Pitching Tents: 8 LGBT-Friendly Places to Camp This Spring
Enjoy the great outdoors the way Mother Nature intended at these LGBT-owned and accepting wilderness hot spots
Whether you like roughing it in the woods or prefer the luxuries of a well-equipped cabin, these eight inclusive campgrounds, resorts, and retreats for both gay men and women have something for everyone. Load up the Winne and git along, little doggies.
Lizard Landing Campground
Columbia, AL
Primarily catering to the gay community but welcoming of allies, Lizard Landing offers 11.5 secluded acres of primitive tent sites, no-frills sleeping cabins, and deluxe cabins featuring in-unit hygiene facilities. Heated saltwater pool (your skin will thank you!), fishing, canoeing, and kayaking activities are available for adventurers, plus access to a boat ramp if you bring along your vessel. LizardLanding.com
Magnetic Valley Resort
Eureka Springs, AK
Considering that Carroll County, AK is one of the gayest places in the south-central United States — approximately one-third of its population is “family,” according to the New York Times — it’s no surprise that this exclusive, private men’s resort is a popular destination. Catering to gents age 21 and older, Magnetic Valley facilitates a vibrant social scene that transitions to an intimate atmosphere with amenities like a heated pool, hot tub, dry sauna, outdoor showers, fire pit, and the Carrie Nation Bar. MagneticValleyResort.com
Rancho Cicada Retreat
Plymouth, CA
Nestled on 44 acres within the Sierra Foothills, this mostly male retreat along the Cosumnes River provides platform camping near the water’s edge, a swimming hole, gorge tubing, sunbathing, volleyball, and fishing. When you’re all tuckered out, enjoy a homemade meal before slipping into the bubbling Jacuzzi-style tub. RanchoCicadaRetreat.com
Southern Comfort Campground
Cross City, FL
If you prefer a more private, members-only (18 and older!) ambience, check into the clothing-optional and aptly named Southern Comfort Campground in northwest Florida. Pick your preference of camp arrangement — tent, RV, or cabin — and let loose in the Southern Nights clubhouse, playing horseshoes or volleyball, visiting the beer garden, or dressing up for one of the destination’s theme weekends. SouthernComfortCampground.net
Roy’s Hideaway
Gay and lesbian anglers will delight at the abundance of fishing opportunity at Roy’s Hideaway — a private, members-only campground in rural Georgia — offering six lakes filled with a wide assortment of daily catch. Landlubbers can stay occupied at the pool and spa area, hiking several tree-covered trails that wind through the property, canoeing, kayaking, duck watching, or enjoying a snack from the café. RoysHideaway.com
Stag Run Club at Overlook Farm
Mauckport, IN
Gunning to get dirty? Don your boots and overalls for a weekend of camping among farm animals, including horses, cows, chickens, ducks, and other wildlife with which you can interact. Tents, log cabins, bunkhouses, and suites are available on this private, all-male property where, after you’ve put in an honest day’s work (like gathering your own freshly laid eggs for breakfast), you can bask on the clothing-optional sundeck, dive into the heated pool, engage in games in the lodge, or ride your own stallion if you brought one — of the two- and four-legged variety. StagRunClub.com
Twin Ponds Lodge
Albion, ME
It’s a bare-all, free-for-all for naturists at Twin Ponds Lodge in Maine, a gated campground and resort for men age 18 and older. Strip down and hang out — literally — anywhere on the property, from the large, heated pool, and 14-man hot tub to the recreation hall outfitted with billiards, ping pong, and satellite TV. Day passes are also available if you prefer a shorter stint fishing or hiking, releasing toxins in the wood-fired sauna, scrubbing down in the communal shower room, or catching rays in open sunning areas. TwinPondsLodge.com
Windover Women’s Resort
Owendale, MI
Lady-loving ladies can find camaraderie and perhaps companionship at Windover, a private, membership-only resort on the Pigeon River of Michigan’s farm country. Open to women age 18 and older, this tent- and RV-friendly ground offers a pool, nature trails, clubhouse, and scheduled events with other exciting activities nearby, including golf, boating, and recreational water sports. WindoverWomensResort.com
