ADAC warns of one of the most congested weekends of the season as all German states begin holidays

Holiday peak across Germany

With Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg starting their summer break on Friday, all 16 German states are now on holiday. The ADAC warned that the first August weekend will be one of the most congested of the entire season, with the heaviest traffic expected on Friday afternoon, Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon. The automobile club said the risk of jams is particularly high in the south. Last year, the same weekend produced 4,201 traffic jams, the highest number recorded during the 12-week holiday period.

“The first August weekend is likely to be one of the most congested of the season.”

Key routes and construction sites

The ADAC named the A1 Bremen–Hamburg–Fehmarn, A7 Hannover–Hamburg–Flensburg, A23 Hamburg–Heide, and A24 Hamburg–Schwerin–Berlin as the worst routes toward the North and Baltic Sea coasts. North-south axes including the A5, A9, A61, and A81, and east-west corridors such as the A2, A3, A4, A6, and A8 will also be heavily loaded. Ring roads around Hamburg (A1, A7), Berlin (A10, A100), and Munich (A99) are expected to see severe delays. Around 1,000 construction sites nationwide will worsen conditions. A spokesperson for Autobahn GmbH Nord said no new works would begin during the peak travel period, but existing sites with high jam potential remain: the Rader Hochbrücke on the A7 over the Kiel Canal, the A1 between Ratekau and Scharbeutz, and the Bargteheide interchange where the A21 and B404 meet the A1, with lanes narrowed from three to two.

“The traffic jams on return routes will be longer than on outbound routes.”

Demonstration blocks Fernpass in Austria

On Saturday, a demonstration on the Fernpass road in Austria will close the key north-south link from Germany to Italy between 9:45 and 12:00. The adjacent Hahntennjoch road will also be shut. Authorities advise drivers to avoid the area entirely. Protesters are demonstrating against the volume of transit traffic on the route.

Swiss alpine crossings jammed

In Switzerland, the TCS automobile club expects queues of up to 14 kilometres at the Gotthard tunnel southbound, with waiting times of around three and a half hours. The club recommends alternative routes via the San Bernardino pass or alpine passes such as Gotthard, Grimsel, Nufenen, and Simplon.

What comes next

In one week, holidays end in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland, while many regions of Scandinavia also see their breaks draw to a close, adding return traffic to the mix. The ADAC advises flexible travellers to choose quieter alternative routes or shift their journey to a different day.