The 50 Most Bed Bug-Infested Cities in America
And How Kentuckians Can Avoid Bringing Them Home
Pest Expert Matthew S. Hess
07/09/2025
Pest Expert Matthew S. Hess
07/09/2025
When traveling, beds are the last thing we want to think about. Yet here we are amid vacation season, and we can’t just ignore them! Why not? Because we don’t want to bring bedbugs home!
Whether you’re planning a vacation, a business trip, or visiting family, if you’re traveling, you need to know where bed bug hot zones are and, more importantly, how to avoid bringing them back to your old Kentucky home!
First, let’s look at the Top 50 Most Bed Bug-Infested Cities in the U.S., and those that don’t make the top 50, but are worthy of mention (this information is based on aggregated data from pest control companies across the nation, cross-referenced, and compiled to include the top-mentioned cities that ranked highest in bed bug treatments this past year. These metro areas are characterized by urban hubs with high travel and density, making them more susceptible to bed bug infestations. Then, let’s see what we can do to reduce our chances of bringing these critters back to our homes!
Cities are arranged in alphabetical order, not according to their severity of infestation:
Cities worthy of mention also include (in alphabetical order):
Yes, Louisville, Lexington, and Paducah made the list, which means if you live in Kentucky, you don’t have to travel far to be in a bed bug hot spot and risk bringing them home! My family and I have stayed in around 30 of these cities (or just outside the city) and have practiced many of the following tips to prevent bringing bed bugs home.
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are hematophagous ectoparasites, which means they feed on blood from the outside of the body. They’re most active at night, have flattened bodies that allow them to hide in the tiniest crevices (think mattress seams, luggage linings, even electrical outlets), and females can lay 1–5 eggs per day.
They’re tough. These bugs can survive for months without feeding, are becoming increasingly resistant to conventional insecticides, and don’t just live in beds. In fact, movie theaters, planes, buses, hospitals, office chairs, offices, and many other places can all become infested. They hitchhike on personal items, such as luggage, wallets, purses, coats, and similar objects. They can tolerate heat and cold well and have no preference for a clean or dirty home. They’re quite the adaptable pest and are well suited for living with humans.
If you’re traveling, especially to any city on the list above, here’s how to dramatically lower your risk of bringing home an unwanted six-legged souvenir that can multiply like a wet Gremlin:
Consider staying on the outskirts of cities documented for their high ranking of bed bug infestations. If you want to play it even safer, stay in a smaller town outside the city. My family and I often try to stay within 15-30 minutes of the bigger cities to reduce our chances of taking bed bugs home. As a bonus, it’s quieter, a lot more laid back, and there’s much more room for parking!
Many people confuse bed bugs with carpet beetle larvae, or they think flea bites are bed bug bites. Learning the difference between this perfect parasite and other pests that look similar or leave similar bite marks can help you avoid bed bugs when traveling.
If you travel a lot and don’t know how to spot the signs of a bed bug infestation, it’s a good time to learn. Before putting your suitcase on the bed, do a quick inspection:
If you don’t know where to look for bed bugs, your inspection won’t be very thorough!
Soft luggage has more creases and hiding spots for bed bugs. It’s best to opt for less bed bug-friendly alternatives:
As crazy as it might sound, leaving your luggage in the bathroom or taking it back out to the vehicle for overnight storage is best. That way, bed bugs have a limited time to access it, thereby reducing their chances of a free ride home… with YOU!
If you travel a lot, like I do, there are some very helpful prevention steps you can take that will reduce the chances of bed bug infestations in your home:
Once bed bugs have hitched a ride in your luggage, clothing, or personal belongings, they can infest your home before you ever know what’s happening. This leads to thousands of dollars in bed bug control fees, the potential loss of furniture, bedding, and personal items, sleepless nights, and a disruption of everyday life that can leave many people feeling miserable, embarrassed, and exhausted.
But with Four Seasons Pest Solutions on your side, not only will you have all the information you need to avoid taking these hitchhikers home, you’ll know more about which cities are infested the worst, so you can either avoid them or diligently search for the perfect, more high-end accommodations that might be less likely to keep bed bug infestation.
The simplest thing to do is to call Four Seasons Pest Solutions. We offer multiple plans to eliminate bed bugs. Some offer 30-day warranties, some offer 90-day warranties, and others offer up to lifetime warranties. You can’t go wrong with a company that will stand behind its work!
Hopefully, now that you know which cities to be on the lookout for and how best to avoid bringing bed bugs home, you’ll be able to travel safely, have a great time, and return to your pest-free home in old Kentucky!
And remember, it’s okay to live among pests… but you don’t have to live with them!