SerpApi.Org
A new ranking based on a year of treatment data identifies the cities where travelers may want to be extra vigilant when checking into hotels.
For 125 years, Orkin’s pest control teams have been responding to bug and rodent infestations across the country. Now, the company has announced the U.S. city with the biggest bed bug problem in 2026, according to a year’s worth of treatment data.
The top offender is Chicago, which was found to have the highest rate of bed bug infestations for the sixth year in a row. The ranking was determined based on Orkin’s treatment data from May 12, 2025, to May 12, 2026, and included both residential and commercial infestations.
The city of Chicago is famous for its iconic skyline, canals and riverways, improvisational comedy, and deep-dish pizza. It welcomed 56.8 million tourists in 2025, many of whom opt to stay in one of the city’s landmark hotels.
“Travel season brings excitement, but it also makes awareness especially important,” said Dr. Shannon Sked, Orkin entomologist and national technical director, in a release. “Bed bugs are resilient pests that can be difficult to control once introduced into a home or hotel room, and they are skilled at hiding in cracks, crevices, and personal belongings. A quick inspection of hotels or short-term rentals while traveling, or belongings before unpacking at home, can help travelers reduce the chance of bringing bed bugs home.”
Bed bugs are difficult to detect because they’re tiny and can hide for weeks. Orkin recommends travelers follow the S.L.E.E.P. acronym to keep bed bugs from spreading from place to place or coming home with you.
Following Chicago in the rankings were Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. Among the full list of 50 cities, Ohio was the most represented state, with six cities on the list. Both Nashville and Oklahoma City climbed 10 spots on the 2026 list, compared with 2025.
“Changes in the rankings can be influenced by a variety of factors such as travel trends, treatment resistance strains and educational campaigns to the public,” said Sked, who added, “Because infestations rarely resolve on their own, addressing signs of bed bugs early can help limit their spread and make treatment more effective.”
In general, Orkin reports that densely populated cities with high visitor turnover have the biggest challenge when it comes to bed bugs because of the constant movement of travelers.
The 10 cities with the highest rates of bed bug infestations are below. You can find Orkin’s full list of 50 cities here.
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Detroit
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Indianapolis
- Springfield, Illinois
- Washington, D.C.
- Columbus, Ohio
- Pittsburgh
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
