Camping in May?

I am going to be arriving in the UP in May (between May 8 and 11th) and was curious to find out how bad the bugs will be around that time? I keep reading that mid-May to mid-June can be pretty bad...so am I beating the ';mid-May'; bugs or will I get hit with them? I am going to be there anyway, but it will help me determine how much bug spray I%26#39;ll be bringing!!

Thanks!

Camping in May?

Unfortunately the bugs don%26#39;t use a calendar so they are more bothersome based upon the weather.

How botehrsome depends on where you are.

In general the timing you mentioned is fairly accurate in terms of black flies and mosquitoes. They are more active in the dawn %26amp; dusk time period and of course in the more swampy areas. In the cities and towns less active.

If you are camping during the times you mentioned you will certainly see some bugs.

The severity of the bug population is often related to how wet the spring is and of course temps have a big impact on whether the bugs come out to play...the cooler the temps the fewer the bugs.

My advice is to bring bug spray (with a high concentration of Deet) and use it if you need it. But don%26#39;t get too hung up on the timing issue or worry about bugs bugging you while you visit.

Camping in May?

The closer to Aug 1 you travel to the UP, the better the trip.

Cold mud, cloudy drizzle, bare trees, and chill are your fate in early May.

I have lived in MI my whole life and camping in the UP in May sounds like horribile tourture. Too cold in May-cold enough to get sick unless you spend all day inside an RV.

You can visit, but bring the bug spray and just enjoy the UP. Hey, you can wear one of those netted hats...! I am coming up there in early June and am wondering how it will be too, now that Spring has sprung and all we have had is rain.....!

24fan is right on………..just bring plenty of bug spray with Deet and pack for all 4 seasons and you’ll be good to go!

Dear daughter reported from college(Marquette) yesterday that sun was out and temps were warmer there than they were here at home in SW Michigan!

She visited our hunting camp last weekend (western UP) and reported that the bugs weren’t too bad yet, they were able to sit outside in lawn chairs all day and into the evening without ‘bug trouble.’

Enjoy your trip!!

42 more days and counting down until we’re in the UP!! Wooo whooo!

Hello brouhaha63,

You never mentioned where you will be camping. There are still parts of the UP that have snow and there are side roads you cannot even get down because the snow blocks the way.

There are no leaves on the trees yet and the temperature of 40 or so is normal right now.