenities fee into your room rate.
- Descanso Resort, Palm Springs, California
Old-Hollywood looks meet clothing-optional Palm Springs freedom at Descanso. The adults-only gay men’s hideaway channels the city’s glamorous mid-century past through its Hollywood Moderne design, while palms, mountain views and a heated saltwater pool keep the experience firmly in vacation mode. The swimsuit-optional pool and spa are available around the clock, and breakfast, poolside lunch, bicycles and the stocked cantina are included. Weekend Wine O’Clock adds an easy social moment without turning the property into a party hotel. Descanso doesn’t admit day visitors, so the grounds remain exclusively for overnight guests, who should also budget for the current $24 daily amenities fee.
- Twin Palms Resort, Palm Springs, California
Design lovers, this may be your excuse to get naked in an architectural landmark. Twin Palms takes its inspiration from Palm Springs’ celebrated mid-century modernism, surrounding its swimsuit-optional heated pool with sleek lines, mountain views and plenty of desert sunshine. The pool and large spa stay open 24/7, while breakfast, poolside lunch, bicycles and a 24-hour canteen are included with your stay. Rooms continue the upscale feel with touches such as private patios, marble bathrooms and rain showers depending on category. The resort is for adults 18 and older, doesn’t offer day passes and currently adds a $24 daily amenities fee.
- CCBC Resort Hotel, Cathedral City, California
Looking for something considerably naughtier than a quiet naked afternoon by the pool? CCBC spreads its clothing-optional gay men’s playground across 3.5 desert acres just minutes from Palm Springs, and the atmosphere can get decidedly sexual, particularly on busy weekends. The 21-plus resort has designated playrooms for men looking for more than sunbathing, alongside a pool, two spas, waterfall and steam room for those who simply want to relax naked. Drinks and meals are available at the on-site Runway Bar & Restaurant, while special dates bring poolside events and live entertainment. You don’t have to stay overnight either: eight-hour passes currently start at $22 on Wednesdays and rise to $45 on Fridays and Saturdays, with different prices possible during holidays and special events. Rooms range from straightforward studios to suites and kitchenettes.
- Belvedere Guest House for Men, Cherry Grove, Fire Island, New York
Getting naked on Fire Island feels particularly fitting, and Belvedere gives gay men one of its most extravagant places to do it. Set directly on the bay in Cherry Grove, this men-only, clothing-optional resort looks more like a wonderfully over-the-top Venetian palace, complete with towers, terraces, statues, fountains and sweeping views across the Great South Bay. Spend the afternoon bare by the outdoor pool, soak in the hot tub or head up to the rooftop terrace for sunset. The beach is only minutes away, while neighboring Fire Island Pines, another of America’s most famous gay summer communities, is about a mile’s walk from Cherry Grove. Rooms range from simple options with shared bathrooms to waterfront rooms with private terraces.
- Roseland Resort & Campground, Proctor, West Virginia
Now for something completely different: forget desert pools and Florida palms and get naked in 222 acres of West Virginia wilderness instead. Gay-owned Roseland welcomes men 21 and older to rooms, cabins, RV sites and campsites surrounded by forested hills and meadows. Its 11 miles of clothing-optional trails make this the outdoorsiest escape on the list, but you’re hardly roughing it…there’s also a pool, two hot tubs, sauna, steam room and gym, plus music and dancing at Town Hall. Nudity is permitted across almost the entire property; the notable exception is dining in the Walnut Tree Restaurant, where health regulations mean it’s time to put the clothes back on.
Before Going Bare
First clothing-optional vacation? The important word is optional. You don’t have to get naked simply because everyone around you has, and different resorts draw everything from devoted naturists to guys trying it for the first time. Rules also vary considerably: some properties welcome day visitors, while others protect the overnight-guests-only bubble, and certain spaces such as restaurants and gyms may require clothing. Bring high-SPF sunscreen, sandals for scorching pool decks and, most importantly, a towel to sit on when nude, one of the simplest pieces of naturist etiquette. And before inviting visitors or reaching for your phone camera, check the property’s rules rather than assuming.
