Friday or Saturday travelling South?

[biscuitdunkerette]

We’re planning a drive to Dorset from Scotland later this month and trying to figure out if traffic would be better (or worse) on a Friday or Saturday. Or will it just all be Hell and not make much difference? Planning on leaving very early a.m. and tanking it down.

Who is we? I'd consider and overnight drive, maybe leaving at 9pm though I would double check for any motorway closures.

Friday everyone will be driving down for the weekend, once you get to near London the motorway can be a nightmare. I would do an overnight trip but it's a very long way all in one go, whereabouts in Dorset are you heading to and how far North in Scotland.

Hadn’t thought of overnight - thanks.
Family of 4, two early teens. Travelling from Edinburgh to Lulworth. We’d be going down the M6, M5 so would be avoiding London.

Avoid Bristol from about 4.30pm - 6pm. All 3 motorways in the area are like a car park, especially on a Friday or when schools break up (3rd week of July).

I live not far from Lulworth and I go to Liverpool for work fairly regularly. Saturday is much worse in holiday season because most accommodation is Saturday start. If you can plan to arrive in Dorset by 4 on Friday you'll be fine.

Oh... and if you need a petrol stop I can recommend M5 J2 where there's Asda petrol very cheap!

Can't speak about your particular route but I always prefer to drive on a weekend - much less freight on the roads. IME Friday is just as common a changeover day as Saturday for accommodation.

Why don't you leave late afternoon on the Friday and stay in a travelodge about 4 or 5 hours south, makes the next day much easier.

Thanks very much for your responses. Sounds like Friday might be slightly better, and we will heed the advice re Bristol timing.

Think we’ll start really early and just tank it down. I would be too sleepy driving overnight…was never able to do the late night essay thing at Uni!

Thanks again folks.

We’re going to Devon on Saturday from Yorkshire and planning a 3.30am set off time.
Hope it works!

What does 'tank it down' mean? You've used that phrase twice now and I've never heard it before.

@Shapesorted

What does 'tank it down' mean? You've used that phrase twice now and I've never heard it before.

It's a Scottish phrase for 'go at a brisk pace'.

Ah ok! Thank you

Can also be applied to beer etc

I'd overnight it. We are doing the opposite next week London to Edinburgh and are doing overnight

I’d probably set off really early Friday if I could. Bristol on wards will be a nightmare in the afternoon, but shouldn’t be too bad earlier in the day.

Love lulworth. Have a great time.

If you leave early on a Friday morning it’s all in the timing so you don’t get stuck in rush hour traffic around the NW. if you leave Edinburgh too early it becomes counter productive. 6am is reasonable, get a clear run out of Edinburgh, stop for breakfast (tebay maybe) and let rush hour pass before you get south of Preston.