Travel Traffic in Germany: ADAC and TCS Warn of Congestion on Alpine, Mediterranean, and Coastal Routes

Affected Routes at a Glance

In addition to the classic Alpine routes via Austria and Switzerland, the clubs also expect increased traffic volumes on routes in Rhineland-Palatinate. According to the ADAC, travelers heading toward the Mediterranean must expect delays especially on the access roads to the Alpine crossings.

The automobile clubs recommend setting off either in the early morning hours or only late in the evening in order to avoid the worst congestion. Diverting to secondary roads can also help, but likewise leads to longer driving times.

In previous years as well, the autobahns heading south had developed into long congestion corridors at the start of holidays. The ADAC has been observing the development of travel traffic for years and regularly publishes traffic jam forecasts for the main travel periods.

Tips from the Automobile Clubs

Travelers on the A 7 between Hamburg and Flensburg must expect slow-moving traffic according to the ADAC, as must those on the A 1 between northern Germany and the Ruhr area. Experience shows that these routes are the first to fill up on the holiday weekend.

Those traveling south should, according to the ADAC, shift their trip to a weekday if possible. On Sundays that also mark the start of holidays in several German states, traffic becomes even more concentrated.

Situation in Austria and Switzerland

In addition to the autobahns, the clubs also expect significant waiting times on the access roads to the Alpine passes in Austria and Switzerland. The TCS advised checking current traffic reports before departure and planning sufficient refueling stops.

Overall, a weekend is emerging on which travelers throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland must expect significantly longer driving times. The automobile clubs are monitoring the situation continuously and updating their forecasts.

The ADAC also expects that congestion levels will remain high the following weekend when additional German states begin their holidays. Travelers should therefore plan for flexible return options where possible.