Bed Bug Hotspots: The Odds of an Unwanted Travel Companion This Summer

Summer vacation is supposed to leave you with great memories - maybe a tan, a camera roll full of photos, and a souvenir you definitely didn’t need but bought anyway. What it isn’t supposed to leave you with is bed bugs.

Yet every year, travelers unknowingly bring the tiny pests home in suitcases, backpacks, and carry-ons. In fact, according to PestWorld, more than half of pest control professionals say they receive the most bed bug complaints during the summer months, when travel is at its peak. Unlike most travel annoyances, bed bugs don’t disappear when you check out; they can linger long after you've unpacked.

And while most trips end problem-free, some destinations appear to carry a higher risk than others.

To find out where travelers are most likely to encounter bed bugs this summer, we combined data from Orkin and Terminix's latest top 50 bed bug rankings with hotel review data and social media mentions across the country.

The result is a state-by-state and city-by-city look at America’s biggest bed bug hotspots, because catching the travel bug is part of the fun, but catching actual bugs? Not so much.

Key Findings

Michigan ranks as the #1 state for bed bug risk, with odds of 1 in 57 travelers encountering them
Hawaii is the state with the lowest bed bug risk and therefore the most hygienic, with odds of 1 in 1,667, followed by Oregon at 1 in 1,111
Warren, Michigan is America's top bed bug hotspot city, with odds of 1 in 59
Even major destinations such as Los Angeles and New York make the top rankings

America's Itchiest Summer Destinations

If bed bugs had a summer bucket list, Michigan would apparently be at the top of it.

The Wolverine State ranks as America's biggest bed bug hotspot, with travelers facing odds of roughly 1 in 57 of encountering the pests. To put that into perspective, if a coachload of travelers headed off on vacation, one of them could statistically encounter bed bugs along the way.

Ohio is right on Michigan's heels at 1 in 59, while Maryland isn't far behind at 1 in 60. In other words, the difference between first and third place is barely enough room to fit a bed bug.

Pennsylvania and Wisconsin round out the top five, suggesting the Midwest and surrounding region may be attracting more than just summer tourists this year.

In 6th-9th place, Texas, Illinois, and New York continue the trend. That means some of America's most popular travel destinations aren't just attracting visitors, they're apparently attracting tiny stowaways too.

Even Washington, D.C. sneaks into the top 10. So, whether you're traveling for sightseeing, business, or a family vacation, it may be worth adding ‘inspect mattress’ to your itinerary.

The Cities Where Bed Bugs Are Living Their Best Life

If the state rankings made your skin crawl, wait until you see the cities where bed bugs seem most likely to hitch a ride home with travelers.

Warren, Michigan takes the top spot, where visitors face odds of 1 in 59 of encountering bed bugs. Not far behind is North Las Vegas, where the odds sit at 1 in 63. Usually, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Bed bugs, unfortunately, have other plans.

Madison, Wisconsin claims 3rd place with odds of 1 in 65, followed by Yonkers, New York at 1 in 69. Flint rounds out the top five, giving Michigan two cities in the national top five, a distinction no state wants to brag about.

Cleveland follows closely behind at 1 in 71, while Huntington, West Virginia posts odds of 1 in 81.

Then comes Los Angeles. Millions of visitors flock to LA every year hoping to spot celebrities, and with the city preparing to welcome fans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tourism is only expected to increase. According to the data, though, some visitors may have a better chance of encountering a bed bug than a celebrity.

Bridgeport and Gaithersburg complete the top 10, proving that bed bugs aren't particularly interested in city size, geography, or tourist attractions. As long as there are travelers coming and going, they're happy to check in.

Conclusion

Of course, before anyone cancels their summer vacation, it's worth remembering that the odds are still relatively low. Most travelers won't encounter bed bugs, and the vast majority of hotel stays end with nothing more than great memories.

Still, the data shows that bed bugs remain an occasional travel reality, particularly in certain destinations. So, while there's no need to travel in a hazmat suit, it might be worth giving the mattress seams a quick glance before you unpack.

Methodology

We combined Orkin and Terminix's latest Top 50 bed bug rankings with TripAdvisor hotel reviews from the three largest cities in every state. Low-rated reviews mentioning bed bugs and real-world treatment data were then analyzed to calculate the overall risk of encountering bed bugs in each city and state. We also scraped social media for mentions of bed bugs by state and city.

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