Exact time to travel this weekend to avoid busiest Easter getaway in EIGHT YEARS with 21.5million journeys planned

DRIVERS are facing travel chaos with the Easter weekend predicted to be the busiest for EIGHT years.

The RAC is warning motorists to take care ahead of potential motorway gridlocks as a record 21.5million drivers prepare to take to the roads.

It has also said it will be the highest number of cars on the road for the four-day weekend since they started tracking motorist’s plans over Easter in 2014. 

They have also urged drivers to try to travel after 7.30pm in order to avoid the worst of the congestion. 

Research has shown Good Friday is set to be the busiest of the bank holiday days, with 4.62 million trips planned. 

Easter Monday will see just under 4million trips and a further 7.2million people are planning to travel on Saturday and Sunday. 

The worst spots for congestion include the M6 north between Junction 26 and Junction 36, the M25 clockwise from Junction 8 to Junction 16 and the A303 near Stonehenge. 

Another RAC tip to avoiding congestion is to leave before 9am, with more than 500 engineering works taking place on vast swathes of northern rail routes. 

This will put added pressure on the roads as thousands of football fans plan to travel to London for the FA Cup clash between Manchester City and Liverpool on Saturday. 

Members of the Just Stop Oil group have also pledged to cause as much disruption as possible in the next week in central London, adding to travel woes. 

RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: "After two years of relatively quiet Easter bank holidays on the roads, our research suggests a return to traffic levels that are much more typical of this time of year.

"It's very possible this weekend could turn out to be one of the busiest for leisure journeys for many years.

"Add in the impact of disruption on the rail network and one of the biggest fixtures of the sporting calendar taking place this weekend, and you have all the ingredients needed for problems on the roads.

"Traffic volumes will likely be even higher if some warm spring sunshine makes an appearance.

"This is even more important for anyone travelling longer distances than they have for several months.

"A breakdown is much less likely if a car's oil and coolant levels, as well as tyre pressure and tread depth, have all been checked before setting out."

In addition to traffic jams, motorists also face the most expensive Easter on record when it comes to fuel prices.

Latest Government figures show the average cost of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on April 4 was 161.9p, with diesel at 176.0p.

There could also be diesel or petrol shortages due to protesting eco-warriors blocking off fuel terminals, slowing down deliveries.

Disruption is also expected across other modes of transport over the Easter weekend.

Several airlines and airports are struggling to cope with staff sickness and shortages, with thousands of flights cancelled by easyJet and British Airways in recent weeks.

Manchester Airport is warning departing passengers to expect delays of up to 90 minutes.

Rail passengers are being warned of delays as Network Rail carries out 530 engineering projects costing a total of £83 million.

The West Coast Main Line will be closed between London Euston and Milton Keynes between Good Friday and Easter Monday due to upgrades of the existing line and HS2 work.

Large traffic queues are likely to continue on roads in Kent due to a shortage of cross-Channel sailings caused by the suspension of operations by P&O Ferries after it sacked nearly 800 workers.

The company hopes to resume services this week pending regulatory approval.