A ‘Grinch-worthy’ getaway: record 37.5m journeys home for Christmas expected before the big day
The RAC is predicting the busiest Saturday getaway of any year since it first started recording drivers’ festive plans
The RAC is expecting this year’s festive getaway to be the busiest by far as the UK drives home for Christmas in its millions, with a massive 37.5m trips to see friends and family planned in the week running up to 25th December.*
The breakdown, servicing and repairs company has found this year’s figures are the highest since it began recording data in 2013, up by a massive 8m trips on the 29.3m estimated last year.
With Christmas falling mid-week in 2025, the numbers suggest drivers are keen to set off early to avoid an undoubtedly frantic weekend on the roads. Around 18% of getaway journeys, equating to 6.5m trips, will be made on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th December.
But the RAC expects the main wave of festive journeys to start on Friday 19th December with 3.6m trips planned, before escalating to 4.1m on ‘Snarl-up Saturday’ 20th December, making it the busiest Saturday of any Christmas getaway period since its records began in 2013. Approximately 3.5m journeys are expected on Sunday 21st while a further 5.3m trips are set to take place at some point between the 19th and 21st, although drivers are unsure exactly when they’ll travel.
According to the RAC’s research there will then be a slight lull in festive trips at the start of Christmas week – with Monday and Tuesday being normal working days for many people – when 3.1m and 3m journeys are planned respectively. However, volumes of traffic could be at their highest since COVID on Christmas Eve when 4.2m getaways are expected, making it the single busiest day for getaways over the period.The data also shows drivers are planning to make a further 4.2m journeys at some point between Monday 22nd and Christmas Eve.
Analysis from transport analytics experts INRIX suggests there will be lengthy delays at peak times on ‘Frantic Friday’ as drivers leave major cities for the Christmas break and share the roads with people finishing the working week. Queues of more than half an hour are expected from 4.30pm along the M25 clockwise from J15 for the M4 to J19 Watford and anticlockwise from J10 Kingston to J6 East Grinstead, as well as in Manchester on the M60 clockwise from J7 Altrincham to J18 for the M62 for Leeds.
On the same day, Wales looks set to see hold ups from 7.30am towards the Prince of Wales Bridge, with delays of more than half an hour expected along the M4 eastbound from Newport and the Brynglas Tunnels.
On the two busiest days over the getaway period – ‘Snarl-up Saturday’ and Christmas Eve – the RAC and INRIX are advising drivers to expect lengthy delays on major roads between 11am and 7pm, when most journeys will be made.
Leisure trips by car show no sign of easing on the Christmas bank holidays either, although the absence of regular commuter traffic and heavy goods vehicles should make journeys easier. Drivers are expecting to make 4.7m journeys to see friends and family on Christmas Day, 4.6m on Boxing Day and 4.1m on the 27th as they travel home or continue their celebrations elsewhere.
Rail engineering works could also force more people onto the roads as no trains will run from London Liverpool Street and London Waterloo stations, or between Cambridge to Cambridge North and Bury St Edmunds to Stansted Airport, all on 27th December. In Scotland, buses will replace trains in West Dunbartonshire from the 27th to New Year’s Eve, which may affect traffic in those areas.
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: “With record numbers predicted to be taking to the roads this Christmas, journeys have the potential to be ‘Grinch-worthy’ without some careful planning.
“The week before Christmas is one of the few times of year when most of the UK hits the road simultaneously, with 2025 looking to be the busiest getaway period since our records began. ‘Snarl-up Saturday’ will be especially busy amid journeys home and the final weekend for gift shopping, but it’s midweek Christmas Eve that takes the top spot, suggesting many drivers are saving their precious annual leave and making getaway journeys at the very last moment.
“This year motorists tell us the reliability and convenience of the car, the practicality of transporting passengers, presents and luggage, and the cost compared to catching trains or coaches are the main reasons for driving rather than using any alternative form of transport. Seasonal issues are also a factor in the decision, like fears about public transport being delayed or cancelled due to bad weather or engineering works.
“Perhaps more so than at any other time of year, festive journeys really matter to people – and with so many of us relying on our cars, it’s vital we make sure they’re ready for the road. Drivers can avoid a breakdown by checking their vehicles have enough oil and coolant, and that tyres are free of damage and inflated properly. If you realise your car needs something fixed before you travel, don’t hesitate to book an RAC mobile servicing and repair technician to repair any issues on your driveway.
“Then, to avoid traffic eating into festive fun with family and friends, make your journeys as early in the day as possible, or later in the evening once commuter trips have subsided.”
Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, said: “This festive break, the port is prepared to welcome nearly 30,000 cars heading to Europe. The weekend before Christmas is expected to be particularly busy, with peak traffic anticipated between 6am and 1pm from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st December.
“To help ensure a smooth departure, we kindly ask all customers travelling with our ferry partners not to arrive any earlier than two hours before their scheduled sailing, just as you would if departing from a UK airport and greatly appreciate everyone’s patience should there be any additional waiting time due to the high volumes of traffic.”
Colin Stevenson, Road Safety Information Lead at National Highways, said: “Christmas is all about spending time with family and friends, and the last thing anyone wants is a breakdown getting in the way of festive plans. Spending a few minutes checking tyres, lights, screenwash, fuel, and keeping an eye on the weather, can make a real difference.
“With so many people travelling, our teams are working around the clock to keep the country moving. We’ve got 530 gritters on standby and over 250,000 tonnes of salt in reserve and ready to use. We also plan to remove as many roadworks as possible, but some work will still need to continue. Drivers should check their route before they travel."
Ends
Notes to Editors
* Research conducted for the RAC by FindOutNow among 2,191 UK adults w/c 1 December 2025. A nationally representative survey. Figures extrapolated to 34m licensed cars
