Britain's road network is preparing for its busiest summer getaway in four years, with an estimated 14.1 million motorists planning holiday or day trips between Friday, 11 July and Sunday, 13 July 2026. This figure marks the second-highest since the RAC began tracking data in 2016, surpassed only by the 18.8 million journeys recorded in 2022 following the easing of Covid restrictions. The surge coincides with the end of the academic year for most schools in England and Wales, with pupils in Scotland and Northern Ireland already on their summer break.
Saturday, 13 July 2026, is expected to be the peak travel day, with approximately 3.8 million getaway journeys planned. Friday and Sunday will also see substantial traffic, each with an estimated 3.4 million vehicles on the move. An additional 6.8 million trips are anticipated across the three-day period from drivers yet to decide their exact departure day. The RAC has warned that south-west and north-west England are particularly likely to experience heavy leisure traffic.
Drivers embarking on these journeys will face significantly higher fuel costs compared to a year ago. Filling a 55-litre family car now costs an additional £8.90 for petrol and £21.20 for diesel, based on current average prices. Transport analytics company Inrix has identified several likely congestion hotspots, including the M1 southbound from Junction 16 (Northampton) to Junction 6 (Watford), the M25 clockwise from Junction 15 (M4) to Junction 19 (Watford), and the M25 anticlockwise from Junction 17 (Maple Cross) to Junction 12 (M3). Other areas of concern include the M60 clockwise from Junction 7 (Altrincham) to Junction 18 (M62) and the M4 westbound from Junction 22 (the Severn Crossing) to Junction 35 (Bridgend).
Harriet Hernando, RAC breakdown spokesperson, suggests that many families are opting for UK holidays over overseas breaks this summer. She attributes this trend to factors such as potential flight disruption, delays at EU borders due to the new Entry Exit System (EES), and the ongoing squeeze on household budgets exacerbated by global events. Ms Hernando advises drivers to prepare for delays, consider travelling earlier or later in the day to avoid peak congestion, and carry essentials like water, sun cream, and an umbrella, especially given the potential for hot weather.
The EU’s Entry Exit System (EES), fully implemented in April 2026, requires non-EU citizens, including UK travellers, to have their fingerprints registered and a photograph taken upon entry to the Schengen Area. While primarily processed at foreign airports, the system is also in operation at key UK departure points such as the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel’s Folkestone terminal, and London St Pancras railway station. Despite widespread calls from the travel industry to suspend the system until September due to fears of worsening delays during the peak summer season, the EU has rejected these requests, leading to continued concerns for international travellers.