The figure marks a million more planned drives than the same weekend in 2024, with the study suggesting Friday 2nd May will be the busiest day of the weekend with as many as 3 million journeys expected to be made.
Saturday 3rd and Monday 5th will see around 2.9m and 2.8m respective journeys made. Sunday 5th is expected to be the quietest day on the roads with 2.4m UK road trips scheduled, although drivers are planning an additional 6m journeys at some point between Friday and Monday.
The high figures come despite the four-day Easter weekend being just two weeks ago. The most popular reason for getting away this weekend is to see family and friends, with 34% of those surveyed citing that reason. Shopping and running errands will make up 17% of the journeys, with short breaks calculated at around 10%.
The data from transport analytics specialist INRIX, highlights Friday as the day with the biggest expectation of congestion at nearly a third (28%) more than a normal Friday. The worst of the traffic jams are likely to be later in the afternoon and Friday evening.
Hotspots of congestion will likely include the M25 clockwise from South Mimms interchange to Essex, with delays of 40 minutes expected from 4pm as commuter traffic combines with holiday trips.
Elsewhere, the M5 southbound is expected to see similar delays from 7pm between the J15 Almondsbury interchange at Bristol and J23 for Bridgwater.
INRIX and the RAC advise drivers to travel before 10am on Friday if they can, or before 11am or after 3pm if travelling on Saturday, Sunday or the Monday bank holiday.
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Although the Easter break was just two weeks ago, our figures suggest this weekend will still be hectic on the roads as millions take advantage of another bank holiday.
"This week’s very warm weather may not last right into the weekend, but with lots of daylight hours there’s still plenty of opportunity to get out and about. For drivers that have a choice, it’s best to avoid Friday evening as that’s when leisure traffic will clash with commuter journeys.
“Careful preparation is crucial to reduce the chance of a breakdown. It takes just minutes to check that a vehicle’s oil, coolant and screenwash are all at the right levels before your trip, and it’s equally important to ensure all tyres are damage-free, have plenty of tread and are inflated properly. Anyone towing a caravan or trailer should check over these tyres as well.
“If you face a flat battery or a problem with your brakes on your journey, there’s no need to waste precious minutes of your holiday looking for a local garage. An RAC Mobile Mechanic can be booked to repair your vehicle on the driveway of your accommodation, completing any fixes you might need and any diagnostic checks.”
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