Some people will tell you nothing. Some people will spell out the difference- in great detail. There is little difference in the two terms as espoused by the American Association for Nude Recreation and The Naturist Society, the US's two largest CO organizations. Americans have been arguing the point since at least the 1930s, while Europeans seem to have little problem using the terms interchangeably. Most "naturists" feel a closeness with the outdoors and are sometimes termed "beach people". Most "nudists" tend to participate in social nudity via resorts, camps, and other similar settings, and they tend to practice social nudity for its own sake. "Naturists" tend to be more active in their pursuit making sure that clothing-optional recreation is always available.

NOTE: Some naturists/nudists do not participate in s/imagesocial nudity, and some do not have or desire to have any "political" associations with organized naturist/nudist groups. Some people who espouse naturist/nudist philosophy don't like the labels.

NOTE: Not everyone who goes to a "nude beach" or "nudist resort" espouses nudist/naturist philosophy or ideals -- just as sitting in a hen house doesn't necessarily make you a chicken, sitting on a nude beach does not make one a nudist.

from rec.nude