Motorists are being warned to prepare for one of the busiest Easter getaways since 2022, with more than 19 million leisure journeys expected over the upcoming bank holiday weekend.
New research from the RAC and traffic analytics specialists INRIX suggests severe congestion on key routes across the UK network.
The Easter weekend is set to see the highest number of getaway trips planned in three years, with traffic issues starting today.
Traffic will be equally severe on Thursday, April 17, Good Friday and Saturday, April 19, with drivers planning around 2.7 million trips each day during that period.
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Drivers are being warned of traffic chaos over the Easter weekend with millions hitting the road
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The number of journeys drops slightly to 2.5 million on Easter Sunday, before increasing again to 2.7 million on bank holiday Monday as millions return home before schools restart.
An additional 6.2 million journeys are anticipated at some point over the weekend, with drivers still unsure exactly when they'll travel.
Today, Thursday, April 17, is expected to be the worst day for traffic, with jams likely to increase by nearly a third (30 per cent) more than usual, according to INRIX.
Delays of more than an hour are predicted on the 35-mile clockwise stretch of the M25 between J7 for Gatwick Airport and J16 for the M40 around 11.45am.
Good Friday will see the lengthiest hold-ups between 11am to 1pm, with drivers advised to start their journeys early or delay until later in the afternoon.
Two popular routes to the West Country could face significant jams. The A303 westbound to Stonehenge may see delays extending to 43 minutes.
The M5 southbound between J15 at the RAC tower north of Bristol and J23 for Bridgwater could experience delays of one hour 20 minutes - more than half as long as usual.
Elsewhere, the M25 anticlockwise between J4 from Bromley and the Dartford Crossing will experience queues at lunchtime. Journey times on this stretch are expected to take over half an hour longer than normal.
RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: "Although journey numbers are still very high, we're anticipating more day trips and weekend breaks than people heading off on one and two-week stints, reflected by INRIX's predictions that the worst delays will be along routes from Gatwick to the rest of the country.
"This could lead to a 'hat-trick of hold-ups' on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as drivers visit family and friends.
"Drivers shouldn't expect to escape the queues if they don't plan the best time to set off. It's always best to travel as early as possible in the morning or later in the day when most of the traffic has eased."
National Highways' traffic contraflow system, "Operation Brock", will remain in place throughout the Easter weekend until April 22 on the M20, while the Port of Dover is forecasting a busy day on Thursday with around 5,000 outbound cars expected.
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The worst traffic delays expected over the Easter weekend this week
RAC
Port of Dover Chief Executive Doug Bannister advises passengers to "travel to the port by the main routes only and arrive no more than two hours ahead of their scheduled sailing".
Despite predicted jams and cooler weather, motorists might benefit from lower fuel prices, as oil prices have been pushed down due to talk of trade tariffs.
