Most Bed Bug-Infested U.S. Cities Revealed: Philly Tops 2025 List

If you’re planning a summer trip to one of America’s top tourist cities, you may want to watch out for more than just delayed flights and lost luggage. Bed bugs are making an aggressive comeback. Terminix has released its annual list of the 50 most bed bug-infested cities in the U.S., and Philadelphia ranks number one for the second consecutive year.

The rankings, based on service data from over 300 Terminix branches, reveal that major cities like New York, Cleveland-Akron, Los Angeles, and Dallas-Fort Worth round out the top five. Notably, Los Angeles surged 17 spots from its previous position. States including Ohio, Texas, Florida, California, and Pennsylvania dominate the list, reflecting how travel, urban density, and housing conditions fuel the rise in infestations.

Eric Braun, Technical Service Manager at Terminix, explains that post-pandemic travel, social activities, and gatherings have allowed bed bugs to spread quickly again, driving up both infestation rates and demand for professional pest control.

Travelers are advised to take precautions while staying in hotels. Before unpacking, inspect mattress seams, headboards, and furniture for rust-colored stains or apple-seed-sized bugs. Keep luggage elevated on racks instead of placing it on beds or floors. Once home, unpack outside the bedroom, dry clothes on high heat for 30 minutes, and vacuum suitcases before storing them.

According to Terminix, bed bugs are thriving again, but a little caution can help keep your vacation pest-free.