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Reading Time: 7 minutesLast Updated on April 18, 2026 by Paul Clayton
Table of Contents
11 Effective Ways to Keep Bugs Away When Camping
Key Takeaways
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- Strategic Site Selection: Avoid camping near still water (mosquito breeding grounds) or dense vegetation. Choose locations with natural airflow, as even a light breeze disrupts the flight patterns of most biting insects.
- Timed Activity: Bugs are most active during the mild temperatures of dawn and dusk. Plan to be inside a zipped tent or screen enclosure during these “peak hours” to minimize exposure.
- Clothing as a Barrier: Wear long sleeves, pants, and hats to cover as much skin as possible. Treating clothes with Permethrin offers long-lasting protection that remains effective even after multiple wears.
- Repellent Varieties:
- Chemical: DEET is highly effective but should be used cautiously on skin and can damage synthetic fabrics.
- Natural: Lemon Eucalyptus is a powerful alternative to DEET. Peppermint-scented soaps and deodorants also act as natural deterrents.
- Internal: Consuming garlic or Vitamin B (starting a week prior to travel) can cause scents to be released through the pores, repelling mosquitoes.
- Mechanical & Tech Solutions: * Fans: Electric fans discourage flying insects from landing.
- Thermacell: Portable devices that release repelling scents are highly effective when stationary in low-wind conditions.
- Campfires: Smoke is a natural deterrent; adding dried sage to a fire can enhance its effectiveness.
- Tent Discipline: Keep tents fully zipped at all times. When entering, open the zipper only enough to slide through to prevent “hitchhiking” bugs from following you inside.
- Post-Bite Care: Since total prevention is rarely possible, carry antihistamines (such as cetirizine) and topical creams (such as Benadryl) to manage swelling and itching.
I have a deep-seated fear of bugs, and my biggest fear is getting bitten by one and getting so sick while camping that I die. This isn’t a realistic scenario, but it’s not far-fetched.
However, my biggest concern is how these pesky bugs can be a real bother; I get annoyed by mosquitoes and crawlers. But on the flip side, I desperately still want to go camping.
Now, if you’ve been in such a situation, I’m sure you think there’s gotta be a way. True, you could employ several tips and tricks, so there won’t be any bugs crawling on you.
And in this guide, I’ll share some tips I’ve been hugely successful with in keeping bugs away while camping.
11 Ways To Keep Bugs Away While Camping
1. Understand their Habits
Understanding their habits is one of the best ways of coping with bugs, especially mosquitoes. Certain seasons, days, times, or locations greatly influence the bug numbers.
For example, most bugs are active around dawn and dusk, mainly because of the mild temperatures. So, I suggest you be in your tent at these times. As such, create a habit of waking up very early to make your breakfast and retreat to the comfort and safety of your bed before these pesky ninjas wake up.
Same thing for the evening.
The location where you set up the tent may also influence whether you’ll have unwelcome visitors. For example, camping near lakes or other bodies of water is fantastic, but it may expose you to more bugs. Mosquitoes love still waters for breeding.
So, avoid staying too close to natural water bodies.
The environment may also affect how you relate to the bugs. For example, male mosquitoes hardly bite; instead, they prefer to suck the juice from plant leaves. So, if you camp in a location with plenty of dense vegetation, you’re more likely to come into contact with bugs than camping in dry, boggy meadows.
I suggest you camp away from the low-sheltered areas. Yes, they’re nice for shielding against the elements, but because there’s no airflow, the location is attractive to bugs. Of course, too much wind is annoying, but at least you get the idea of what I mean when selecting your camping location.
- Finally, it’s worth considering the season. Most bugs are usually a nuisance in summer, so if you know bugs love you, consider heading out during other seasons.
2. Dress Appropriately
Dressing appropriately and wearing the right clothes is half the battle in keeping pesky bugs out.
Ideally, you need clothes that cover you and expose less of your skin. I wear pants and long-sleeved shirts to reduce the amount of exposed skin. Sunglasses, collars, shoes, socks, and hats are other fantastic ways to cover your skin and keep the ticks and critters away.
However, covering your skin can be impractical in certain situations, such as backpacking in hot weather. Also, if your clothing fabric is ultra-light and runs right up to your skin, bugs can bite through.
3. Start Campfire
Campfires are time-tested bug repellents. The heat from the campfire will generally scare away the bugs from your immediate area. But more importantly, most bugs hate hanging around smoke.
Therefore, smoking cigarettes is also a great way to deter bugs.
At camp, I usually build a campfire with lots of thick, low-hanging smoke and let my clothes suck it all in. I also add dried sage into the fire, which helps clear out the bugs.
The only downside of this method is its limited coverage. It also means you have to put up with smoky clothes; it’s time-consuming and can damage equipment.
4. Anti-Bug Sprays
Bug sprays are also another fantastic remedy against bugs. Generally, bug sprays fall into two main categories: spray on the skin & pretreat your clothes (permethrin).
Permethrin lasts longer and for weeks if you don’t do your laundry. It also carries no safety or health risk.
But my go-to solution is a hybrid solution. Apply to the skin and clothes.
If you choose a chemical-based spray, consider one with DEET; it’s more effective. My favorite DEET brand is Deep Woods Off-Dry. It’s a dry formula that repels and kills mosquitoes and other bugs. It also doesn’t leave my skin sticky.
However, understand that DEET is a neurotoxin and, therefore, is harmful to humans. If you have pets, also take the time to learn about the effects of DEET and how to avoid them. At high doses, DEET may also melt nylon and polyester, though only at microscopic levels.
So, what I like to do after setting up my tent is take a card or two, spray them with DEET, and leave them out by my tent, especially at the entrance. You could spray it on your clothes and shoes, but not directly on your skin.
However, there are plenty of other bug repellents. Lemon Eucalyptus is less acrid and my favorite alternative to DEET.
5. Apply Creams
If the bug sprays aren’t your thing, you should consider applying bug creams. The bug creams are more skin-friendly than DEET and are designed for topical application.
I’m a big fan of lemon-eucalyptus repellent. It’s as effective as DEET and keeps bugs and critters away.
6. Zip your Tent
Another tip I like when keeping bugs away while camping is securing my tent and ensuring no bugs can get inside.
So, when I set up my tent, I make sure it’s zipped up all the time, and when climbing in, I only zip it enough to squeeze in. This helps to brush off any bugs on your clothes and ensures no other unwanted visitors get inside.
And when you’re inside, do a quick check and hunt down any bugs that may have snuck inside.
7. Get a Fan
Bugs, especially flying insects, don’t like moving air. So, if you’re camping in a low, sheltered area without wind, consider investing in an electric fan.
It doesn’t necessarily need to be huge, but just enough to feel it on your skin. If it moves sideways, that is even better, or you can hang it at the top of your tent ceiling.
The air drift from the fan discourages mosquitoes from flying around and actively prevents them from landing on your body or even getting near you. It’s also helpful on hot, muggy summer days.
8. Bug Shield
If you’re bothered by bugs, consider a bug shield to keep them off. Mosquito netting is a great solution for keeping bugs out, while a good bug jacket is worth its weight in gold.
Other barriers, like tents and screen rooms, do a great job of keeping the bugs away from you. Also, consider screen enclosures for hammocks and ensure they’re properly closed.
9. Eat Garlic
Oddly enough, eating some foods will put off some bugs. Garlic, in particular, allows the garlic smell to come out of your pores, and mosquitoes hate it.
And the good thing is you don’t have to eat real garlic. Consider the garlic pill, but not the odorless kind, you need to stink.
Vitamin B is also effective at repelling bugs. Of course, vitamin B will take time to build up in your body. You must take the Vitamin B pill at least a week before your trip.
10. Be Aware of the Deodorants You Use
You must be aware of the types of deodorant and soap you use while camping. Most heavily perfumed and scented soaps will attract bugs.
If you have to use a deodorant, consider peppermint. Peppermint does a great job of repelling bugs, so you’ll get fewer bites than with other soaps.
11. Consider Thermacell
Thermalcell is a handheld device that releases bug-repelling scents. It comes with a refill pack of butane and a scent thing.
However, like any other camping gear, the effectiveness of this tool depends on its use; if used improperly or not at all, it delivers subpar results.
For example, a Thermacell is excellent when you’re stationary. From experience, it’s not worth keeping the burner on when you’re moving, but firing it up a few minutes when taking a break helps.
Also, it works best when the wind isn’t strong. When the wind is light, it helps keep bugs within a 10ft radius or so.
A Remedy for Bug Bites While Camping
One thing to keep in mind when heading outdoors is that you’ll inevitably get bitten, regardless of the techniques you use to deter them.
However, if you’re sensitive to bug bites and usually have bad reactions, such as swelling, consider bringing antihistamines with you.
I’ve had pretty much success with second-generation antihistamines such as cetirizine. It’s effective against mosquito bites. Also, get some Benadryl, topical antihistamine cream, or reactants, in case the itching from mosquito bites gets too much.
Final Thoughts
I’ve generally found that avoiding the bugs works much better than trying to keep them away. After all, bugs are part of the outdoors.
By combining environmental awareness, such as picking high-ground campsites with good airflow, with physical barriers like Permethrin-treated clothing and technological aids like Thermacell, campers can significantly reduce their risk of bites. Preparation is the final piece of the puzzle; starting a Vitamin B regimen early and packing the right topical treatments ensures that even if a bug does get through, it won’t ruin the outdoor experience.
Of course, I’ve already highlighted how you can keep these pesky bugs away from you, but at the end of the day, remember you’re in their world.
