Holiday departures and wildfires trigger 855 km of traffic jams across France, red alert on Saturday

Saturday’s rush hour saw France’s road network under severe strain, with cumulative traffic jams exceeding 850 km by noon. The traditional summer exodus was compounded by multiple large wildfires in the Gironde that forced authorities to reroute thousands of motorists.

Saturday’s peak

At exactly midday on 25 July, Bison Futé measured 855 km of total tailbacks. The worst-hit motorway was the A7, which carries traffic south through the Rhône Valley, with more than 130 km of congestion. The A9, the main corridor towards Spain, saw over 90 km of jams, while the A10 between Paris and Bordeaux had more than 69 km. The figure was below the record set one year earlier, when the 26 July 2025 peak exceeded 1,000 km, but still enough to prompt a red classification for the entire country.

Fire complication

The Gironde department, home to Bordeaux and the north of the Arcachon basin, was battling several significant fires. Bison Futé explicitly warned against travelling through or into the area to keep roads clear for emergency services.

Due to the ongoing fires in Gironde (north of the Arcachon basin, Biscarrosse), we strongly advise against going to or crossing the department of Gironde. Postpone your journey if possible. Keep the roads free for emergency responders.

Alternative routes

To maintain the France–Spain axis, Bison Futé recommended using the A20 and A64 motorways as detours around the affected region. This advice came as the fire risk remained acute, with multiple blazes reported across the department.

Outlook for Sunday

Sunday 26 July is classified orange for departures, but only on routes heading towards the Mediterranean and through the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Bison Futé expects heavy traffic on axes leaving Île-de-France for Normandy, Brittany, the Pays de la Loire, and the Mediterranean, as well as across Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. In the return direction, routes leading back to Île-de-France from the north-east border, Normandy, Brittany, the Pays de la Loire, and the Mediterranean will also be heavily used.