Can I drive to Dover ?

[swanseaboydan]

Advice please chaps - I’ve heard of all the queues and traffic around Dover - is that just for trucks ? Can I still drive there in the car to pick someone up from the ferry terminal ?Or will I be sat in traffic for hours ?

[Doofus]

swanseaboydan said:

Advice please chaps - I’ve heard of all the queues and traffic around Dover - is that just for trucks ? Can I still drive there in the car to pick someone up from the ferry terminal ?Or will I be sat in traffic for hours ?

A chap on the telly today said tourist traffic was flowing freely; it's just the freight that's stacked up.

[georgeyboy12345]

Avoid the M20 & M2 you should be ok

[vikingaero]

Yes! It's strange sometimes. I've been to Dover and Folkestone 4 or 5 times over the last 2 weeks. When the M20 was open and you looked at Google Maps, it shows the M20 as red for miles, yet that was caused by Maps picking up all the stationary HGV drivers.

Just check the M2 and M20. If they are both fecked then my advice would be:

From Maidstone take the A274 to Sutton Valence, Headcorn, Biddenden; then the A262 to High Halden & Bethersden, then the A28 to Ashford. Try and cut across to Kingsnorth/Sevington to access the M20 or A20 to Dover. This is the route my colleague who lives in Sevington takes. Just allow plenty of time.

If the port is busy, and the person doesn't have much luggage, get them to walk to the Premier Inn on Marine Parade.

Edited by vikingaero on Saturday 9th April 13:37

[Panamax]

At lunchtime Sky News said people who try to get to Dover via back roads will be turned back by the rozzers to join whatever is the appropriate main road queue. Whether it's true or not I can't say.

[Digger]

Panamax said:

At lunchtime Sky News said people who try to get to Dover via back roads will be turned back by the rozzers to join whatever is the appropriate main road queue. Whether it's true or not I can't say.

I'm sure if the OP were to explain his reasoning for being there (another thread) then I am certain he would be let through.

[swanseaboydan]

All good advice - thanks guys

[swanseaboydan]

Is there anywhere that is easier to get to by car ? Even if it means getting in a train for An hour from Dover ? It’s such a long drive and missing the chaotic traffic round Dover would help

[greygoose]

Panamax said:

At lunchtime Sky News said people who try to get to Dover via back roads will be turned back by the rozzers to join whatever is the appropriate main road queue. Whether it's true or not I can't say.

That is for freight vehicles only.

[zsdom]

swanseaboydan said:

Is there anywhere that is easier to get to by car ? Even if it means getting in a train for An hour from Dover ? It’s such a long drive and missing the chaotic traffic round Dover would help

Can get a train to Ashford, Canterbury, Maidstone all within an hr & should avoid Dover

[vikingaero]

zsdom said:

swanseaboydan said:

Is there anywhere that is easier to get to by car ? Even if it means getting in a train for An hour from Dover ? It’s such a long drive and missing the chaotic traffic round Dover would help

Can get a train to Ashford, Canterbury, Maidstone all within an hr & should avoid Dover

It's about 30 mins to walk from Dover Eastern Docks where the ferries dock to Dover Priory station - all fairly flat. I think the Stagecoach 63 bus runs from the docks to the station.

I live in Maidstone and I would suggest picking them up from Maidstone East station as it's the start of the mayhem at J7/8. If you want a quieter station then Bearsted (the stop before Maidstone East) is a rural-ish station and you could loiter without too much threat of traffic wardens (the station car park is pay, but loads of people enter to drop off/pickup). Both Ashford and Canterbury are in the thick of the traffic jams - if you plan on these 2 places then you may as well travel to Dover!