National federation
American Association for Nude Recreation
The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) is the largest nudist organisation in North America, founded in 1931 as the American Sunbathing Association. It affiliates clubs, resorts and campgrounds across the United States and Canada, represents nude recreation to lawmakers and runs the annual Nude Recreation Week in July.
What does AANR do?
AANR is a membership organisation. Individual members join through an affiliated club or directly, and affiliated nudist resorts and clubs and naturist campgrounds agree to its code of conduct: nude recreation is family-oriented and non-sexual, and sexual behaviour, voyeurism and photography without consent are not tolerated.
The association also lobbies for nude recreation through its government affairs team, publishes a members' bulletin and promotes the sector with events such as Nude Recreation Week and World Naked Gardening Day tie-ins.
What are the AANR regions?
AANR is organised in seven regional associations, each with its own board, events and youth programmes. Most affiliated clubs belong to one of them:
- AANR-East: the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, from New England down the Atlantic coast.
- AANR-Florida: the state with the densest cluster of nudist resorts in the country, around Pasco County and Kissimmee.
- AANR-Midwest: the Great Lakes and Plains states.
- AANR-Southwest: Texas and its neighbouring states.
- AANR-West: California, Nevada, Arizona and the Mountain West, home to the longest-running landed clubs.
- AANR-Northwest: Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.
- AANR-Western Canada: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
AANR and The Naturist Society: what is the difference?
AANR grew out of the club movement and works mostly through landed clubs and resorts. The Naturist Society Foundation started in 1980 with a focus on free beaches and public lands. Many people belong to both, and the two cooperate on legislation that affects nude recreation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I join AANR?
You can join online as an individual or household, or through an affiliated club, which usually bundles the membership with the club's own fees. Members get discounts at affiliated resorts and the association's publications.
Is AANR the same as the American Sunbathing Association?
Yes. The American Sunbathing Association was founded in 1931 and renamed the American Association for Nude Recreation in 1995.
Does AANR run nude beaches?
No. Beaches are public land, managed by cities, counties, states or federal agencies. AANR advocates for them and its members use them, but clubs and resorts are its affiliated venues. Beaches are the focus of The Naturist Society Foundation.
Naturist places in United States
Other organisations
Facts from the organisation's own website and Wikipedia. Last reviewed 31 October 2026. Corrections: see the editorial policy.