Worst times to travel this bank holiday weekend as 18million drivers to hit the road
In England and Wales, motorists are set to make 17.6 million leisure journeys between Friday and Monday.
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The RAC and Network Rail both urged people to check routes before leaving home and plan extra time for journeys
Credit: Getty
The South East and South West are tipped to suffer some of the worst congestion as families head for the coast.
The RAC said traffic will start building on Friday with three million trips planned.
That number rises to 3.4 million on Saturday, before dropping slightly to 2.4 million on Sunday and climbing back to 2.7 million on Monday.
On top of that, another 6.1 million drivers say they will be on the roads at some point across the long weekend, adding to the strain.
Although slightly down on last year's record 19.2 million trips, the forecast is still the second-highest since 2020, when the end of lockdowns saw huge numbers head out on staycations.
INRIX warns the M5 between Bristol and Devon will be the worst bottleneck, with jams of over 40 minutes expected on both Friday and Saturday.
The M20 in Kent is also tipped for gridlock, especially for holidaymakers heading towards Dover and Folkestone for Channel crossings.
The worst times to drive are predicted to be between 10am and 7pm on Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Monday.
On Sunday, traffic should be mostly free-flowing.
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Best and worst times to travel
Experts say the smart move is to set off after 7pm on Friday, before 9am on Saturday or before 11am on Monday to dodge the worst delays.
With hot weather set to tempt even more people out at the last minute, breakdowns could rise sharply.
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said:
'With this bank holiday being the last opportunity to enjoy a long weekend before Christmas, our study shows a real eagerness to get out and about with nearly 18m drivers planning getaway trips.
"More traffic on the roads will inevitably lead to more vehicle breakdowns, especially if the sun makes an appearance and people decide on the day to visit popular destinations.'
He added:'We're expecting major roads to airports and coastal destinations to be extremely busy, especially the South East and South West regions which could end up bearing the brunt of most holiday hold-ups.
"Anyone planning routes through these areas should set off as early as possible or be prepared to spend longer in traffic.'
The RAC is urging motorists to check their cars before setting off to avoid misery.
Drivers are advised to top up oil and coolant, check tyre tread and pressure, and ensure vehicles are 'road ready' before a long trip.
Meanwhile, rail passengers face fresh disruption with strikes and engineering work.
CrossCountry services will grind to a halt on Saturday due to an RMT walkout over ticket scanning.
Boss Shiona Rolfe admitted: 'It is hugely disappointing to not operate any services on Saturday, knowing the inevitable disruption to many of our passengers' journeys over the bank holiday weekend.'
And Network Rail will carry out 261 projects nationwide, including a total shutdown of the East Coast main line between London King's Cross and Peterborough on Sunday.
That will affect long-distance trains to Scotland run by LNER and Lumo, while Avanti West Coast services will be reduced and some diverted.
London Euston is also affected, with a limited timetable for Avanti services, while no trains will run between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International from Saturday to Monday.
Helen Hamlin, Network Rail's chief network operator, said:
'While the vast majority of the railway will be running, works on some parts of the network are unfortunately unavoidable, as we complete major work to support a better, more reliable railway that we wouldn't be able to complete in a normal weekend.'
The RAC and Network Rail both urged people to check routes before leaving home and plan extra time for journeys.
Best and worst times to drive this August Bank Holiday
Friday 22 August 2025 Best: After 7pm
After 7pm Worst: 10am – 7pm
Saturday 23 August 2025 Best: Before 9am
Before 9am Worst: 9am – 5pm
Sunday 24 August 2025 Best: Free-flowing traffic predicted
Free-flowing traffic predicted Worst: Free-flowing traffic predicted
Monday 25 August 2025 Best: Before 11am
Before 11am Worst: 1pm – 6pm
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