This weekend (October 10–12), six German states will begin their autumn holidays, setting off a surge in road traffic across the country. According to the ADAC, drivers should expect heavy congestion and long queues on many motorways, particularly in Bavaria, where thousands are heading south toward the Alps.
Over 1,200 roadworks nationwide – and more traffic on the way
The ADAC warns that around 1,230 construction sites are currently active on German autobahns, already causing dense traffic. When North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saarland join the holiday rush, congestion is expected to worsen significantly.
Meanwhile, travellers from Hesse, Saxony, and Thuringia are entering their second week of school holidays, adding to the mix. Some regions in the Netherlands are also beginning their breaks, further contributing to crowded roads.
Adding to the stress: Friday evening commuter traffic, which often merges with long-distance travellers.
Weather and road safety concerns
Drivers shouldn’t only prepare for traffic jams but also for autumn weather conditions.
“Fog can significantly reduce visibility, especially in the early mornings,” warns the ADAC. “Those heading to higher Alpine areas should ensure their cars are equipped with winter tyres.” In parts of Bavaria, temperatures could drop below freezing, increasing the risk of frost and slippery roads.
These routes face the highest risk of congestion
According to ADAC forecasts, the following motorway sections are expected to see the heaviest traffic in both directions:
- A3: Cologne – Frankfurt – Nuremberg – Passau
- A6: Mannheim – Heilbronn – Nuremberg
- A7: Hamburg – Flensburg and Kassel – Würzburg – Ulm – Füssen/Reutte
- A8: Karlsruhe – Stuttgart – Munich – Salzburg
- A9: Munich – Nuremberg
- A93: Inntaldreieck – Kufstein
- A95/B2: Munich – Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- A99: Munich ring road
Elsewhere, northern routes such as the A1, A2, and A24 towards the North and Baltic Seas are also likely to face congestion.
Heavy traffic expected in Austria and neighbouring countries
The ADAC also anticipates bottlenecks on routes leading to popular Alpine hiking destinations.
Austria’s Brenner, Inntal, and Tauern motorways are currently affected by construction work, while the Fernpass, Gotthard and Rheintal routes may also face significant delays. Travellers are urged to allow for extra time on cross-border routes.
Border checks may cause additional delays
Drivers heading to or from Bavaria should also prepare for random border checks.
These are possible at:
- A3 Suben crossing (Linz – Passau)
- A8 Walserberg (Salzburg – Munich)
- A93 Kiefersfelden (Kufstein – Rosenheim)
Authorities warn that such controls can lead to waiting times during peak hours.
ADAC advice: Plan ahead and stay flexible
The ADAC recommends avoiding peak travel times — especially Friday afternoon and Saturday morning — and checking live traffic updates before departure. Travellers heading to or from Bavaria should consider alternative routes or travel outside of rush hours to minimize delays.
