How To Keep Flies Away While Camping

We offer a complete analysis of what attracts flies to a campsite. We also offer a variety of methods for dealing with these pesky insects.

It should go without saying that pesky flies can ruin a camping trip.  They are annoying and unsanitary and they can be quite distracting. Many people think that they are just a part of camping that cannot be avoided but the truth is that they don’t necessarily have to be.  In this article, we will explore the issue of camping with flies and what you can do to keep them away. 

Why Flies Are Dangerous While Camping

This might sound somewhat exaggerated but the truth is that flies can be dangerous to campers. Believe it or not, cluster flies, house flies, and stable flies are known for spreading 200 know pathogens and parasites to humans (1).

The flies themselves can pick up pathogens from trash and rotting flesh and spread these to humans by landing on our food.  This is why it is so important to address a fly infestation with a sense of urgency. 

How To Avoid Flies While Camping 

The first step to avoiding flies while camping is avoidance.  It is much easier to keep flies away while camping rather than ridding yourself of an already present infestation.  Keeping flies away begins with keeping your campsite free of material that typically attracts flies.

Trash- Getting rid of a fly infestation serves no purpose if your surrounding environment remains attractive for more flies.  That is why you must address the root cause of the infestation BEFORE you bother to rid yourself of the flies.  One of the most common attractants for flies is trash.  

Waste deposits like old food packaging and empty bottles serve as factors for attracting flies to a campground.  Additionally, trash bags, trash cans, and dumpsters are a breeding ground (literally) for flies.  That is why you need to address these first if you are to have any success in ridding yourself of flies while camping.  Look for sources of garbage that have congregations of flies swarming around them. Be sure to deposit any loose trash into a trash receptacle.  

Once all loose trash has been collected in a trash bag or trash can, you need to take proper measures in sealing these off.  Thinks about it this way, if a lone candy wrapper was enough to attract a few flies to your campsite, what do you think a packaged bundle of candy wrappers is going to do for the local fly population?  Be sure to tie off trash bags so that flies cannot pick up on the smelly contents.  

If the local trash cans seem to still be collecting flies, see if there is a nearby dumpster that you can empty the trash cans into.  This should be a last resort for handling the fly population in your area just because the amount of work involved.  However, if you can collect all of your trash into one dumpster that is, ideally, very far away from your campsite, you will be one step closer to a fly-free camping trip.

Food- Food is by far the most attractive thing to a fly.  We’ve all been eating outside on a sunny afternoon and had pesky flies circling over our food.  It seems like anything that gives off a delicious aroma can attract flies to a campsite. 

Keep in mind, we aren’t advising you to not eat anything while camping.  We are merely saying that you need to monitor the food you have laying around.  One of the ways you can do this is to only prepare enough food for what you need right at that moment.  If you have a sandwich in your hand and you scarf it down at a steady pace, odds are you will not have to deal with a lot of flies.  However, if you are the type of person to prepare large spreads of food and leave these exposed for long periods of time, you will be more susceptible to fly infestations.  

Additionally, once your food is consumed you need to take immediate action with your dishes.  If you have disposable dishes and utensils, be sure to dispose of them as quickly as possible.  If you brought actual dishes from home, be sure to seal them in a Ziploc bag once you are finished with them.  This will limit the number of flies that invade your campsite.  

Rotting flesh- If you plan to catch fish while camping or even if you plan to hunt animals for food while on your excursion, you need to be cognizant of the remains that you leave laying around.  Parts of dead fish or animal carcasses are a haven for flies where they love to lay their eggs.  Be sure you have trash bags on hand to properly wrap the remains once you are done cleaning the meat.   Furthermore, you need to dispose of such remains in a proper disposal bin that is far enough away from your campsite (the farther the better).  It is important to do this because once flies show up on site, it can be difficult to make them leave. 

Excrement- Yes, this can be a real problem when camping.  Although may organized campgrounds have public bathrooms nearby, people who frequently camp in the backwoods and deep into the wilderness need to be cognizant of what they are doing with their waste.  The same can be said for pets that you bring along on your camping trip.  If your furry friend is leaving little presents near your campsite, you can expect to see swarms of flies invading your otherwise serene camping space.  Be sure you are properly tending to any excrement that you might incur while camping.  For our complete guide to pooping in the wood, click the link below.

How To Poop In The Woods

How To Get Rid Of Flies While Camping 

Now that we have discussed various ways to avoid flies in the first place while camping, let’s discuss what you can do to get rid of flies once they have already invaded your campsite.

Clean your area and remove attractants- To reiterate what we discussed in the previous section, you need to begin treating your fly infestation by removing anything that could attract more flies to your location.  It does you no good to undergo the chore of removing flies from your campsite if more flies are just going to show up later.  Start your fly-removal process by removing any uneaten food and loose trash from your camping area.  Be sure to dispose of these in trash receptacles as far away from your campsite as possible. 

Natural Techniques For Getting Rid Of Flies While Camping

Perhaps you are someone who does not wish to use harsh chemical sprays to rid yourself of your fly problem.  Or, maybe you don’t want the added load of a spray bottle of repellant weighing down your camping pack.  There are a couple of different options you can consider.

Apple Cider Vinegar- Apples and vinegar can actually attract flies when they are available in abundance. However, if you are strategic with your use of apple cider vinegar, you can actually make a really useful flytrap to rid yourself of pesky flies around your campsite.  Just take an empty jar and mix some apple cider vinegar with some natural liquid soap.  The vinegar will attract any looming flies to the jar and the viscosity of the liquid soap will trap the flies, thus solving your problem.

White Distilled Vinegar- If trapping the flies isn’t your first plan of attack and if you would rather ward them off in the first place, a container of white distilled vinegar is a much better choice.  Unlike its Apple Cider counterpart, white distilled vinegar is not attractive to flies. In fact, when used at full concentration, white distilled vinegar has a smell that flies can’t stand.  This substance is ideal for keeping flies away. 

Herbs- Flies actually detest the smell of certain herbs.  Things like basil, cloves, and even mint can serve as a natural deterrent for flies around your campsite.  You can set these out in a bowl next to your plate while eating and the aroma will ward off flies in the area.  If you really want to take it up a notch, you can suspend a pinch of these in an aluminum foil tray over top of a candle or flame of some sort.  Burning these herbs will create a more intense smell that will make the most distant fly think twice about interrupting your camping trip.

Fly Repellant Sprays

Absorbine UltraShield EX (Amazon ASIN: B000MCZVXC) –

One of the insecticides on the market, this repellant is a must-have for any camper who wants to mount a strong counteroffensive against swarms of flies.  Its weatherproof, sweat-resistant, and it boasts a 17-day span of fly control!  It also works well against mosquitos and ticks. It even contains sunscreen so you’ll be protected from the sun’s rays all throughout your camping trip.  The great thing about this insecticide is that its harsh on insects but its also gentle enough to use on your dog.