Stomach Bug on a Road Trip
Survival Tips and Packing List for Unexpected Stomach Issues on the Road
A stomach bug or food poisoning is never fun.
It’s even less fun when you’re on the road in the middle of a road trip without the right supplies to handle the situation or clean up the aftermath.
Next time, we’re packing some essentials. Just in case.
Our family was hit with either mild food poisoning or a stomach virus (we’re still not sure of the source, but the mess was real) in the middle of our European road trip. Thankfully, it wasn’t the worst-case scenario, but it was still the first time we had to deal with something like this unexpectedly in our camper van!
Here, we’ll share our survival hacks and packing list—tested and proven to get you through the worst—assuming not everyone gets sick at once, and it’s not coming from both ends at the same time. In that case, we wish you luck. No idea how to handle that.
Our Camper Van Stomach Bug Experience Went Like This:
We had driven from Austria over the Alps into Italy and stopped at a lakeside campground by Lake Ledro. Normally, we prefer wild camping and only use campgrounds for showering or doing laundry. But this time, we decided to stay at a small glamping site to wash our clothes, freshen up, and recharge.
After one peaceful night, we figured we’d stay another because the place was so nice. Thankfully, we did—because the following night would have been exponentially more "interesting" if we had been in the middle of nowhere.
That evening, one of the kids complained about a stomach ache and threw up once (in a controlled manner). They felt better afterward, so we blamed it on the heavy pizza dinner. The child wanted to sleep next to us (thank heavens—otherwise, the back storage area would have been a disaster), and we all went to bed without any special precautions (a huge oversight).
In the middle of the night, the child sat up and projectile vomited toward the back doors—which, honestly, was the best possible direction. We had removed the blinds from the back doors before the trip because they weren’t staying in place anymore. In hindsight, we debated whether that was a good or bad thing in this particular scenario. Good, because we didn’t have to clean or discard ruined blinds. Bad, because blinds might have blocked some of the spray effect. Who knows?
One of us adults took on the task of scrubbing the back doors, bedsheets, and mattress, while the other tried to contain the situation to prevent the spread of the mess—because making it to the toilet in time wasn’t an option. And in a way, almost making it to the toilet would have been worse. Better to isolate a single vomit zone.
The Cooking Pot: A Lifesaver
A frying pan? No way. Too shallow—it would only add velocity to the vomit. A bucket? Nope, we didn’t have one. But a cooking pot! Just deep enough to contain the mess, just wide enough for a head to fit. Hallelujah!
A couple of extra towels around the child’s head and a spare blanket as a makeshift pillow saved the situation. The original pillow was beyond saving, but overall, we managed to create a somewhat tolerable and controlled vomit zone.
At this point, we just hoped that nausea would stick to a single exit route. Because let’s face it—sanitary pads aren’t enough for diarrhea containment, and our second cooking pot was way too small to function as an emergency toilet.
The Lucky Campground Setup
We couldn’t believe it—right next to our campsite, there was a water well and a clean water tap! We mentally thanked the infrastructure gods every single one of the 5983732 times we emptied and rinsed the pot and refilled our water bottles.
By 5 a.m., the worst was over, and we managed to get a couple of hours of sleep. The pot had proven to be a solid replacement for a bucket. Of course, it would need deep disinfection before being used for cooking again.
Morning assessment: The pillow was a goner, the bedsheet was out of commission, but the mattress survived. Dark under-eye circles, nausea out of sympathy, uncertainty about whether we felt sick ourselves, and gratitude that the rest of the family was still standing. And—praise be—we were able to book a laundry slot right away!
What We Learned:
- When you really need resources, they somehow appear. One way or another.
- Trust your intuition—both when choosing restaurants and when packing the van.
- Your inner MacGyver will awaken when needed.
The Ultimate Stomach Bug Survival Kit for Your Camper Van
These essentials will get you through it:
For Containment:
- A cooking pot (or a bucket)—must be deep enough!
- Baby wipes or wet wipes
- Extra cleaning cloths
- Thick sponge for liquid absorption
- Thick old towels (perfect for emergencies!)
- Spare pillowcase
- Multipurpose cleaning spray (we use Universal Stone & Elokuu’s biodegradable cleaner)
- Drinking water & cleaning water
- Tissues & paper towels
- Hand soap + optional hand sanitizer
- Salt and sugar (the magic mix: sparkling water + pinch of salt + sugar + lemon = instant pick-me-up)
For Laundry & Cleanup:
- Laundry line & clips
- Travel-size detergent for handwashing or machine washing
For Recovery:
- Salty snacks (pretzels, crackers, chips, etc.)
- Juice or something to boost blood sugar
Most Important: WATER—for drinking and cleaning! Keep your tanks and canisters at least somewhat filled at all times.
The Aftermath
Just when we thought it was over, one of the adults woke up with the other kind of stomach issue. You’d think diarrhea would be easier to handle, but in a camper van, that’s debatable. The toilet fills up quickly, and emptying stations aren’t always nearby. Plus, stopping immediately isn’t always an option when you’re on the road.
(Pro Tip: In the Italian Alps, at around 3000 meters altitude, there is a chemical toilet disposal station!)
We asked our brave child how they felt about the whole experience. The answer? "I survived okay, but I missed out on a couple of days of ice cream, and I need compensation."
Our small worry about the ruined merino wool bedsheet turned out to be unnecessary. A quick hand wash got rid of most stains and odor, and once home, a standard wool wash cycle restored it to its original state.
For the next trip, we’re definitely packing a foldable bucket—even though, logically, boiling water in a pot should kill all germs. The mental image still lingers.
Here’s to better luck next time!