Camping Tick Protection: A Complete Packing Checklist

Ticks love the same brushy, wooded, humid spots we pitch tents in. A little planning keeps them from turning a great trip into an itchy worry. Here's your checklist.

What to pack

• Permethrin-treated clothing (or spray to treat gear before you go) — treat boots, socks, pants, and the tent.
• EPA-registered repellent for skin (DEET, picaridin, or OLE) for heavy-exposure days.
• A drug-free repellent clip like Roam Repel for an easy everyday layer around camp.
• Fine-tipped tweezers for removal.
• Light-colored clothing, long sleeves and pants, and a hat.

Setting up camp

• Pitch your tent in a sunny, cleared, dry spot — not in tall grass, leaf litter, or dense brush.
• Keep a buffer between your sleeping area and the wooded edge.
• Store gear off the ground and zipped up.

On the trail and around camp

• Walk the center of trails.
• Tuck pants into socks in brushy areas.
• Keep the repellent layer on during the day.

The nightly tick check

Make it routine before bed: check everyone in the group, focusing on hairlines, ears, underarms, waistbands, and behind knees. Check kids and dogs — they pick up the most. For technique, see how to safely remove a tick.

Bottom line

Layer your protection, pitch smart, and check nightly — and ticks become a non-event. More in our full prevention guide.

This article is for general information and isn't medical advice.

Source: CDC — Preventing Tick Bites