Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 10–16°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Birmingham7 AM BST Rain16°C Stoke-on-Trent7:45 AM BST Heavy rain16°C Warrington8:15 AM BST Light rain16°C Carlisle10 AM BST Mostly sunny13°C M74 southeast of Lesmahagow11 AM BST Rain showers10°C Glasgow11:30 AM BST Heavy rain showers12°C - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 9–14°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Birmingham7 AM BST Partly sunny9°C Stoke-on-Trent7:45 AM BST Partly sunny9°C Warrington8:15 AM BST Partly sunny10°C Carlisle10 AM BST Partly sunny14°C M74 southeast of Lesmahagow11 AM BST Cloudy12°C Glasgow11:30 AM BST Cloudy14°C - ThuOct 15
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 11–15°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Birmingham7 AM BST Cloudy12°C Stoke-on-Trent7:45 AM BST Cloudy13°C Warrington8:15 AM BST Cloudy15°C Carlisle10 AM BST Rain15°C M74 southeast of Lesmahagow11 AM BST Heavy rain11°C Glasgow11:30 AM BST Heavy rain12°C - FriOct 16
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 8–11°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Birmingham7 AM BST Rain10°C Stoke-on-Trent7:45 AM BST Light rain10°C Warrington8:15 AM BST Rain11°C Carlisle10 AM BST Sunny9°C M74 southeast of Lesmahagow11 AM BST Sunny8°C Glasgow11:30 AM BST Mostly sunny9°C - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 5–8°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Birmingham7 AM BST Sunny5°C Stoke-on-Trent7:45 AM BST Sunny5°C Warrington8:15 AM BST Sunny7°C Carlisle10 AM BST Sunny7°C M74 southeast of Lesmahagow11 AM BST Sunny6°C Glasgow11:30 AM BST Sunny8°C - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 4–8°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Birmingham7 AM BST Sunny5°C Stoke-on-Trent7:45 AM BST Sunny4°C Warrington8:15 AM BST Mostly sunny6°C Carlisle10 AM BST Sunny7°C M74 southeast of Lesmahagow11 AM BST Mostly sunny6°C Glasgow11:30 AM BST Mostly sunny8°C - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 7–13°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Birmingham7 AM BST Cloudy12°C Stoke-on-Trent7:45 AM BST Partly sunny12°C Warrington8:15 AM BST Cloudy13°C Carlisle10 AM BST Partly sunny11°C M74 southeast of Lesmahagow11 AM BST Mostly sunny7°C Glasgow11:30 AM BST Partly sunny8°C
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Birmingham (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Birmingham, EnglandStart 138 melevation
- Stoke-on-Trent, EnglandMile 42 · 40 min 134 melevation
- Warrington, EnglandMile 79 · 1 h 13 min 15 melevation
- Carlisle, EnglandMile 195 · 2 h 58 min 23 melevation
- M74 southeast of Lesmahagow, ScotlandMile 256 · 3 h 53 min 329 melevation
- Glasgow, ScotlandMile 290 · 4 h 26 min 24 melevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with 2.5 cm (an inch) or more of snow, at Birmingham, M74 southeast of Lesmahagow and Glasgow.
| Month | Birmingham Halesowen station · 153 m | M74 southeast of Lesmahagow Leadhills station · 393 m | Glasgow Paisley station · 32 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °C | High / low °C | High / low °C | |
| Jan | 7° / 1° | 5° / -1° | 7° / 2° |
| Feb | 8° / 1° | 5° / -1° | 8° / 2° |
| Mar | 11° / 3° | 7° / 0° | 10° / 3° |
| Apr | 13° / 4° | 10° / 2° | 13° / 5° |
| May | 17° / 7° | 13° / 4° | 16° / 7° |
| Jun | 19° / 10° | 16° / 7° | 18° / 10° |
| Jul | 22° / 12° | 17° / 9° | 20° / 12° |
| Aug | 22° / 12° | 17° / 9° | 19° / 12° |
| Sep | 18° / 10° | 14° / 7° | 17° / 10° |
| Oct | 14° / 6° | 11° / 4° | 13° / 7° |
| Nov | 10° / 4° | 7° / 1° | 10° / 4° |
| Dec | 7° / 1° | 5° / -1° | 7° / 1° |
1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): HALESOWEN, UK (UKE00105912, 153 m); LEADHILLS, UK (UKE00105932, 393 m); PAISLEY, UK (UKE00105660, 32 m). Snow days are days with at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for England and Scotland rather than repeat them.
- England · National HighwaysNational Highways travel updates
- Scotland · Traffic ScotlandTraffic Scotland road conditions
Check the official forecast from Met Office and each road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Birmingham to Glasgow with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Birmingham to Glasgow?
290 miles, about 4½ hours of driving without stops, by way of M6 and M74. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
M74 southeast of Lesmahagow, at 329 m (1,078 ft). It comes at mile 256, about 3 h 53 min of driving after you leave Birmingham.
How cold is M74 southeast of Lesmahagow in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Leadhills (393 m), averages a high of 5°C and a low of -1°C in January (1991–2020 averages).
How cold is Glasgow in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Paisley (32 m), averages a high of 7°C and a low of 2°C in January (1991–2020 averages).