How To Get Rid Of Flies While Camping

Nothing ruins a beautiful camping trip faster than a relentless swarm of flies. If you’re wondering how to get rid of flies while camping, you’re in the right place. These persistent pests can turn a peaceful meal into a swatting frenzy and make relaxing impossible. But with some smart preparation and effective tactics, you can reclaim your campsite and enjoy the great outdoors in peace.

This guide covers everything from prevention to natural repellents and physical traps. We’ll give you practical solutions that actually work in the wilderness. Let’s make sure your next adventure is memorable for all the right reasons.

Success starts with understanding your enemy. Flies are attracted to campsites for a few key reasons: food, waste, and certain smells. By managing these attractants, you take the first big step toward a fly-free zone. It’s much easier to keep them away than to shoo them off once they’ve arrived.

Start With Prevention: Your First Line of Defense

The best way to deal with flies is to stop them from being interested in your site in the first place. A clean camp is an uninviting camp for pests.

Seal All Food Perfectly: Use airtight, hard-sided containers for all food, not just what’s in your cooler. Flies can smell snacks through plastic bags and thin packaging.
Manage Trash Immediately: Have a dedicated, sealable bag for trash. Close it after every single use and store it away from your sleeping and cooking area, ideally in a provided bear locker or your car.
Clean Cooking Gear Right Away: Don’t let dirty pans or plates sit out. Wash them promptly with biodegradable soap, strain your wash water, and scatter it far from camp.
Choose Your Site Wisely: Avoid setting up camp near obvious fly hangouts like standing water, manure piles, or overflowing trash recepticals.

Natural Repellents and DIY Solutions

You don’t always need harsh chemicals. Nature often provides the tools you need to keep bugs at bay.

Herbs and Essential Oils: Flies dislike strong herbal scents. Bring bundles of fresh rosemary, mint, or basil to lay on your picnic table. A few drops of eucalyptus, lemongrass, or peppermint oil on bandanas or campsite surfaces can help.
The Classic Citronella: Citronella candles or torches are a classic for a reason. They create a pleasant-smelling barrier, especially useful at dusk when flies are often worst.
Apple Cider Vinegar Trap: Pour an inch of apple cider vinegar into a jar or cup. Add a drop of dish soap to break the surface tension. Cover the top with plastic wrap and poke small holes. Flies go in but can’t get out.

Physical Barriers and Traps

When flies do get close, physical methods are incredibly effective.

Camping Screens and Mesh: A pop-up screen tent or dining shelter is a game-changer. It gives you a full bug-free zone for cooking, eating, and relaxing.
Portable Fly Fans: Small battery-operated fans create a breeze that small flies struggle to fly against. Point one across your food table.
Sticky Fly Ribbons: Hang these away from where you sit and eat. They’re unattractive but very effective at reducing the overall population around your site.
Good Old-Fashioned Swatters: Keep a couple within reach. Sometimes the direct approach is the most satisfying.

Personal Protection for You and Your Gear

Flies can be personal, buzzing around your face and landing on your gear. Here’s how to protect yourself.

Wear the Right Colors and Fabrics: Flies are often attracted to dark colors and can bite through thin clothing. Opt for light-colored, tightly woven shirts and pants.
Use a Bug Net Hat: If the flies are overwhelming, a simple mesh net that drapes over your hat can provide total relief for your head and neck.
Keep Your Tent Zipped: Always, always keep your tent door zipped shut, even when you’re just a few feet away. It takes seconds for a dozen flies to invade your sleeping space.
Natural Personal Spray: Make a simple spray with witch hazel, water, and a mix of essential oils like lavender and citronella. Shake well before each use.

Dealing With Specific Types of Flies

Not all flies are the same. Identifying them helps you choose the best counter-attack.

House Flies and Fruit Flies

These are the common picnic pests attracted to food and sweet drinks. Prevention is key. Keep all surfaces wiped down, cover drinks, and never leave fruit peels out. The apple cider vinegar trap works wonders on fruit flies.

Horse Flies and Deer Flies

These biters are aggressive and their hurt. They’re attracted to movement, dark shapes, and carbon dioxide. Your best defense is wearing light colors and using a strong fan to create wind. They are less agile in strong breezes. Repellents with a high concentration of picaridin can be more effective against these biters than standard ones.

Black Flies (Gnats)

These tiny swarming insects love humid areas near water. They can get into eyes, ears, and noses. A head net is often the only reliable solution during peak black fly season. They are also less active in direct, hot sunlight.

Step-by-Step: Your Campsite Fly Control Routine

Follow this simple daily routine to minimize fly problems.

Set Up Barriers First: Upon arrival, pitch your screen tent or hang fly ribbons in the perimeter before you even unpack the food.
Designate a Clean Kitchen Zone: Set up your cooking and eating area away from tents. Immediately establish a sealed system for trash and food scraps.
Cook and Eat Smart: Prepare meals efficiently. Keep lids on pots and serve food quickly. Eat inside your screen shelter if flies are present.
Immediate Cleanup: As soon as you’re done eating, seal leftovers, wash dishes, and dispose of trash properly. Never leave anything out overnight.
Evening Defense: As the sun sets, light citronella candles or torches around your common area. Turn on a portable fan for added protection.
Secure Everything for Night: Do a final sweep. All food, trash, and scented items (like toothpaste) go into a bear canister or your vehicle.

Common Mistakes That Attract More Flies

Even experienced campers can slip up. Avoid these errors.

Wearing Perfumes or Scented Lotions: Florals and sweet scents can attract insects. Use unscented products while camping.
Leaving Pet Food Bowls Out: If you camp with a dog, their food is just as attractive. Follow the same storage rules for pet food.
Ignoring Recycling: That empty soda can or beer bottle still has sweet residue. Rinse recyclables and store them as carefully as trash.
Forgetting About Drain Water: The water in your cooler drain or washing basin can attract flies. Dump it far from camp and away from water sources.

FAQ: Your Fly Control Questions Answered

What smell do flies hate the most while camping?

Flies strongly dislike the scents of herbs like basil, mint, and lavender, as well as essential oils like eucalyptus, citronella, and peppermint. A campfire also helps keep them at bay.

How do I keep flies away from my camping food?

Keep all food in sealed containers until the moment you eat it. Use physical barriers like a screen tent or mesh food covers. Eat quickly and clean up immediately afterwards.

What is a simple homemade fly trap for camping?

The easiest is the apple cider vinegar trap: a jar with vinegar, a drop of dish soap, and a plastic wrap cover with holes. You can also use a plastic bottle with the top inverted into the base, baited with sweet liquid or old fruit.

Does vanilla extract repel flies?

Some campers swear by dabbing pure vanilla extract on their skin and hat to repel flies and gnats. It’s worth a try, though its effectiveness can vary.

Why are there so many flies at my campsite?

It’s likely due to an attractant: unsealed food or trash, nearby standing water, animal activity, or the natural environment (like a marshy area). Conduct a thorough clean-up and move your cooking area if possible.

Can flies get into a closed tent?

They can if there’s an opening. Ensure your tent door is fully zipped, with no gaps. Check your tent’s mesh for tiny holes or tears before your trip and repair them with patch kit.

Getting bothered by flies doesn’t have to be a standard part of camping. By focusing on prevention, using smart barriers, and having a few traps in your arsenal, you can dramatically reduce their impact. The key is to be proactive from the moment you arrive at your site. Pack those sealable containers, consider a pop-up screen, and always, always clean up right away. With these strategies, you’ll spend less time swatting and more time enjoying the crackle of the fire and the beauty of the stars overhead.