The great Easter getaway is almost here and The RAC are predicting there will be a total of 21 million journeys over the Easter holidays. They’re anticipating that 21 million journeys will take place over the Easter holidays (generally Saturday 5 April to Monday 21 April) with the following days expected to be the busiest:
- Friday 4 April – 3.4 million trips
- Saturday 5 April – 3.4 million trips
Although The RAC has not yet revealed their traffic levels for the Easter weekend, Inrix are predicting the following increases in traffic levels compared to 2024:
- Maundy Thursday (17 April) – 20%
- Good Friday (18 April) – 15%
- Easter Saturday (19 April) – 10%
- Easter Sunday (20 April) – 25%
- Easter Monday (21 April) – 20%
With Network Rail completing £86 million of essential work and various timetable changes expected across the UK, public transport is likely to cause a number of issues.
Where will the most traffic be over Easter?
According to the Independent, the traffic hotspots are likely to be:
- M6 north of Birmingham as people make their way to Blackpool and The Lake District for their staycations.
- M5 south west from Birmingham towards Bristol and Exeter.
- A303 south west through Wiltshire.
- M25 between M23 and M40 heading towards the south west or Dartford Crossing if heading East.
Haven’t decided where you’re going yet? Take a look at our Easter holiday ideas.
Want a day out around your area? Use our Microadventures Generator:
All set to go and want to keep the whole family entertained during the journey. We’ve put together a list of family games to play in the car.
Preparing your car for your Easter holiday
The RAC’s poll found a quarter of drivers admitting to suffering a vehicle breakdown while on holiday with the following being the most common issues:
- Punctured tyres
- Alternator or starter motor problem
- Engine overheating
- Clutch problem
- Electronic Control Unit problem
With this in mind, it’s important to make all your basic vehicle checks before you head off on your travels, paying particular attention to any outstanding MOT advisories. The following checks can help your journey go more smoothly.
- Fuel level – Will you have enough petrol in the tank to get to your destination? Maybe make note of petrol stations along the way in case you do have to stop unexpectedly.
- Tyres – Is your tread depth up to the minimum legal standard? Resolve this before your drive to potentially help avoid punctures.
- Fluids – Check your oil and coolant levels to help stop your car from overheating.
- Warning lights – Are any of them on? Check out our What do your dashboard lights mean? blog post to find out what they could be indicating.
- Headlights – Check all your lights are working ahead of the Easter break and change the bulbs if needed.
- Battery – Check your battery is not flat.
If anything is causing you concern, get it checked over by a professional.
Any more travel tips this Easter?
- Give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go and avoid peak times for travelling.
- Check Google Maps and local traffic forecasts before setting off.
- Pack plenty of snacks, drinks and warm clothing in case you do find yourself in traffic or breaking down.
- You can share the drive if you get tired. One of your passengers can take the wheel with temporary car insurance– and with Tempcover, you can get a quote in 2 minutes and be back on the road in next to no time.
Sources
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/easter-traffic/
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/easter-bank-holiday/
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/366410/easter-holiday-traffic-predictions-are-no-yoke
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Easter 2025?
Most Easter Holidays in 2025 will be from Saturday 4 to Monday 21 April, with the Easter Weekend taking place from Friday 18 April (Good Friday) to Monday 21 April (Easter Monday).
When is the best time to travel over Easter?
This will be down to personal preference but, according to The RAC and Inrix, the busiest days over the general school holidays are expected to be Friday 4 April, Saturday 5 April and the Easter weekend itself. If you are driving over these days, either leave outside peak traffic times or prepare for delays.
