Chicago Tops Orkin's 2026 Bed Bug Cities List Again as Vacation Hot Spots Climb the Ranks

Chicago retained its position as the nation's city with the highest rate of bed bug infestations, with Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis rounding out the top five. Ohio is the most represented state on this year's list with six cities ranking in the top 50, reinforcing a broader trend of Midwestern cities appearing among the nation's bed bug hotspots. While bed bugs can be found anywhere people live and travel, densely populated cities and environments with high resident and visitor turnover, such as apartments, dormitories and hotels, can create more opportunities for the pests to spread simply due to the movement of high numbers of people. Many cities where bed bug activity has been the worst in the last year are also some of the country's most popular travel destinations and are expected to welcome large numbers of visitors for major concerts, festivals and sporting events throughout the summer and beyond. As visitors move through hotels and other accommodations, Orkin encourages vigilance against bed bugs, which can hitchhike home in luggage and other personal belongings. Knowing how to inspect hotel rooms and luggage before unpacking can help prevent an unwanted souvenir from making the trip home. This year's rankings are based on treatment data from metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from May 12, 2025, to May 12, 2026. The list includes both residential and commercial bed bug treatments.