What time does the M25 get busy on a weekday?
Discussion
I have to catch a ferry on a Monday morning at 0800 from Dover. I will be coming down the M40 so will join the M25 at J16 and then head off to Dover down the M20. If I were to arrive at the M25 j16 at say 0530, would the motorway be busy and would I be slowed down, or would I be OK to get down to Dover for about 0715?
zebedee said:
I have to catch a ferry on a Monday morning at 0800 from Dover. I will be coming down the M40 so will join the M25 at J16 and then head off to Dover down the M20. If I were to arrive at the M25 j16 at say 0530, would the motorway be busy and would I be slowed down, or would I be OK to get down to Dover for about 0715?
I leave the house near reading at 0530 and get to Southend by 0700 ... I know it's the other way, but gives you an idea of 'time' ... I'd say you'd just about make it, but Dover can be busy getting down the hill ..
Normal day: if you hit the M25/M40 junction by 5:15am and go South, you'll be checked in for 7-7:30. Much later and you could struggle through Dover to be honest (lots of trucks queuing that time of day). I do this journey fairly frequently and it's not too bad - easy to underestimate just how far it is off the M25 though. Very boring and longer than expected from M25 J5 down to Dover...
Edited by john_r on Monday 26th February 13:26
I live not far from there.
The M25 peak hours are 7am to about 9.30am and 5pm to 7.30pm. After that it depends on any knock-on from accidents. I've driven back from the M3 at 10.30pm and the M25 to M4 is largely empty, wish it was at rush hour.
I've got on the M25 at J16 at 6am going to Gatwick and it's been ok and flowing nicely.
Personally to get to Dover for 8am, I'd be looking at getting on the M25 no later than 5.30am to buy yourself a little leeway.
The M25 peak hours are 7am to about 9.30am and 5pm to 7.30pm. After that it depends on any knock-on from accidents. I've driven back from the M3 at 10.30pm and the M25 to M4 is largely empty, wish it was at rush hour.
I've got on the M25 at J16 at 6am going to Gatwick and it's been ok and flowing nicely.
Personally to get to Dover for 8am, I'd be looking at getting on the M25 no later than 5.30am to buy yourself a little leeway.
One piece of advice. Check beforehand that "operation stack" is not in force. This usually occurs if there are any problems with cross channel traffic (strikes/weather etc) and involves closing a section of the M20 to use it as a lorry park.
If this is in force, use the M2.
M25 is usually OK at 06:00.
If this is in force, use the M2.
M25 is usually OK at 06:00.
towie said:
One piece of advice. Check beforehand that "operation stack" is not in force. This usually occurs if there are any problems with cross channel traffic (strikes/weather etc) and involves closing a section of the M20 to use it as a lorry park.
If this is in force, use the M2.
M25 is usually OK at 06:00.
If this is in force, use the M2.
M25 is usually OK at 06:00.
I was driving back from the tunnel during the last big one.
The southbound M20 was unbelievable. I'd counted 100 lorries before I gave up. There were literally hundreds of them.
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