Get Ready for Gridlock: RAC Warns This May Bank Holiday Could Be the Busiest in Years

If you’re planning a road trip this May bank holiday, pack your patience. The RAC is warning that this long weekend could see the heaviest traffic since 2016, with more than 19 million leisure journeys expected between Friday and Monday. That’s despite high fuel prices and a forecast that threatens to wash out the sunny weather many had hoped for.

Nearly 40% of drivers surveyed said they’re still planning an overnight stay or day out, and only 6% said the recent spike in petrol costs—driven by tensions in the Middle East—has changed their minds. The RAC says Friday will be messy, with early holiday traffic mixing with commuters and school runs. But the worst jams are predicted late Saturday morning, especially on the M5 between Bristol and Taunton, where cars will clog up heading toward Devon and Cornwall.

If the rain arrives as predicted, some drivers may scrap their plans altogether. But those who stick it out on the roads will still face delays. Rail passengers won’t have it much easier. Major engineering works will shut parts of the network, including the East Coast Main Line between York and Darlington from Saturday through Monday, adding hours to journeys from London to Edinburgh and Newcastle. Liverpool Lime Street will be closed all day Sunday and until noon Monday. London’s Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations will also shut for the same period. Works near Bath Spa, Huddersfield, and Ely will cause further disruption.

Network Rail’s Anit Chandarana says bank holidays are still among the quietest times for the railway, so major work is scheduled then. His advice: “Plan ahead and check before you travel.”