Ticks, Mosquitoes and Untreated Water: Staying Healthy Outdoors on a Road Trip

Road trips often mean more time outdoors than a normal week at home.

You hike to a waterfall, walk through tall grass to a viewpoint and camp near a lake.

Those moments are the best part of the trip.

They also bring you close to ticks, mosquitoes and water that may not be safe to drink.

A few simple habits keep these small problems from turning into a ruined vacation.

This guide uses advice from the National Park Service and MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine.

Why small bites matter

MedlinePlus explains that ticks are small parasites related to spiders.

They feed on the blood of people and warm-blooded animals.

When they bite, certain ticks can pass on germs that cause disease.

MedlinePlus lists several tickborne diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Symptoms can be mild, but some cases lead to serious, long-lasting health problems.

The Yellowstone safety page adds that mosquitoes can also spread germs that make people sick.

Prevention is far easier than dealing with an illness later.

Know where and when ticks are active

Many types of ticks live in the United States, and they live in different regions.

MedlinePlus notes that they can be light-colored, reddish brown or dark brown.

Some are so small that they are hard to see.

Ticks can get on you when you walk through tall grass, leaf litter or shrubs.

The NPS gives a clear example from Yellowstone.

From mid-March to mid-July, grassy and brushy low-elevation areas there are ideal tick habitat.

Every region has its own season, so check the park or forest website for your route.

How to prevent tick bites

MedlinePlus lists practical steps to lower your risk.

  • Avoid wooded, brushy and grassy areas when you can, especially in warmer months.
  • Use an insect repellent registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, such as one with DEET or picaridin.
  • Wear light-colored protective clothing so ticks are easier to spot.
  • Treat clothing and gear with a product that contains permethrin.
  • Tuck your pant legs into your socks and your shirt into your pants.

The NPS adds a detail that many hikers skip.

Apply repellent even on shoes, socks, cuffs and pant legs.

Always follow the directions on the product label.

Check everyone every day

You may not feel a tick bite.

MedlinePlus explains that a tick can stay attached for several days.

If you remove it before it has filled up on blood, you are less likely to get infected.

That makes a daily check one of the most useful habits on the trip.

  • Check your clothes and body often during and after time outdoors.
  • Check children carefully, including the scalp, behind the ears and under the arms.
  • Check pets that walked with you, since they can carry ticks too.
  • Remove your clothes after being outside and check them for ticks.

MedlinePlus also suggests washing and drying clothes at high temperatures.

On a road trip, a laundromat stop every few days makes that easier.

How to remove a tick the right way

If you find a tick attached, remove it as soon as you can.

MedlinePlus describes the steps with a tick removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers.

  1. Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible.
  2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure.
  3. Do not twist or jerk the tick, so it comes out in one piece.
  4. If the mouth-parts break off and cannot be removed easily, leave them.
  5. Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

Keep a pair of fine-tipped tweezers in your car's first-aid kit.

That way you can act right away, even far from a store.

When to call a doctor

Many tickborne diseases share similar early signs.

MedlinePlus lists fever, chills, aches and pains, and rash as the most common.

If any of these appear within several weeks of removing a tick, contact your health care provider.

Tell them where you traveled and when you found the tick.

Writing the date and place in your phone right after removal helps a lot.

Mosquitoes: timing and protection

Mosquitoes are most common near water.

In Yellowstone, the NPS notes that they can be widespread around lakes and streams in June and July.

They are especially common in wet areas and tend to fade in mid-to-late August.

Seasons differ by region, so check local conditions before you plan a lakeside campsite.

The NPS names the best options for dealing with mosquitoes.

  • Use insect repellent.
  • Use netting, especially around a tent or a picnic area.
  • Wear long pants and long sleeves.

On a road trip, keep the windows up when you park near standing water at dusk.

A car full of mosquitoes makes for a long night drive.

Do not drink untreated water

A clear mountain stream looks perfect on a hot day.

The NPS warns that it may still carry parasites and bacteria.

Natural water may be polluted by animal or human waste.

The park notes that intestinal infections from drinking untreated water are increasingly common.

One of the parasites it names is Giardia.

The NPS recommends a simple rule.

Boil, filter or chemically treat all drinking water that is not from a clearly marked potable source.

Plan your water supply for the road

The easiest way to avoid untreated water is to carry enough safe water.

  • Keep several gallons of drinking water in the car, especially in remote areas.
  • Refill bottles at marked potable taps in campgrounds and visitor centers.
  • Carry a water filter or treatment tablets for hikes and backcountry camping.
  • Follow the instructions on any filter or tablet carefully.

Safe water matters even more in hot weather.

Our guide on road trips in hot weather covers staying hydrated and spotting heat illness.

Protect your pets too

Dogs on a road trip walk through the same grass and drink from the same streams.

MedlinePlus advises checking pets daily for ticks and carefully removing any you find.

Ask your veterinarian about tick prevention before you leave home.

Carry fresh water for your dog so it does not drink from lakes or creeks.

Build a small outdoor health kit

A few items in the car make these habits easy to keep.

  • An EPA-registered insect repellent.
  • Fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool.
  • Rubbing alcohol wipes or soap.
  • Long pants, long sleeves and light-colored clothing.
  • A water filter or treatment tablets.
  • Several gallons of drinking water.
  • A small notebook or phone note to record any tick bite.

Before you go, our guide to planning a national park road trip covers the other essentials.

A daily outdoor routine

  • Repellent applied before hikes, including on shoes and socks.
  • Pants tucked into socks in grassy or brushy areas.
  • Tick checks for everyone, including pets, at the end of the day.
  • Any tick removed right away and the date noted.
  • Only treated or marked potable water used for drinking.

The bottom line

Ticks, mosquitoes and untreated water are small risks that are easy to manage.

Use repellent, cover up, check for ticks every day and remove them the right way.

Drink only water that is treated or from a marked potable source.

With those habits, your time outdoors stays the highlight of the road trip.

Sources and Further Reading