Nothing makes a car ride miserable quite like motion sickness. Since motion sickness is mainly caused by a disruption between what your eyes see and your brain interprets, there are lots of tricks at your disposal. If you can minimize distractions and prevent nausea, you'll feel a lot better. Check out some of our tips for your next car ride.

2

Stop the car and take frequent breaks.

  1. Get out and stretch your legs if you're feeling queasy. If you often get car sickness, give yourself extra travel time so you can stop whenever you need to. Pull off to a safe place and walk around for a few minutes. This can help you settle your stomach and clear your head so you're ready to travel again.[2]
    • If you're going on a long car trip, plan on giving yourself a 5-minute break for every 30 minutes of travel, for instance. You can adjust this amount if you need more rest or if you don't want to stop as often.
    • Your breaks don't have to be extensive! Even just stopping at a rest shelter to use the bathroom can be enough of a break.
6

Close your eyes or sit in the front seat.

  1. Sit in the passenger seat so you can keep an eye on the horizon. This helps your brain interpret the movement signals it's getting so you won't feel sick. If you can't sit in the front, don't worry! Sit in the back seat so you're facing forward and close your eyes or put on a pair of sunglasses. This can block some of the light so you don't notice the movement as much. Avoid looking out of the side window and instead, look directly ahead so images aren't blurring past you.[6]
    • Some people find that driving the car lessens their motion sickness.
    • If you're comfortable and tired, try to fall asleep. This can help you get through the trip without feeling motion sick.
7

Pack ginger products to prevent nausea.

  1. Ginger chews, gingersnaps, and ginger drinks can aid digestion. There have also been studies that show ginger safely treats nausea and vomiting.[7] This makes ginger great for car trips! Read the ingredient list on products to ensure there's really ginger in them. Better yet, snack on ginger chews or food that has crystallized ginger in it.[8]
    • A lot of ginger ale doesn't actually contain ginger. Read labels to find one that includes it or sip a non-alcoholic ginger beer that contains real ginger.
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8

Munch on bland snacks if it's a long car trip.

9

Stick to a light meal before you travel.

  1. Avoid traveling on an empty stomach but don't eat a huge meal. Try to avoid greasy, fatty foods that often upset your stomach and don't drink caffeine or alcohol. You might eat a simple sandwich or crackers and some fruit, for instance. Studies have shown that foods high in histamines like cheese, tuna, and salami, can contribute to motion sickness so skip these foods.[10]
    • You should also avoid filling up on a lot of liquid. Not only will you need to stop for the restroom more frequently, but the excess liquid in your stomach can make you nauseated.
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10

Take anti-motion medication 30 to 60 minutes before you travel.

  1. Pick up over-the-counter medication the prevents nausea. Look for one that contains cyclizine, dimenhydrinate, meclizine, or promethazine. These medications target the area in your brain that senses motion and triggers nausea. Read the manufacturer's dosing information and take the medication before you get in the car.[11]
    • Anti-motion medication is more effective if you also try other techniques like breathing fresh air and keeping your eyes on the horizon.
    • If you're treating motion sickness in children, talk with their pediatrician since treatment is considered off-label. This means you'll probably be advised to give your child an antihistamine that makes them drowsy so they're less likely to feel motion sick.

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    Does chewing gum help prevent car sickness?
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Answer
    Yes. The chewing action stimulates production of saliva, which helps to neutralize stomach acid, thereby decreasing car sickness. Also, chewing a peppermint gum can feel refreshing and can help you feel less nauseated.
  • Question
    What are alternatives for ginger?
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Answer
    Lemons are great for motion sickness. You can suck on a lemon wedge or squeeze some lemon into your water. Smelling lemons also might be helpful for car sickness. Also, you could use eucalyptus cough drops. Eucalyptus drops are refreshing, and sucking on a hard candy stimulates saliva production, which helps to neutralize stomach acid and thereby decreasing motion sickness.
  • Question
    Can sleeping in car help prevent car sickness?
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Family Medicine Physician
    Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Family Medicine Physician
    Expert Answer
    It does not prevent it, but if you are prone to motion sickness, sleeping in the back seat might be a good option.
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About This Article

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Co-authored by:
Family Medicine Physician
This article was co-authored by Chris M. Matsko, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson. Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017. This article has been viewed 525,834 times.
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Co-authors: 97
Updated: April 19, 2022
Views: 525,834

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

To deal with car sickness, get some fresh air by opening a window or stopping the car briefly so you can get out and walk around for a few minutes. If you're unable to stop, close your eyes or otherwise block your view of motion outside the car. You can also try munching on something dry, like crackers or bread, to alleviate symptoms. For tips on using ginger to get relief from your car sickness, read on!

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