| Easter bank holiday weekend set to be busiest on roads in four years - 2026 Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:19, 30th March 2026 |     |
From the BBC:
Easter bank holiday weekend set to be busiest on roads in four years
This Easter weekend is set to be the busiest on the roads since 2022 with almost 21 million trips planned, despite fears over rising fuel prices.
Traffic levels are expected to be "consistently high" over the long weekend, according to research by the RAC and traffic information supplier Inrix, with over a million more trips planned than last year.
The increase in car journeys is likely to be due to the number of people choosing to stay in the UK rather than head abroad this year, experts at the AA suggested.
Some 12.5 million Brits are planning an overnight trip within the UK this Easter, which is more than the 7.4 million who are set to travel abroad, according to VisitEngland.
Lee Morley, AA expert patrol, told the BBC: "Some people may have changed their plans from travelling overseas and therefore travelling closer to home." He added that there had also been a steady rise in the number of journeys each year since the relaxation of Covid restrictions.
This year, 1.9 million more Brits have planned an overnight trip in the UK for Easter weekend than last year, VisitEngland said. However, 5.1 million people told the tourist board that they were undecided, with the top reasons being the weather and finances.
Traffic is set to be at its busiest on Good Friday, according to the RAC, although levels are expected to be consistently high from Thursday, when many schools break up. Drivers have been advised to set off early in the morning, as congestion is likely to be at its worst from 10:00 BST each day between Thursday and Saturday, and on Easter Monday.
Concerns about rising fuel costs have been raised over recent weeks, with almost a third of drivers increasingly worried about the cost of petrol as the war in the Middle East continues, according to a study by the RAC. However, this has had little impact of the amount of people taking trips this Easter.
Sean Kimberlin, RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader, said: "While a significant number of drivers are concerned about rising fuel prices, a much smaller contingent are actually changing their plans this Easter as a result."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has addressed concerns of petrol rationing, telling motorists that there was "no need to do anything other than what is normal". He added that petrol stations are "well-stocked nationally and any suggestion otherwise is incorrect".
The Port of Dover is expecting large numbers of travellers to pass through it this Easter
Rail travel will be relatively quiet over Easter weekend, according to Network Rail. The majority of routes will be open, but there is some work planned which is set to impact services.
Routes affected include:
Jake Kelly, Network Rail regional director for North West and Central, said bank holidays were "among the least busy times on the railway".
Ferries, meanwhile, are expected to be busy this weekend. The Port of Dover is preparing for an increase of traffic, and is set to welcome some 37,000 cars through the port between Thursday and Sunday. The port's chief executive Doug Bannister urged passengers not to arrive any earlier than two hours before their scheduled departure time to ensure a "smooth" process.
(BBC article continues)
This Easter weekend is set to be the busiest on the roads since 2022 with almost 21 million trips planned, despite fears over rising fuel prices.
Traffic levels are expected to be "consistently high" over the long weekend, according to research by the RAC and traffic information supplier Inrix, with over a million more trips planned than last year.
The increase in car journeys is likely to be due to the number of people choosing to stay in the UK rather than head abroad this year, experts at the AA suggested.
Some 12.5 million Brits are planning an overnight trip within the UK this Easter, which is more than the 7.4 million who are set to travel abroad, according to VisitEngland.
Lee Morley, AA expert patrol, told the BBC: "Some people may have changed their plans from travelling overseas and therefore travelling closer to home." He added that there had also been a steady rise in the number of journeys each year since the relaxation of Covid restrictions.
This year, 1.9 million more Brits have planned an overnight trip in the UK for Easter weekend than last year, VisitEngland said. However, 5.1 million people told the tourist board that they were undecided, with the top reasons being the weather and finances.
Traffic is set to be at its busiest on Good Friday, according to the RAC, although levels are expected to be consistently high from Thursday, when many schools break up. Drivers have been advised to set off early in the morning, as congestion is likely to be at its worst from 10:00 BST each day between Thursday and Saturday, and on Easter Monday.
Concerns about rising fuel costs have been raised over recent weeks, with almost a third of drivers increasingly worried about the cost of petrol as the war in the Middle East continues, according to a study by the RAC. However, this has had little impact of the amount of people taking trips this Easter.
Sean Kimberlin, RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader, said: "While a significant number of drivers are concerned about rising fuel prices, a much smaller contingent are actually changing their plans this Easter as a result."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has addressed concerns of petrol rationing, telling motorists that there was "no need to do anything other than what is normal". He added that petrol stations are "well-stocked nationally and any suggestion otherwise is incorrect".
The Port of Dover is expecting large numbers of travellers to pass through it this Easter
Rail travel will be relatively quiet over Easter weekend, according to Network Rail. The majority of routes will be open, but there is some work planned which is set to impact services.
Routes affected include:
- London Euston to Milton Keynes
- Preston to Carlisle
- Carlisle to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh
- London Waterloo to Clapham Junction and around Winchester
- Margate to Herne Bay and Ramsgate
Jake Kelly, Network Rail regional director for North West and Central, said bank holidays were "among the least busy times on the railway".
Ferries, meanwhile, are expected to be busy this weekend. The Port of Dover is preparing for an increase of traffic, and is set to welcome some 37,000 cars through the port between Thursday and Sunday. The port's chief executive Doug Bannister urged passengers not to arrive any earlier than two hours before their scheduled departure time to ensure a "smooth" process.
(BBC article continues)
