How to Deal with Mosquitoes While Camping

Mosquitoes can turn a peaceful night into an itchy nightmare. With the right strategies, you can significantly reduce encounters and enjoy the outdoors without becoming a buffet. Here’s how.

Prevention: Choose Your Campsite Wisely

Scout the Location

Look for higher ground. Mosquitoes breed in standing water and prefer low-lying, damp areas. Camp on elevated terrain away from marshes, ponds, and streams. Wind-exposed ridges are mosquito-free zones because flying insects struggle against steady breezes.

Avoid shaded, dense vegetation. Mosquitoes rest in shade during the day. Open areas with good sun exposure are naturally less buggy. If shade is unavoidable, choose areas under tall trees rather than dense shrubs.

Check the water table. Swampy terrain or wet ground near your tent is prime mosquito real estate. Dry, sandy campsites are significantly better than soggy ones. After rain, certain areas become temporary breeding grounds. Be aware and move if possible.

Timing Matters

Camp during windy seasons. Mosquitoes are weak fliers and avoid wind above 5-10 mph. Spring camping is often less buggy than summer because insects haven’t fully emerged.

Avoid dawn and dusk. Mosquitoes are most active during twilight hours. Spend these hours inside your tent with the door zipped shut.

Repellent Strategies

DEET-Based Repellents

Use 20-30% DEET concentration. The CDC recommends DEET as the most effective topical repellent. Higher concentrations (30-50%) last longer (up to 8 hours), but 20-30% is sufficient for most camping trips and causes less skin irritation.

Apply properly. Spray DEET on exposed skin and clothing. Reapply after swimming or heavy sweating. Use sparingly on the neck and face to avoid getting it near your eyes and mouth.

Picaridin as Alternative. Picaridin (10-20%) is nearly as effective as DEET with less greasy feel. Some people prefer it for comfort on longer trips.

Natural Repellents

Lemon eucalyptus oil. The most effective natural option. Look for products with 4-10% oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE). Effectiveness lasts 2-3 hours, so reapply frequently.

Permethrin for clothing. Treat clothes, socks, and tent meshes with permethrin (not your skin). This creates a barrier that repels mosquitoes without topical application. One application lasts through multiple wash cycles.

Avoid these ineffective solutions. Citronella candles, mosquito coils, and ultrasonic devices have minimal real-world effectiveness. Skip them to save pack weight.

Physical Barriers

Tent Setup

Inspect your tent for holes. Check the screen mesh before trips. Even pinhole tears let mosquitoes in. Repair kits are lightweight and essential.

Use a vestibule strategically. Store gear in the vestibule rather than inside. This creates an airlock to minimize mosquitoes entering when you open the door.

Camp away from brush. Position your tent 10+ feet from dense vegetation. This creates a mosquito-free zone around your sleeping area.

Head Nets and Screens

Head nets for evening hikes. These lightweight mesh nets (around $10-20) slip over your head and shoulders. Wear one during dawn/dusk if you must be outside.

Bug jackets for serious infestations. Full-body insect jackets have fine mesh everywhere. Overkill for most trips, but lifesaving in high-mosquito areas.

When Bites Happen

Immediate Treatment

Don’t scratch. This is the hardest part. Scratching spreads bacteria and increases itching. Resist the urge.

Apply hydrocortisone cream. 1% hydrocortisone reduces inflammation and itching within minutes. Bring a small tube on camping trips.

Use antihistamine. Oral antihistamines like cetirizine help with systemic reactions. Topical antihistamine creams work faster for localized bites.

Relief Methods

Hot compress. Apply a hot (not burning) compress to bites. Heat temporarily overwhelms the itch sensation. A cup of hot water or heat pack works.

Baking soda paste. Mix baking soda with water to form a paste. Apply to bites for cooling relief.

Ice packs. Cold numbs the area temporarily. Alternate between heat and cold for longer relief.

Camp Hygiene Tips

Minimize odors. Mosquitoes detect CO2 and body odor. While you can’t eliminate these, avoiding strong perfumes or cooking smells near your tent helps.

Store food properly. Sealed containers prevent aromas that attract insects to your tent area.

Keep your tent zipped. This seems obvious, but many bites happen from careless door openings. Establish a “zip immediately” rule in your group.

Campfire Smoke

Use the smoke strategically. Smoke does repel mosquitoes, but relying on it isn’t practical for sleep. The effect is local and temporary.

Rosemary in the fire. Burning rosemary branches creates fragrant smoke that’s slightly more repellent than plain fire smoke. A nice bonus if you’re already having a campfire.

The Bottom Line

The most effective mosquito defense combines prevention (location and timing) with repellent (DEET or lemon eucalyptus) and physical barriers (sealed tent, clothing treatment). No single method works perfectly, but layering these strategies reduces bites by 90%.

Pack DEET, wear treated clothing, choose high ground away from water. The few times you forget will remind you why preparation matters.