Autobahn GmbH expects increased travel traffic at the beginning of October – especially the A3, A5 and A7 are considered prone to congestion
With the start of the autumn school holidays in Hesse on October 5th, travel on the motorways will increase again. The Federal Autobahn GmbH expects heavier traffic even the weekend before. Motorists should expect delays, especially on major long-distance routes.
Overall, the Autobahn GmbH expects travel during the autumn school holidays to be somewhat lower than last year. One reason is the timing of the public holidays: German Unity Day on October 3rd falls on a Saturday in 2026, as do Reformation Day and All Saints' Day. This results in fewer opportunities for long weekends.
The A3 and A5 are among the routes prone to traffic jams
For travelers from Darmstadt and southern Hesse, the A3 and A5 motorways relevant. Along with the A7 and A9, the A8 between Karlsruhe and Salzburg, the A93 between Rosenheim and Kiefersfelden, and the A99 around Munich, these are among the routes where the Autobahn GmbH (Federal Highway Company) anticipates an increased risk of traffic jams during the autumn school holidays.
Besides holiday traffic, roadworks and the overlap of holiday and commuter traffic can lead to delays. Overall, traffic volume will remain below summer holiday levels, but may reach those levels regionally on individual days.
First weekend of school holidays in Hesse
as early as Friday, October 2nd. The autumn school holidays then begin in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland. Traffic may also be heavier on German Unity Day, Saturday, October 3rd, due to day-trippers. The Autobahn GmbH anticipates somewhat lighter traffic on Sunday, October 4th.
The following weekend, traffic congestion will increase again. School holidays begin on October 9th and 10th in Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia. Delays are possible, especially on north-south routes and towards the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts.
Mid-October is particularly busy with holiday traffic
Friday, October 16th, and Saturday, October 17th , are expected to be among the busiest days of the autumn season . This coincides with the peak of school holidays in numerous German states. New holidaymakers will be starting their vacations and returning travelers will be hitting the roads.
Over the weekend of October 23-25, the focus will increasingly shift to the return journey home. Particularly heavy traffic is expected on Sunday, October 25, as school starts again in several German states.
At the end of October, the start of the autumn school holidays in Bavaria and return journeys from other German states will lead to increased traffic congestion. Particularly on Friday, October 30th, and Sunday, November 1st, traffic is expected to be very heavy. The situation should then ease considerably during the first week of November.
(RED/PM)
