Easter traffic cheat sheet: when to travel and what routes to avoid

Busiest Easter road traffic for eight years expected

M6 and M25 to be worst hit by holiday traffic

Worst days to travel are Good Friday and Easter Monday, while Easter Saturday and Sunday will be quieter for travelling

Easy car maintenance checks ahead of Easter road trip

Cuvva, the leading flexible car insurance provider, shares an essential guide to road travel this Easter, including the best days to travel on, routes to avoid and car maintenance tips to keep you safe on the roads over the first long weekend of 2022. 

Traditionally, the Easter weekend has always been a busy period for travel, but after a few quieter Easter breaks in a row, in the last few years, 2022’s upcoming long weekend is set to be particularly crowded on roads across the UK with more than a whopping 21 million journeys anticipated. 

Best and worst days and times to travel

Breaking down data from RAC and INRIX shows exactly when drivers should and shouldn’t hit the road. 

Good Friday is the busiest day on the UK’s roads each Easter, and this year looks no different. Monday, April 18 is expected to be the second-busiest day, while Saturday and Sunday will be quieter. 

Worst and best days to travel, according to the number of trips expected:

• Friday, 15th April: 4.62 million trips
• Monday, 18th April: 3.96 million trips
• Saturday, 16th April: 3.63 million trips
• Sunday, 17th April: 3.63 million trips

Worst time of day to travel:

• Friday, 15th April: 9.30am – 7:00pm
• Saturday, 16th April: 10:00am – 2:00pm
• Sunday, 17th April: 10:00am – 2:00pm 
• Monday, 18th April: 12:00pm – 2.30pm

Quieter time of day to travel: 

• Friday, 15th April: before 9:00am or after 7:30pm
• Saturday, 16th April: after 3:00pm
• Sunday, 17th April: after 3:00pm
• Monday, 18th April: before 10.30am or after 6.30pm

Routes to avoid

It’ll come as no surprise that motorways up and down the country will be taking the brunt of the Easter traffic. However, some roads look like they’ll be worse hit than others. 

Roads to avoid:

• The M6 north between Liverpool and the Lake District
• M6 south towards Stoke-on-Trent
• M25 between Surrey and the M40 exit
• A303 near Stonehenge 
• M3 north to Basingstoke

Andy Tomlinson, COO at Cuvva says: “If you’ve planned a trip this upcoming long weekend and are travelling by car, set off early in the morning to enjoy a relaxing journey, while the roads are quieter. 

“It’s now as easy to get insured on someone else’s car as it is your own, which means you can share the long drive with passengers with instant policies, starting from one hour.”

Tips before you head off on your Easter break

Cuvva shares top tips to help you make sure you’re prepared before you set off, especially with the added risk of being caught in severe traffic over Easter. 

There are several simple, yet critical, car checks you should do if you’re planning an Easter getaway:

Fuel – make sure you have plenty of fuel, and remember that motorway services can charge around 30p more per litre than a non-motorway petrol station

Oil – check your oil levels

Coolant – check you are topped up

Tyres – ensure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure, especially if your car is packed with all your holiday paraphernalia and that the tread is at least 3mm deep. Don’t forget to check the spare too. 

Lights – make sure your lights are all in working order

Wiper blades & screenwash – check your blades clear your windscreen properly and your screenwash has been topped up 

Jumper cables – double check your jumper cables are still in the boot of your car 

Some essential passenger checks for a safe journey: 

Mobile phone – make sure your phone is fully charged before you set off, and that you have the appropriate hands-free equipment

Sat Nav – with petrol stations, destination and other stop offs programmed in

Insurance and breakdown cover details – keep them in a handy place

Share the drive – download an insurance app before you head off and share a long drive by insuring another driver from an hour with a temporary policy

Water or juice – remain hydrated, especially travelling long distance

Snacks – who doesn’t love a treat? 

First Aid – this is essential 

Entertainment – if you have children with you, don’t forget to pack something to keep them happy; the “are we there yet?” can rapidly increase your stress levels!