How to Urinate when on an Automobile Trip

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 9, 2022 References Approved

Automobile trips can be long and monotonous, with stretches that seem to last a lifetime. Nature will call and not always at the most convenient of times. Depending on how prepared you are, there are options on how to handle bathroom breaks during long automobile trips.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Peeing Inside the Vehicle

1
Bring a urination device. Before you pack and leave for your automobile trip, buy a urination device to take with you. A disposable urinal is the best option because they are the easiest to use. If you have not used one before, it might be a good idea to buy a few different types and bring them all with you. You can also just pee in a bottle.
- There are a lot of urination devices on the market for both men and women.^{[1]
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- If you do not want to spend money on a disposable device, you can use materials you might already have. A lot of men will use a milk jug, but milk jugs can be bulky and take up space in the car.^{[2]
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- Gatorade bottles and Core water bottles have a wide mouth opening, so they are preferable for many women.^{[3]
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2
Bring cleaning supplies. Since the same hand(s) you will be using to urinate will be operating your automobile, bring something to clean up. Hand sanitizer, baby wipes, or paper towels pre-soaked in soapy water will all work fine.^{[4]
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- You can find hand sanitizer and baby wipes at any big box store (like Walmart) or supermarket. If you do not want to invest much money, get the travel size.
- To pre-soak your paper towels: Take a dry paper towel and place it under running water until it is soaked. Pump one or two drops of liquid hand soap onto it and rub it in until you see the soap lather. Squeeze out any excess water, and fold it into your desired size.
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3
Place your urination device somewhere near you in the automobile. When you are ready to hit the road, make sure your urination device is accessible and ready to go in case you need it in the vehicle. Ideally, you won’t have to search for it.
- You can put it in your center console, the car door pocket, or your glove compartment.
4
Pull your automobile over. When you need to urinate, pull your car over to a safe place. The sides of the road, a freeway exit, or some other place away from traffic are all good options. For safety, do not pull your car over onto the side of a major freeway or highway. Do not use your urination device while you are driving.
5
Urinate into the urination device. Grab your urination device from wherever you stashed it. Remove the lid if it has one. Tilt the device toward your body so the bottom is at a 45-degree angle to the floor. Urinate into the mouth of the device, aiming for the bottom.^{[5]
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- If your device has a lid on it, make sure you replace the lid when you are done.
6
Clean up using the cleaning supplies you brought. Grab those wipes or hand sanitizer and clean up before you get back on the road. You can dispose of the urination device if there is a receptacle nearby. If there is not, set it aside for now. If you think you will need it again soon, set it nearby. Or, you can get another disposable device if you brought disposables.^{[6]
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- Do not dispose of your urination device outside the vehicle. Most states have strict fines for finding containers full of urine alongside the road.^{[7]
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7
Get back on the road. Continue driving toward your destination, much more comfortable now. Make sure you drink enough water. Dehydration causes fatigue, which is a bad combination with driving.^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Peeing Outside the Vehicle

1
Bring cleaning supplies. It is generally a good idea to clean up after you have urinated, regardless of where it is. Hand sanitizer, baby wipes, or paper towels pre-soaked in soapy water are all good options.^{[9]
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- You can find hand sanitizer and baby wipes at any big box store (like Walmart) or any supermarket. If you do not want to buy the large size you can get the travel size.
- To pre-soak your paper towels: Take a dry paper towel and place it under running water until it is soaked. Pump one or two drops of hand soap onto it and rub it in until the soap lathers. Squeeze out any excess water and fold it into your desired size.
2
Pull your automobile over. When you need to urinate, pull your car over to a safe and discreet place. Make sure you are in a location that is far enough away from traffic that you will have some privacy. Taking an exit from any main road is preferable. Do not pull your automobile onto the shoulder of a major freeway or highway, for safety.
3
Get out of your automobile. Step out of your car and look around you. Make sure there are no people nearby who can see what you are doing. If there are, choose another location. It is also important to check that you are not urinating on someone’s private property.
4
Find a discreet place to urinate. If you are in a location that is remote (near a wooded area or close to shrubs), walk several feet from your car and find a spot that is semi-to-fully obstructed. This way nobody walking or driving by will be able to see what you are doing.
- Standing behind a tree or large shrub, in the middle of some tall grass, or behind a fence are all good options.
- Once you find a good spot, go ahead and do your business. If you are female, pull your pants down around your ankles and squat behind a tree or shrub.
- If there is no discreet area available, stand behind your open passenger door. Face away from the road. If you are female, pull your pants down around your ankles and squat behind the passenger door. Squat as close to the body of the car as possible for the most privacy.
- As a female, if you can't squat because you have a knee problem, or the area seems gross, you can stand by referring to Urinate Standing Up as a Female. Remember that this takes practice, so if you still have a few days before you go to the automobile trip, start the practice right away!
- Be careful not to get caught, you could be fined for disorderly conduct. Depending on where you are, fines range from $50 to $500.^{[10]
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5
Zip or pull your pants up and get back into your automobile. Once you are done, re-situate yourself and get back into your car. Do not leave used tissues or toilet paper in your pee spot. Before you hit the road, it is a good idea to clean up using the cleaning supplies you brought with you.
6
Get back on the road. Continue driving toward your destination. Make sure you drink enough water. Dehydration causes fatigue, which is a bad combination with driving.^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Stopping at a Rest Area

1
Bring cleaning supplies. Just in case the rest stop does not have soap and water, it is a good idea to be prepared. Hand sanitizer or baby wipes are quick and easy solutions to bring with you.^{[12]
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- You can find hand sanitizer and baby wipes at any big box store (like Walmart) or supermarket. If you do not want to buy the large size you can get the travel size.
2
Look for the nearest rest area. When you need to urinate, look for the nearest rest area by keeping a keen eye out for the blue road signs that say, “rest area” on them. Most of them will have warning signs telling you how many miles ahead the rest area is.^{[13]
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- You can download apps to your phone that locate rest areas near your location. This way, as soon as you know you will need to urinate you can just open the app and find the nearest rest area.^{[14]
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3
Pull into the rest area. When you locate the nearest rest area, pull in and park. You can stretch your legs, take some photos if you are in a scenic area, or just head straight to the restroom.
- Many rest areas offer vending machines, pet areas, free coffee, and sometimes free wifi.^{[15]
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4
Urinate in the restroom. Whether it is a gender-specific restroom or private restroom, all rest areas offer a restroom with available toilets and/or urinals. If the restrooms are being cleaned, you can either wait a few minutes or drive to the next rest area.
- If you are female: Hopefully the restroom is clean and you can sit and do your business. If that is not the case and the restroom is filthy enough that you do not want to sit on the toilet, you can still use it. Stand on top of the toilet seat, squatting into the toilet bowl.
5
Clean up. If there are soap and water in the rest area restroom, clean yourself up using those. If the rest area does not provide soap and water, you can use the cleaning supplies you brought with you.
6
Get back on the road. Keep going toward your destination, making sure to drink enough water on the way. Dehydration can cause you to fall asleep at the wheel, which is dangerous.^{[16]
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