Bank Holiday Traffic Chaos! Here’s How to Avoid It

Nearly 18 million drivers are expected to hit the road this August Bank Holiday – here’s when, where, and how you can dodge the jams

The Calm Before the Jam

It’s Thursday 21st August 2025, and we’re about to head into the last long Bank Holiday weekend until Christmas. Yes, brace yourselves – this is it, the final three-day hurrah before the tinsel comes out and you start panicking about where the year went. And, as ever, the great British tradition of the August getaway is alive and well. Whether you’re off to the seaside, visiting family, or making a break for the airports, one thing is guaranteed: traffic chaos.

According to the RAC and transport data crunchers INRIX, nearly 18 million leisure trips will be made across England and Wales between Friday and Monday. That’s enough cars to fill the M25 ten times over – and then some!

When Will the Roads Be Worst?

The RAC reckons 17.6 million leisure journeys are on the cards, peaking over the weekend:

• Friday 22 August: 3 million trips
• Saturday 23 August: 3.4 million trips (the busiest day!)
• Sunday 24 August: 2.4 million trips (a slight breather)
• Monday 25 August: 2.7 million trips

On top of that, another 6.1 million drivers are planning a journey at some point between Friday and Monday. In other words, if it’s got wheels, it’ll probably be stuck in traffic.

For context: last year saw a record 19.2 million trips. So yes, technically we’re down this year. But frankly, when you’re sandwiched between a caravan and a coach on the M5, that’s not going to be much comfort.

Where Will It Be Worst?

Two hot spots stand out like brake lights in the night:

• M5 (Bristol to Devon): Expect delays of 40+ minutes between Junctions 15 and 23 on both Friday and Saturday.
• M20 in Kent: Afternoon hold-ups of half an hour or more in both directions on Friday, between Maidstone (J7) and Swanley (J1).

So, if you’re heading South West for the coast, or South East for the ports, you’ve been warned.

Best and Worst Times to Travel

Timing is everything, and here’s the RAC’s cheat sheet:

• Friday 22 Aug: Worst 10am–7pm. Best after 7pm.
• Saturday 23 Aug: Worst 9am–5pm. Best before 9am.
• Sunday 24 Aug: Mostly clear.
• Monday 25 Aug: Worst 11am–6pm. Best before 11am.

So yes, early birds get the clear roads. Night owls too. Everyone else? Enjoy the car karaoke.

Nick Mullender of the RAC says:

“With nearly 18 million drivers planning getaway trips, major roads to airports and coastal destinations are going to be extremely busy, especially in the South East and South West. Set off early — or be prepared to spend longer in traffic.”

Translation: pack snacks, playlists, and patience.

My Take

I’ll be honest: the best plan is probably not to go anywhere. Sit at home, avoid the stress, and binge BrownCarGuy videos instead (shameless plug). But if you must head out, at least now you know when and where to avoid the worst.

So, tell me in the comments – where are you heading this Bank Holiday, and what’s your plan for dodging the jams?

Safe travels, enjoy the long weekend, and remember: traffic chaos might be inevitable, but getting caught in it is optional – if you’re smart.

---

If you found this useful, interesting or fun, consider supporting me via Patreon, Ko-Fi, or even grabbing a copy of one of my books on Amazon. Every bit helps me keep creating independent automotive content that actually helps people.

BrownCarGuy Books!

---

Support independent car journalism 🙏🏽☺️ grab my books on Amazon, take up membership to BrownCarGuy on YouTube, or join me on Ko-Fi or Patreon.

👉🏽 Channel membership: https://www.youtube.com/browncarguy/join
👉🏽 Buy me a Coffee! https://ko-fi.com/browncarguy
👉🏽 Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/BrownCarGuy

MY BOOKS ON AMAZON!
📖 Want to become an automotive journalist, content creator, or car influencer? Check out my book: How to be an Automotive Content Creator 👉🏽 https://amzn.eu/d/7VTs0ii
📖 Quantum Races – A collection of my best automotive sci-fi short stories! 👉🏽 https://amzn.eu/d/0Y93s9g
📖 The ULEZ Files – Debut novel – all-action thriller! 👉🏽 https://amzn.eu/d/d1GXZkO