Key facts
| Country | United States (Pasco County, Florida; Land O' Lakes and Lutz) |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Tampa International (TPA), roughly 30–40 minutes by road |
| Best time | October to April; summer is hot and stormy |
| Type | Region with family nudist clubs and adults-only clothing-optional resorts |
| Adults only | Varies — Lake Como is family-oriented; Caliente and Paradise Lakes are adults-only |
| Clothing | Nudity inside resort grounds only; Florida beaches and streets are textile |
| Best months | January–April, October–December |
Pasco County, just north of Tampa on Florida's Gulf Coast, has an unusual claim to fame: a concentration of nudist and clothing-optional resorts so large that newspapers and magazines have long called it the nudist capital of the United States. Around the communities of Land O' Lakes and Lutz, family nudist clubs, residential naturist communities and adults-only clothing-optional resorts sit within a few miles of each other. A 2006 Florida Trend report estimated that some 100,000 nudists visited the county's resorts each year and that more than 2,000 full-time nudists lived there.
How it started
The story begins with Lake Como, near Lutz, chartered in April 1941 as the Florida Athletic and Health Association and on its present grounds since 1947. It is Florida's oldest nudist resort, and it remains family-oriented, with a private lake, pool, cabins, RV sites and wooded nature areas. In 1979 a Lake Como resident founded Paradise Lakes, and in the early 2000s Caliente opened with a more upscale, resort-style model. Other smaller clubs and campgrounds followed.
Two different cultures
Visitors should understand that "nudist resort" covers two quite different experiences here:
- Family naturist clubs such as Lake Como focus on non-sexual social nudity, nature and community activities. Families, retirees and long-time members are the core. Sexualised behaviour is not welcome.
- Adults-only clothing-optional resorts such as Caliente (21+) and Paradise Lakes, which describes itself as a resort primarily for adult nudist couples in the lifestyle, offer bars, parties and nightlife with a flirtatious, open-minded atmosphere.
Choose the one that matches what you are looking for, and read each resort's rules on age, singles and conduct before booking.
Who the region suits
- Naturist families and retirees looking for long stays, RV sites and a community feel in winter.
- Lifestyle couples looking for an adults-only, clothing-optional holiday with social events.
- Tampa Bay visitors who want a day at a resort; several sell day passes or day memberships, subject to their own rules.
Best time to go
October to April is the most comfortable period and the high season, as winter visitors arrive from the north. Summer is hot and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. Big event weekends at adults-only resorts sell out, so book ahead.
Getting there
Tampa International Airport (TPA) is roughly 30 to 40 minutes from Land O' Lakes and Lutz by road. A car is essential: the resorts are spread out and public transport is limited. US Highway 41, the Suncoast Parkway and Interstate 75 all serve the area.
Legal notes
In Florida, nudity is limited to private resort grounds and a few designated places such as Haulover Beach in Miami. Gulf Coast public beaches are textile. Lewd conduct in public is illegal. Inside resorts, each operator sets its own rules on clothing, photography and behaviour.
Etiquette
- Bring a towel and always sit on it.
- Never photograph other guests without consent.
- Match your behaviour to the venue. What is fine at a lifestyle party resort may get you asked to leave a family club.
- Respect age and guest rules, including limits on single men at some resorts.
Safety and consent
Florida's sun and heat are serious; drink water and use high-factor sunscreen. At lifestyle resorts, consent must always be explicit and sober, and boundaries should be agreed between partners in advance.
Nearby
Kissimmee's family resort Cypress Cove is under two hours east, near Orlando. Browse members in the United States, lifestyle clubs in the US and naturist places in the US.