Public gay cruise
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While exact spots vary by location, there are certain types of places where cruising has naturally become part of the culture. Locals on the Sniffies map note that while the foliage near the tennis courts is enough cover for daytime cruising, the area by the tennis courts is best for night time action, as it’s out in the open.
Where did cruising come from?
Cruising has a long history in the queer community. Common Places for Gay Cruising
Curious about where men go cruising?
You’re technically allowed to flirt or meet up with strangers in public – if that’s all you’re doing.
Cruising is almost always anonymous, and can be one-on-one, in groups, or with others watching. Take any trash (like lube packets, wipes or condom wrappers) with you. Bathhouses and dark rooms are legal alternatives for this.
Clean up after yourself!
Nobody likes a litterbug.
In other situations, it’s complicated. In the time before gay bars, when homosexuality was illegal, public places were often the only option for queer people to meet each other.
Evidence for this often comes from prosecution records – we know where people were cruising based on arrests for “sodomy” or “gross indecency”.
You can find guys cruising at all hours, but it’s best to go at nighttime, since the foliage doesn’t offer much cover.
Cruise The Ramble in NYC on Sniffies
Places Men Go Cruising
Where Do Men Cruise? It’s done by using non-verbal cues to show you’re both interested – think of it like a secret, horny code.
Sniffies' Top 4 Cruising Spots of Summer 2023
06.07.23
Written by Sniffies Staff
Cruising happens everywhere — you just have to know where to look. These can all be turn-ons for some people.
Is cruising legal?
Cruising for sex in licensed sex venues is legal. However, authorities will often use non-sexual charges to try and “clean up” cruising spots.
These offer privacy, open-air access, and limited foot traffic.
🏨 Hotel Bars or Changing Rooms
In more urban settings, some men connect in places like hotel bars, gyms, or leisure centre changing rooms—usually where there’s an opportunity for eye contact and mutual interest to be expressed discreetly.
Reminder: Always cruise respectfully, follow local laws, and prioritise consent and safety at all times.
The Freddie Guide to: Cruising
What is gay cruising?
Straight cruising is a vacay on a boat.
In the US, anti-sodomy laws were ruled invalid by a 2003 Supreme Court decision but some states still technically have them (even though they are unenforceable).
Why do people cruise?
There can be different reasons people cruise. Whether it’s a park, a locker room, or a public bathroom, cruising locations are hidden everywhere in plain sight.
While cruising locations used to be shared via word of mouth, today, the Sniffies map is the simplest way to find the best local cruising spots in your city — from bathhouses to gay bars.
These were historic offences made to criminalize gay sex, and were almost exclusively applied to queer men. Try taking a friend or arranging a time to check in with someone afterwards.
Be discreet
Cruising for sex carries a risk – for some people, that makes it hot. According to Sniffies users, the tennis courts, and the area by flag pole are just a few of the popular cruising spots in Volunteer Park.
So if you’re in a park that’s technically closed at night, you could be charged with trespassing.