Britain is heading into its busiest Christmas getaway ever, with millions of families expected to hit the roads over the coming days. At the same time, rail disruption will push even more people into their cars, adding to congestion nationwide.
The AA predicts traffic will peak on Friday before Christmas, when around 24.4 million cars are expected on UK roads. The RAC says a total of 37.5 million leisure car journeys are planned between now and Christmas Eve - the highest figure recorded since it began tracking data.
Traffic analysts at Inrix warn that Friday will be particularly challenging, as drivers leaving cities for Christmas breaks compete for road space with commuters. The worst delays are expected between 3pm and 8pm on weekdays, and from midday to early evening over the weekend and into next week.
Motorway hotspots to avoid
Severe congestion is expected on several major routes, including:
- M25 clockwise between Junctions 15–19 and 23–28
- M4 eastbound from Junction 29
- M6 northbound between Junctions 5–10A and 18–24
- M1 northbound between Junctions 22–26
- M60 clockwise between Junctions 7–18
Other pressure points include the M25 near Heathrow and Bluewater, the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow, the M4 around Cardiff and Newport, the M6 through the West Midlands, and key interchanges near Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol.
The AA says roads will remain busy well into next week. While Christmas Eve should see a slight dip to around 22.7 million journeys, about 18.3 million cars are still expected on the roads on Christmas Day.
The RAC forecasts that December 24 will be the busiest day for leisure travel alone, with 4.2 million festive trips planned.
Why congestion is getting worse
Surveys suggest that between 25% and 30% of drivers travelling before Christmas will be doing so for work, alongside last-minute shopping and family visits. Most drivers plan to stay relatively local, with the majority travelling less than 50 miles, which experts say will increase congestion around retail centres and motorway junctions.
Long-distance Christmas drives are becoming less common. Fewer than 5% of drivers expect to travel more than 100 miles in the days leading up to Christmas.
Extra pressure from road and rail closures
Adding to the disruption, the M27 will close in both directions between Junctions 9 and 11 from 8pm on Christmas Eve until 4am on January 4 for major works, affecting travel between Southampton and Portsmouth.
Rail engineering works will also push more people onto the roads. Major disruption is planned on the West Coast Main Line from December 27 into early January, with further closures affecting routes around Leeds, York, Cambridge, Stansted Airport, London Waterloo and parts of Scotland. As usual, the entire rail network will shut down on Christmas Day, with very limited services on Boxing Day.
Airports and ports also under pressure
UK airports are preparing for their busiest Christmas ever. Passenger numbers this December are expected to exceed 22 million, with Heathrow alone handling more than seven million travellers.
The Port of Dover expects nearly 30,000 cars to depart during the festive period, with peak traffic between 6am and 1pm from Friday to Sunday.
Official advice to drivers
AA patrol expert Shaun Jones urged motorists to plan ahead: “With more than 24 million cars expected on the roads on Friday, it’s beginning to look a lot like traffic. Check your route, allow extra time, and pack essentials. Keep fuel or EV charge topped up, and if your car is parked for a few days, start it occasionally to keep it in good shape.”
The RAC warned that without careful planning, festive journeys could quickly turn stressful. National Highways said it will remove as many roadworks as safely possible and has gritters, salt supplies and recovery teams ready to respond.
Their advice is simple: check tyres, lights, fuel, screenwash and the weather before setting off - and, where possible, avoid travelling at peak times.
