Quick answer: to prevent tick bites while camping, the CDC recommends using an EPA-registered insect repellent, treating clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin, walking in the center of trails and avoiding brushy, grassy edges. Check your whole body, your children and your pets every day, shower within two hours of coming indoors, and tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks. If you find an attached tick, grasp it close to the skin with fine-tipped tweezers and pull upward with steady, even pressure, then clean the bite and watch for a rash or fever over the next several weeks.
Ticks are one of the most common health risks campers face, and one of the easiest to overlook. They are small, their bites are usually painless, and they often attach in places you cannot see without a mirror. Several serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and anaplasmosis, spread through tick bites in the United States.
The good news is that a few routine habits prevent most bites, and quick removal lowers the risk of infection. This guide walks through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations in the order you will use them at camp. It is part of our guide to camping safety, which also covers weather, wildlife, fire and emergencies.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Preventing Tick Bites, Removing a Tick, Tick-borne Diseases of the United States and Lyme disease transmission pages; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Find the Repellent That Is Right for You; American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) on tick prevention for pets; National Park Service tick safety pages. This article is general information, not medical advice. Checked October 2026.
Where Ticks Live and When They Are Active
Ticks live in grassy, brushy and wooded areas, in leaf litter, and along the edges where lawns or trails meet taller vegetation. They do not jump or fly. Instead, most ticks wait on the tips of grass and shrubs with their front legs outstretched, a behavior called questing, and climb onto a person or animal brushing past.
Season
In much of the United States, ticks are most active from spring through fall, but the CDC notes that some ticks can be active during warmer days in winter. Young ticks called nymphs, which are about the size of a poppy seed, are especially active in late spring and summer and are hard to spot.
Common ticks campers meet
| Tick | Where it is common | Diseases it can spread (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Blacklegged tick (deer tick) | Northeast, mid-Atlantic, upper Midwest; western blacklegged tick on the Pacific Coast | Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus |
| Lone star tick | Southeast and eastern states, expanding north | Ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland and Bourbon viruses; linked to alpha-gal syndrome |
| American dog tick | East of the Rockies and parts of the Pacific Coast | Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia |
| Rocky Mountain wood tick | Rocky Mountain states | Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, tularemia |
| Brown dog tick | Worldwide, often around dogs and kennels | Rocky Mountain spotted fever in parts of the Southwest |
The CDC publishes regional maps for each species, and many state health departments post local tick information. A quick check before a trip tells you what to expect.
Before You Go: Treat Clothes and Gear
Permethrin-treated clothing
Permethrin is an insecticide used on clothing and gear, not on skin. The CDC recommends treating boots, socks, pants and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin, or buying clothes that come pre-treated. Treated fabric kills or repels ticks that crawl onto it. Follow the label closely:
- Treat clothing outdoors and let it dry completely before wearing it.
- Do not apply permethrin to skin.
- Keep wet permethrin away from cats, which are highly sensitive to it until it dries.
- Check the label for how many washes a treatment lasts.
Choose clothes that help you see ticks
Light-colored clothing makes crawling ticks easier to spot. Long pants tucked into socks and a long-sleeved shirt tucked into pants keep ticks on the outside of your clothes, where you can see them, rather than on your skin. Our article on the camping clothing layering system covers fabrics that work for cool evenings and mornings when ticks are still about.
At Camp: Use an EPA-Registered Repellent
The CDC recommends EPA-registered insect repellents containing one of these active ingredients:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone
The EPA’s online tool, “Find the Repellent That Is Right for You,” lets you search registered products by active ingredient and protection time against ticks or mosquitoes. EPA registration means the product has been evaluated for effectiveness and safety when used as directed.
Use repellent correctly
- Apply to exposed skin and, where the label allows, to clothing.
- Do not apply under clothing.
- Apply sunscreen first and repellent second.
- For children, adults should apply repellent to their own hands and then put it on the child, avoiding the eyes, mouth and hands.
- The CDC advises not to use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.
- Reapply as the label directs, especially after swimming or heavy sweating.
Natural products that are not EPA-registered, including plain essential oils, have not been evaluated the same way. Note that “oil of lemon eucalyptus” in registered repellents is a refined product, not the same thing as lemon eucalyptus essential oil.
Camp and walk smart
- Walk in the center of trails.
- Avoid sitting directly on logs, leaf litter or tall grass; use a chair or ground cloth.
- Set up tents in open, well-used sites away from brushy edges.
- Keep gear bags zipped and off the ground when you can.
Do a Full Tick Check Every Day
Even with repellent, check for ticks at least once a day and after every hike. The CDC lists places ticks commonly hide:
- Under the arms
- In and around the ears
- Inside the belly button
- Back of the knees
- In and around the hair, including the hairline
- Between the legs
- Around the waist
Use a hand mirror or ask a partner to check places you cannot see. Check children carefully, especially along the hairline and behind the ears. A small, dark speck that does not brush off may be a nymph.
Shower and handle clothes
The CDC recommends showering within two hours of coming indoors, which can wash off unattached ticks and gives you a chance to do a tick check. At a campground with showers, a quick rinse after hiking is worth it.
For clothes, the CDC advises tumble drying on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing. If clothes are damp, they need more time. If you wash clothes first, use hot water; cold or medium water may not kill ticks. On a camping trip without a dryer, keep worn clothes sealed in a bag away from your sleeping area until you get home.
Check gear and pets
Ticks can ride into a tent on packs, blankets and dogs. Shake out gear before bringing it inside the tent, and check dogs every day.
How to Remove a Tick the Right Way
If you find a tick attached to skin, remove it as soon as possible. The CDC’s method is simple and needs only fine-tipped tweezers, which belong in every camping first aid kit.
- Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick, which can cause mouthparts to break off and stay in the skin.
- If mouthparts remain, try to remove them with tweezers. If you cannot remove them easily with clean tweezers, leave them alone and let the skin heal.
- After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Dispose of a live tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down a toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers.
What not to do
The CDC warns against folklore methods such as painting the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly or using heat to make it detach. Your goal is to remove the tick quickly, not wait for it to back out.
Should you save the tick?
Some people keep the tick in a sealed bag or container, labeled with the date and place it was found, in case a doctor wants to know what kind it was. Your doctor will base care on your symptoms and where you were, so saving the tick is optional.
Symptoms to Watch For After a Tick Bite
Most tick bites do not cause illness, but watch for symptoms in the weeks after a bite. The CDC advises seeing a healthcare provider if you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick. Tell the provider about the bite, when it happened and where you were.
Possible signs of tickborne illness include:
- Fever, chills, aches and pains
- Fatigue
- A rash, including the expanding “bull’s-eye” rash that can occur with Lyme disease, though many Lyme rashes do not look like a bull’s-eye
- Swollen lymph nodes
Why quick removal matters
For Lyme disease, the CDC explains that in most cases a blacklegged tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the bacteria can be transmitted. Some other germs can spread faster, which is why daily checks and prompt removal matter for every kind of tick.
Alpha-gal syndrome
The CDC has linked the bite of the lone star tick to alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially serious allergic condition that can cause reactions after eating red meat or other mammal products. Symptoms usually start hours after eating. If you develop hives, stomach upset or swelling after eating meat in the months following tick bites, mention it to your doctor.
Protecting Dogs From Ticks at Camp
Dogs pick up ticks easily, and they can carry ticks into tents and vehicles. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends talking with your veterinarian about a tick prevention product suited to your dog’s size, age and health, and using it year-round where ticks are active.
- Check your dog every day, especially around the ears, eyelids, collar, under the front legs, between the toes and around the tail.
- Remove ticks from dogs with the same tweezers method.
- Ask your vet about the Lyme disease vaccine for dogs if you camp in areas where Lyme is common.
- Never use products labeled only for dogs on cats; some dog flea and tick products are toxic to cats.
Our guide to camping with dogs covers more first-trip planning for pets.
Ticks and Other Campsite Pests
Ticks are only one of the small creatures that can make a trip uncomfortable. For mosquitoes, wasps, fire ants, spiders and snakes, see our guide to snake and insect safety at the campsite, which pairs well with the tick habits in this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best tick repellent for camping?
The CDC recommends EPA-registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD or 2-undecanone, plus clothing and gear treated with 0.5% permethrin. Use the EPA’s repellent search tool to compare products.
How do I remove a tick without tweezers?
Fine-tipped tweezers are the method the CDC describes, so pack a pair. If you have none, remove the tick as soon as you can with whatever gives a firm grip close to the skin, pulling straight up, and clean the area well.
How long does a tick need to be attached to spread Lyme disease?
According to the CDC, in most cases the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more. Other diseases can spread faster, so remove ticks as soon as you find them.
Should I see a doctor after a tick bite?
See a healthcare provider if you develop a rash, fever or other symptoms within several weeks of a bite, or if you cannot remove the tick. Tell them when and where you were bitten.
Does showering remove ticks?
Showering within two hours of coming indoors may wash off unattached ticks, according to the CDC, and it is a good time for a full tick check. It will not remove a tick that is already attached.
The Bottom Line
Tick safety at camp comes down to a routine: treat clothing and gear with permethrin, use an EPA-registered repellent, stay on the center of trails, check everyone (including the dog) every day and remove any attached tick quickly with tweezers. Watch for a rash or fever in the weeks afterward and see a doctor if one appears. Those habits take a few minutes and prevent most of the trouble ticks can cause.
