Hi
I live in Maidstone and come down the M2 to the coast to work. Jn7 of the M20 (ie about 2 miles before the Stack Diversion at Jn8) was pretty packed. I have to pass over this and take the A249 to join the M2 at Jn5.
My normal journey (in the opposite direction to most rush hr traffic) is quite swift, but with Stack, it is slower and there is more traffic around.
This am traffic was queuing on the A249 before the slip road to the M2 and I could see stationary traffic coast bound on the Mway. I took a country lane diversion and joined the M2 further down, just before traffic moves off to the A2. As far back as I could see it was 2 lanes of crawling traffic.
If you are coming via M25/M26/M20, it may be worth considering coming off the M20 at Jn4 and taking the A228 or Jn6 and A229 to get to the M2.
Both are a bit longer, but you’ll be on the M2 and I guess most traffic will come off the M20 at Jn7 to get to the M2.
Can’t vouch for the A20, but on Sunday ams, I’m out on my road bike from Maidstone to Ashford from 5.30 and I rarely see other cars. Sunday just gone was noticeably busier.
One option, may be to miss the A2 and take the A299 to Ramsgate then A256 to Dover. It’s longer but you’ll be approaching from a (hopefully) quieter direction.
Hope it goes ok, I’m supposed to be getting the ferry in 2 weeks!