Britain's motorists are bracing for significant congestion on major routes this bank holiday weekend as millions embark on getaway trips, despite soaring fuel prices. The RAC estimates that 19 million leisure journeys will be undertaken by car between Friday and Monday, marking an increase of one million compared to last year's spring bank holiday.
Heaviest Traffic Days
Friday and Saturday are expected to see the most severe congestion, with 3.8 million drivers planning trips each day. Sunday will see 3.4 million, while Monday will have 3.1 million. Additionally, with a 32C heatwave forecast, a further 3.4 million people intend to travel sometime between Friday and Monday but have not yet finalised their plans.
Transport analytics company Inrix has identified the M1, M5, M6, and M25 as the worst-affected motorways. On Friday, the M25 anticlockwise from Junction 10 to Junction 6 is predicted to experience peak congestion around 4:45pm as commuters finish work. The same stretch is likely to see a second spike at lunchtime on Saturday, with journey times more than doubling. On Saturday at midday, queues of 45 minutes are expected on the M5 southbound from Junction 16 near Bristol to Junction 23 for Bridgwater.
Heatwave Conditions
The Met Office forecasts temperatures reaching at least 28C in London from Friday, meeting the heatwave threshold for five consecutive days. This warm weather coincides with half-term holidays for many schoolchildren. Friday could become the hottest day of the year so far, surpassing the previous 2026 record of 26.6C recorded at Kew Gardens on April 8. Saturday may reach 30C, peaking at 32C on Sunday, then 31C on Monday and 28C on Tuesday, with high temperatures persisting into next week. Most of England and Wales, along with parts of Scotland, will experience above-average temperatures.
RAC Advice
Sean Kimberlin, RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader, commented: 'With the weather looking like it may improve, millions are planning to make a getaway trip over the bank holiday weekend. The fact our research shows it's set to be the busiest late May bank holiday since 2024 demonstrates that even though fuel prices remain uncomfortably high, it takes a lot to stop drivers taking to the roads to make the most of a long weekend.' He urged drivers to ensure their cars are 'summer ready' by checking oil and coolant levels, and verifying that all tyres have adequate tread and are inflated to the correct pressure.
AA Predictions
The AA also anticipates a busy weekend due to warm weather, the start of half term, and the final round of Premier League fixtures. Based on 12,225 member responses, the AA suggests the getaway will be spread across the weekend, with around two-thirds of drivers travelling each day. Friday is expected to be the busiest with 23.4 million journeys, followed by Saturday with 22.8 million, and Sunday and Monday each with 22.4 million. These figures are higher than the RAC's because they include all journeys, including work-related trips.
Most bank holiday leisure trips are expected to be local or regional, with 53 to 55 per cent of drivers planning journeys of up to 50 miles each day. Shopping is the most common reason for travel, cited by 40 per cent of drivers, followed by visiting family or friends (39 per cent). Almost a quarter plan DIY or garden centre trips (23 per cent), while 22 per cent expect to travel for work. Leisure traffic will add to congestion risks, with 11 per cent planning day trips to attractions, 8 per cent heading to the coast, 7 per cent taking a UK holiday, and 7 per cent going away for a long weekend.
Likely Hotspots
Congestion hotspots include local routes around shopping centres, retail parks, and garden centres; roads serving popular seaside towns, national parks, ports, and airports; and routes towards the east coast, including resorts such as Skegness. Routes to the South West and Cornwall, including the A303, M5, and A38, are also expected to be busy, as is the M4 from London and routes to Wales, and the M6 towards Blackpool and the North West coast. Sunday may bring additional pressure around major football grounds due to the final round of Premier League fixtures starting at 4pm.
Lee Morley, AA expert patrol, said: 'A warm Bank Holiday weekend is exactly the kind of forecast that gets people thinking about a last-minute getaway, a day at the coast or a trip to see friends and family. When good weather arrives after an unsettled spell, people are often more willing to make spontaneous plans, so drivers should expect popular routes to get busy quickly.'
Fuel Prices
On Tuesday, the RAC revealed that petrol prices have surpassed the previous high of the Iran oil crisis. The average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts now stands at 158.5p, the highest since December 2022. Following the onset of the Middle East conflict on February 28, prices peaked at 158.3p on April 15. After a slight dip, prices began rising again in May. Yesterday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the extension of the 5p per litre fuel duty cut introduced by the Conservative government in March 2022, keeping the rate at nearly 53p per litre. Previously planned increases of 1p per litre on September 1 and two 2p rises on December 1 and March 1 have been scrapped. Due to Iran's restrictions on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the average price of petrol and diesel is 26p and 44p per litre higher, respectively, than before the conflict began.
