The worst traffic days around Christmas typically fall on the Friday and Saturday before Christmas Eve, as well as the afternoon of December 23rd. In 2025 and 2026, travel experts predict that December 19 and 20 will see the highest volume of leisure journeys as people finish work and head home. For those traveling on the holiday itself, Christmas Eve afternoon (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM) is notoriously congested with last-minute shoppers and family travelers. In the UK, the M25 near Heathrow and the M6 near Birmingham are major hotspots to avoid. Post-Christmas, December 27 is often chaotic as people return home or head to "Boxing Day" sales. In the US, the Wednesday before Christmas is also a peak day for airport traffic. To avoid the gridlock, the best strategy is to travel as early in the morning as possible (before 8:00 AM) or after 7:00 PM. Christmas Day itself is historically the quietest day on the roads, as most people have already reached their final destination for the celebrations.