Best and worst times to leave on your Easter road trip

If you’re hoping for a stress-free getaway, make sure you don’t travel on this day. This is when you should considering leaving instead.

It’s that time of year again; the one we look forward to and also despair about in almost equal doses.

Because along with the public holidays and much-valued extra time we gain with our families – and the copious amounts of Easter chocolate – comes the inevitable traffic nightmare we have to deal with to travel pretty much anywhere.

But what if you could avoid the worst of the gridlock and spend more time actually relaxing with your loved ones?

It is possible, and the secret is all in the timing.

NSW and Sydney Easter traffic

In Sydney, the pre-Easter peak started on Thursday morning and will be heaviest leaving the city in the afternoon and evening, the state’s transport department predicts. Also, around 10am on Good Friday is another peak time to avoid.

So for those wanting to know a good time to leave, early on Friday morning could be a good chance to avoid congestion.

“Transport for NSW will have traffic management initiatives in place at the major known pinch points, but travellers should still be prepared to experience delays,” the NSW government said.

“There may also be other corridors in regional NSW that could experience higher than normal traffic volumes during the Easter holidays.”

Expected chokepoints in NSW are the major roads heading out of Sydney such as the M1 Pacific Motorway, Great Western Highway, Hume Motorway, Princes Highway, Hume, Princes, Kings, Great Western and Pacific highways in the regions.

Travellers are also warned that maintenance work will take place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge across the long weekend.

Travellers should avoid the peak times.

Melbourne and Victoria Easter traffic

The congestion begins from 3pm on Thursday in Victoria and remains until around 9pm, when it starts to ease. The following day, it begins to build from around 7am and reaches a peak between 11am and midday.

The traffic continues to hold steady before easing around 7pm on Good Friday, according to the state’s Department of Transport

“With millions of people set to travel on roads around the state over the Easter weekend, we ask that drivers plan ahead, ensure they’re well rested, eliminate distractions and never drive while affected by drugs or alcohol,” the spokesperson said.

The Melbourne roads that are likely to be busy on Thursday and Friday include West Gate Freeway, Princes Freeway, Western Freeway, Maroonday Highway and Monash Freeway.

The West Gate freeway will be affected. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Queensland and Brisbane Easter traffic

Meanwhile, in Brisbane traffic begins to become busier from midday on Thursday, especially along the Bruce Highway and Pacific Motorway. On Good Friday the gridlock begins from 10am, with the peak continuing until about 2pm.

Driving outside of peak time is best, the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) said. So ideally people should pick times that are not between midmorning or midafternoon. This makes early morning a better idea if possible.

“If you plan on hitting the road for the Easter break, our advice is to allow as much time as possible for delays and aim to drive outside of peak hours if you can,” RACQ Traffic and Engineering Manager Greg Miszkowycz said.

“Traffic can be frustrating, but we must keep a cool head and not let it get the better of us, and the best way to do that is to leave earlier or travel during off-peak times to make sure we’re not stressed about being late.”

He said motorists travelling in Queensland should expect congestion both north and south of Brisbane, on the Gateway and Bruce Highway towards the Sunshine Coast and on the Pacific Motorway towards the Gold Coast.