Holidaymakers receive updates prior to the culmination of the year.
Headline: Heavy Traffic Expected on German Highways During August and September Vacation Return Periods
Travelers returning from vacations in Croatia and Italy, as warned by ADAC, may also contribute to traffic congestion in the coming weeks. Here's what you need to know about the anticipated highway traffic jams and border delays during the return journey from August and September 2025.
Major Congestion Hotspots
Motorists driving from Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saarland, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, southern Netherlands, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg should be prepared for significant traffic jams and border delays on major highways, including the A1 between Hamburg and Cologne, the A3, A7, A8, and A93, and highways in southern Germany such as the A5, A8, and A7.
Border crossings between Germany and neighboring countries, especially the Netherlands and Belgium, are expected to be particularly congested due to intensified fixed border controls, causing frequent and prolonged traffic jams. Switzerland is also experiencing heavy Alpine traffic due to southbound holiday drivers, with delays around the Gotthard Road Tunnel and local roads congested for extended periods.
Best Strategies to Avoid Conggestion
To minimize return journey disruptions, consider the following strategies:
- Plan transit times outside peak return periods, particularly on weekends and the end of August. Early mornings or late evenings may have lighter traffic.
- Avoid border crossings with known heavy border checks, such as around Aachen (Netherlands/Belgium-Germany border), Bad Bentheim (Netherlands-Germany), and crossings with Austria and Switzerland.
- Consider alternative border crossings less affected by checks if possible, though check real-time traffic updates.
- Use major highway bypasses and avoid city centers, such as Amsterdam during the SAIL Amsterdam event (Aug 20–24).
- For southern routes through Switzerland, consider routes avoiding the Gotthard Road Tunnel or travel outside peak hours to reduce time stuck in Alpine traffic jams.
- Check live traffic apps and border control updates daily before and during your journey to optimize your route.
Key Dates to Remember
- Vacationers returning home from Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saarland, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and the southern Netherlands region will cause traffic jams on August 16-17, with the holiday period in these regions adding to the traffic strain in the first week of September.
- The end of summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia will contribute to traffic congestion on August 23 and 24.
- The return journey from vacation on August 16-17 is predicted to cause massive traffic jams.
- On Saturday, September 13, the return traffic will reach its peak.
- The holiday period in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg will continue to cause traffic jams on highways until mid-September.
In summary, expect heavy congestion and delays on main highways and borders in August and September, especially around Germany's borders and Alpine transit points. Careful advance planning, route flexibility, and avoiding known bottlenecks can help minimize return journey disruptions.
- To ensure a smoother travel experience and avoid traffic jams during their return journey, tourists can consider altering their vacation schedules to return before the peak congestion periods, such as avoiding the return journey on August 16-17, the end of August, or September 13, as these dates are expected to witness significant traffic congestion.
- As travelers return from their vacations, adapting a flexible lifestyle and planning their travel itineraries to avoid congested areas like the A1 between Hamburg and Cologne, the A3, A7, A8, A93, and highways in southern Germany, as well as border crossings with neighboring countries like the Netherlands and Belgium, can help mitigate the impact of heavy traffic and weather-related delays on their trips.
