With Glastonbury just around the corner, thousands are getting ready to descend on Worthy Farm — but the RAC has a word of warning: don’t let a breakdown ruin your weekend.
Whether you’re driving a petrol car or an EV, make sure you check your brakes, clutch, oil, and battery before you set off. And EV drivers, don’t forget to plan your charge around the long queues, not just the journey itself.
If you're hitting the road on Tuesday night, brace yourself. Major routes like the M4, M5, A303, and the roads leading into Pilton could get seriously jammed even before the car parks open at 9pm. Last year, traffic on the M5 near Puriton more than doubled between 8–9pm. And if you’re coming from Wiltshire on the M4, expect the route to the A361 to crawl.
Best time to arrive? Before sunrise
On Wednesday, your best shot at a smooth arrival is to get in super early — ideally before 7am. Between 7am and 2pm, it’s peak carnage. In 2024, traffic from Bristol down the A37 saw 30-minute delays from 10am, which turned into two-hour queues by the afternoon. And that’s before you’ve even joined the queue for the car park.
Top tip: aim for the Blue Route (A303 > A37) if you can. It’s usually quicker and less congested. Try to avoid the A39 — that’s where you’ll find the longest queues getting into the site.
Leaving on Monday? It’s going to be rough
Once the weekend's over and the hangover's in full swing, more than 210,000 people will all try to get home on the same day — Monday 30 June. From 8am to 5pm, the roads will be madness. RAC data shows that last year, it took 90 minutes longer than usual to get back to the M5 between noon and 3pm.
If you can face it, the quietest time to leave is between 1am and 7am Monday morning — but obviously, don’t drive if you’re tired or still feeling the effects of the weekend. No festival is worth risking your safety for.
Common reasons cars broke down last year
According to the RAC team on site in 2024, most callouts were caused by:
- Overheating clutches from stop-start traffic
- Flat tyres
- Worn brakes
- Low oil levels
- EVs running out of charge before they could leave the site
EV drivers, take note. Many people made it to Glasto but didn’t account for hours of crawling traffic and ended up with a dead battery when it was time to go. There will be chargers on site, but queues are long and spaces are limited. Best bet? Top up before you hit the local roads around the farm so you’ve got enough charge to get to a proper rapid charger on your way home.
Quick prep tips from the RAC:
- Check oil, coolant, and tyre tread
- Get your battery tested if your car’s been temperamental
- Don’t ride the clutch in traffic — you’ll wear it out
- Use Zapmap to find EV charge points
So whether you're heading down in a beat-up old hatchback or a shiny EV, a little prep now means fewer tears (and repair bills) later.
