SAN DIEGO, CA — Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite, San Diego!
As the spring break travel season heats up, a new ranking has revealed San Diego is among the top 50 most bed bug-infested cities in the country.
Pest control company Terminix recently released its annual list of the Top Bed Bug-Infested U.S. Cities, based on 2025 service data from more than 300 branches nationwide. San Diego ranked No. 32 on this year’s list, according to the report.
Los Angeles ranked No. 4 nationwide. Other California areas on the list include San Francisco–Oakland–San Jose at No. 9, Sacramento–Stockton–Modesto at No. 33, and Palm Springs at No. 49.
Nationwide, Philadelphia ranked first for the second consecutive year, followed by New York and the Cleveland–Akron metro area.
When looking at which states appear the most, Ohio, Texas, Florida, California and Pennsylvania dominated the list.
The Golden State continues to rank among the top five states for bed bug activity because of its size, climate and heavy travel volume, according to Eric Braun, board certified entomologist and technical services manager for Terminix.
“Cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area see higher exposure risk simply because they’re major travel hubs,” Braun told Patch. “Bed bugs don’t have anything to do with cleanliness, they hitchhike on luggage and personal items. Even short stays in hotels or vacation rentals can lead to an issue if people aren’t checking for signs or taking precautions when they return home.”
Bed bug activity increases during peak travel seasons such as spring break, Braun said. In fact, bed bugs remain one of the most common souvenirs travelers bring home from trips.
“Overall, bed bug activity in California has remained fairly consistent in recent years, with noticeable increases during peak travel seasons,” Braun told Patch. “In places like San Diego, we tend to see more cases after spring break and summer travel, when people are frequently moving between hotels, vacation rentals, and their homes. Travel remains one of the biggest drivers of bed bug spread.”
Braun said travelers should take a few simple steps to avoid bringing bed bugs home:
Check before you settle in: Spend a minute inspecting mattress seams, headboards, and upholstered furniture upon arrival. Keep bags off the bed and luggage racks, and avoid placing suitcases on the floor or on furniture near the bed. Place them in a less inviting area, like the top of a hard table, away from the sleeping area, or in the bathroom. Do not leave clothing or luggage on the floor around the bed when you sleep. Unpack carefully at home and remember the small spaces: Bed bugs often hide in seams, zippers, and pockets of clothing and luggage, not just mattresses. Wash and dry clothing on high heat as soon as possible after returning from a trip. Store luggage in a seldom-used space, away from sleeping areas, such as a basement, garage or attic.
Read the full report here.