Fuel price mayhem ignored as millions of drivers prepare to travel over Easter bank holiday

Hemma Visavadia
Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:02 +0000

Millions of motorists across the UK are set to take to the roads this Easter weekend despite rapidly climbing fuel costs, making travel more expensive.

Research shows that around 21 million leisure journeys are expected to be taken over the roads during the four-day weekend.

New data from the RAC and traffic analysts INRIX revealed this will be the most congested Easter getaway since 2022, when restrictions from the pandemic were first fully lifted.

The figures showed more than one million additional trips compared to last year, as drivers refuse to let surging pump prices derail their holiday plans.

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Fuel costs have been driven sharply upward by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which began on February 28, yet the vast majority of motorists are pressing ahead with their travel arrangements regardless.

The latest RAC data found that the average price of petrol is 152.01p, although this rapidly increased to 167.91p across motorway services, while diesel prices have spiked to 181.20p across the UK.

Many schools will break up on Thursday, April 2, which will result in around 2.3 million trips, followed by a peak of 3.3 million leisure journeys on Good Friday.

Easter Sunday sees a slight dip to 2.3 million journeys before numbers climb again on Monday, April 6, with a further three million trips as holidaymakers head home.

An additional 6.7 million journeys are planned at some point during the extended weekend, though drivers have yet to settle on specific dates.

Early weather forecasts suggesting warmer conditions could prompt even more spontaneous trips over the holiday period.

Filling a typical family diesel vehicle this Easter will set drivers back at least £19 more than it did on Good Friday last year, while petrol costs have risen by nearly £8 per tank, with further increases anticipated.

Despite these significant price hikes, RAC research indicates that relatively few motorists are altering their plans.

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While 31 per cent of drivers report growing anxiety about escalating fuel expenses linked to the Middle East conflict, just six per cent intend to cover shorter distances as a result, while the same number will avoid travelling altogether.

This means the overwhelming majority of motorists have been absorbing the additional expense rather than cancelling or scaling back their Easter travel arrangements.

On Thursday afternoon, the M4 westbound towards Bridgend may experience queues, adding 75 minutes to journeys during the evening.

Good Friday is expected to bring sustained pressure on major routes from 10am until 7pm, with the M5 southbound towards Bridgwater potentially adding over 50 minutes to lunchtime journeys.

On Saturday, motorists should avoid the 10am to midday window, when the M40 northbound approaching the M42 interchange could see journey times quadruple.

RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Sean Kimberlin said: "Despite fuel prices rising dramatically due to the conflict in the Middle East, our research suggests Easter remains incredibly important to people as it's often the first chance to get away since Christmas or to meet up with friends and family."

The Port of Dover is also bracing for approximately 37,000 vehicles between April 2 and 19, with chief executive Doug Bannister urging travellers not to arrive more than two hours before their scheduled ferry departure.

National Highways said it will also implement Operation Brock from April 1 to 7, directing lorries bound for Dover into a dedicated lane at junction 8 of the M20.