Can You Get Lyme Disease at the Beach? Ticks Are Moving to Coastal Areas
Can you get Lyme disease at the beach? Yes. Ticks are increasingly being found in coastal environments—including beaches, dunes, and shoreline trails.
Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was closed for the summer of 2025—not because of weather, but because of ticks.
Multiple species were identified, including the Asian longhorned tick, an emerging invasive species.
Ticks at the beach are now part of the Lyme disease conversation.
Ticks at the Beach: What We’re Seeing
Ticks can survive in coastal environments and may be found near beaches, especially in dune grass, vegetation, and shoreline trails.
- Dune grass
- Vegetation
- Leaf litter
- Moist coastal conditions
In my practice, I remind patients that you do not need to be deep in the woods to be exposed.
Migrating birds, including gulls and shorebirds, may transport ticks to coastal areas.
A 2020 study found ticks on 74% of beach trails in coastal parks.
This is no longer a hypothetical risk—it is an expanding public health concern.
Do Ticks Live in Sand?
One of the most common questions patients ask is whether ticks live in sand.
Ticks generally do not thrive in hot, dry, open sand. They are far more likely to be found in nearby dune grass, beach vegetation, leaf litter, and shaded coastal trails where moisture levels are higher.
In other words, people are usually exposed near the beach rather than from the open sand itself.
Beachgoers should not assume that a coastal environment is tick-free simply because they are not in the woods.
Are There Ticks on Beach Trails and Dunes?
Yes. Studies have documented ticks on beach trails and in dune ecosystems.
Ticks use grasses and low vegetation to attach to passing hosts, including birds, deer, rodents, pets, and people.
As a result, walking through dune grass, coastal vegetation, or unmaintained trails may increase exposure risk.
The highest-risk areas are usually vegetated sections surrounding beaches rather than the shoreline itself.
Can Ticks Live Near the Ocean?
Ticks do not live in salt water or survive in the ocean itself. However, they can thrive in coastal vegetation, dunes, beach grasses, and nearby trails.
Most beach-related tick exposures occur near the shoreline rather than in the water.
Ticks have been reported along coastal environments throughout the United States, including beaches in Florida, the Northeast, and California.
Tick Risk Is High Across the Northeast
Tick activity remains high across the Northeast, with favorable conditions for both nymph and adult ticks.
Common species include:
- Blacklegged ticks (Lyme, Babesia, Anaplasma, Powassan)
- Lone Star ticks (Ehrlichiosis, alpha-gal syndrome, STARI)
- American dog ticks (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
- Asian longhorned ticks (emerging pathogens under study)
These ticks are no longer confined to wooded areas—they are increasingly found in suburban yards, parks, and coastal ecosystems.
The Asian Longhorned Tick: A Growing Concern
First identified in the United States in 2017, the Asian longhorned tick has spread rapidly.
It reproduces without mating through parthenogenesis, allowing populations to expand quickly.
It has been associated with:
- Ehrlichiosis
- Anaplasmosis
- Theileria (primarily in animals)
Its full impact on human disease is still being investigated.
I consider this tick when patients present with unexplained fever, fatigue, or abnormal laboratory findings in affected regions.
Children and Pets Are at Higher Risk
Beach environments may increase exposure risk for certain groups.
- Children often wear less clothing, play close to the ground, and may skip tick checks.
- Dogs can carry ticks into the home after walks along dunes or coastal trails.
Tick precautions remain important—even after a beach day.
Prevention Now Includes the Beach
Before You Go
- Use EPA-approved repellents such as DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Treat shoes and outdoor gear with permethrin.
- Wear protective clothing when possible.
- Stay on cleared paths and avoid dense vegetation.
After You Return
- Shower within 2 hours.
- Perform a full-body tick check, including the hairline, waistband, and behind the ears.
- Dry clothes on high heat for at least 10 minutes.
- Check pets carefully.
If You Find a Tick
- Remove it with fine-tipped tweezers.
- Clean the area thoroughly.
- Watch for symptoms such as rash, fever, joint pain, or chills.
- Seek medical care if symptoms develop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get Lyme disease at the beach?
Yes. Ticks are increasingly found in coastal areas including dunes, shoreline vegetation, and beach trails.
Do ticks live in sand?
Ticks generally prefer moist vegetation and leaf litter rather than open dry sand. Most beach-related exposure occurs near grasses, dunes, and coastal trails.
Are there ticks in the ocean?
No. Lyme disease ticks do not live in ocean water. They are found in nearby grasses, dunes, and coastal vegetation.
Are ticks common near beaches?
Ticks can survive in moist coastal environments containing vegetation and leaf litter.
What ticks are found near beaches?
Blacklegged ticks, Lone Star ticks, dog ticks, and Asian longhorned ticks have all been identified in coastal regions.
Should you do tick checks after a beach trip?
Yes. Tick checks remain important after any outdoor exposure, including beach visits.
Clinical Takeaway
Lyme disease risk is expanding beyond traditional wooded environments.
Ticks are now present in beaches, dunes, and coastal ecosystems.
- Do not assume the beach is risk-free.
- Most exposures occur in dune grass and vegetation rather than open sand.
- Use prevention strategies consistently.
- Educate families about changing exposure patterns.
Lyme prevention now includes the beach.
Related Articles
Human bite leads to discovery of Asian longhorned ticks in New York
Why Some Ticks Won’t Come Out (And What to Do Next)
Forget the Rash: These Are the First Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease Prevention
References
- A 2020 Journal of Medical Entomology study found ticks on 74% of beach trails in coastal parks. Prevention.
- Examining prevalence and diversity of tick-borne pathogens in questing Ixodes pacificus ticks in California. Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
- Where ticks live. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
I have had Lyme and most Coinfections. I was bit in 1979at 19 yrs. in the Coctin Mountains, at a Resident camp. as a counselor. I was taken to a small Hospital in Hagerstown, MD. I had a 105 degree fever they could not break for a week. In the mean time my foot was sore they found something had bit me in a vein. After 2 weeks sent home to Baltimore. Life got slowly worse. Told was crazy and that was it. A friend said look into Lyme, 1990 Got a apt. wit Dr. Burrascano. I would have been long, but are still on antibiotics I am wheelchair bound. Still has not changed a lot.
I have patients facing the same challenges since opening practice in 1987. I am glad you were able to include Dr. Burrascano in your evaluation.