'The feeling of freedom': Why these campers prefer to enjoy the outdoors in the nude

• Naturist camping is a type of camping where clothes are optional.
• The concept can be traced back to the late 1800s.
• Naturists find the experience relaxing and freeing.

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If you're going camping, you probably have a packing list to make sure you're ready for your outdoor adventure. Tent? Check. Sleeping bag? Check. Clothes? Not necessary. 

That is, if you’re naturist camping. 

Naturism, or nonsexual nudism, may seem like an unusual type of camping to some, but the concept can be traced back to the late 1800s with the first documented naturist club, the Fellowship of the Naked Trust, created in British India. At first, the word "naturism" referred to healthy living, but it has now become synonymous with the nudist lifestyle. 

Nudist beaches, resorts and campsites have sprung up across Europe and even the U.S., including states such as Arizona, Colorado and Virginia.  

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In July, searches for naturist campsites in the U.S. increased by 85% compared with the same month last year, according to U.K.-based park booking platform Pitchup.com.

When it comes to clothesless camping, it’s more than meets the eye.

“Most people who have never tried the naturist lifestyle before believe it to be inappropriate or scandalous, which is totally incorrect,” Austin Redgrave, a naturist camper and former club warden for an over 100-year-old naturist campsite in England called Broadland Sun, told USA TODAY in an email. “Once they try it out, then they understand what naturism is all about.”

Shedding your clothes and being one with the environment brings some psychological health benefits. A 2017 study from the University of London found that naturists – even those who spend time just partially naked, like sunbathing topless – reported having better body image and self-esteem and were happier with their lives overall. Another study from the same researchers interviewed people before and after a nude event and said they felt “immediate and significant improvement” in their body image and life satisfaction. 

There’s also the connection from living harmoniously with nature, which naturists find relaxing and freeing, according to The Naturist Society. 

Read below to learn more about naturist camping. 

What is naturist camping like?

Redgrave and his partner first tried naturist camping a few years ago. The couple had become big campers over the pandemic, and when they experienced the tragic loss of a baby, they decided to try something “different” off their bucket list to help them move forward. On his partner’s list was naturist camping. “We found a beautiful site 20 minutes from home and decided 'nothing ventured, nothing gained,'” Redgrave said. The two were hooked. 

“Mental well-being is a big part of it – it’s freeing and natural,” Redgrave said. “Everybody loves the feeling of the sun hitting your skin, so imagine what that is like when you don’t have anything covering it. It genuinely does help people.”

Fellow naturist camper Harry Hanbury agrees. "A lot of people's first words out of their mouth is the feeling of freedom, and it's true," he told USA TODAY. Hanbury first discovered naturist recreation when he and his wife, Theresa, decided to try out a nude beach in Saint Martin and enjoyed how free they felt. Since then, the couple bought a camper and have been to more than 70 campsites in the U.S.

In a sense, naturist camping is like going to any other campsite, but campers are experiencing the great outdoors without clothes. There are the usual facilities, like restrooms, laundry or a clubhouse. People can join in common camping activities like jet skiing, kayaking, tennis or swimming. Many properties also foster a family-friendly environment. 

As for how you feel about your own body being exposed to others, Redgrave said it’s normal to be apprehensive and a little self-conscious at first, but that soon fades. “You quickly realize, no one looks like the magazines, everyone looks different, and that’s normal.”

Many campsites take security and the nonsexual nature of naturism seriously. In the U.S., most are gated and run background checks on the campers, Hanbury said. Broadland Sun has a security gate where guards check every camper’s ID and keep a record of everyone who enters. Others often require single visitors to be members of approved nudist organizations. Suggestive or sexual behavior, as well as taking photos, is not tolerated.

"The biggest misconception is everybody thinks we're swingers, and that's not the case," Hanbury said. "That has very little to do with nude recreation. ... Everybody looks out for each other and is very, very careful to keep the reputation of the resort pristine."

Redgrave said naturists are also “far friendlier than normal campers” and seek to foster a nonjudgmental, welcoming community. “Everyone looks out for each other.”

That's another reason Hanbury keeps going back to naturist campsites. "You make friends instantly," he said, adding that people feel more comfortable and free at naturist campsites compared with typical ones. "That social freedom is the biggest attractor."

Tips for first-time naturist campers

• Plan your camping trip according to the weather. Pick a day or two with sunny, warm weather to make baring it all a bit more comfortable, Redgrave said. 
• Redgrave suggests people “take it at their own pace.” If being nude in public is a new thing for someone, it’s probably going to be a little nerve-racking. Seeing how normal it is for everyone else to bare it all makes it easier to do the same, but there’s no rush. Visitors are encouraged to take their time to acclimate. 
• Bring towels or sarongs. For hygienic reasons, campers should bring a towel to sit on in communal areas.
• You can wear something, like a poncho if it’s chilly or a hat to protect yourself from the sun.