A portable lighting system includes a vehicle that has a hitch receiver and a lighting system. A lighting unit is removably coupled to the hitch receiver. The lighting unit has a telescopically adjustable height ranging between approximately 1.0 meters and 2.5 meters. Moreover, the lighting unit is selectively positioned in a first position having the lighting unit being vertically oriented. In this way the lighting unit may emit light at a height that is sufficient to attract bugs away from a user. The lighting unit is selectively positioned in second position having the lighting unit being horizontally oriented.