Prepare for Gridlock: Busiest Roads in Southwestern Germany During Holiday Weekend
Holiday rush expected to fill southwest streets by its end. - Southwest streets will be congested by the holiday's conclusion.
Gear up, motorists! If you're traveling through Baden-Württemberg over the weekend following Corpus Christi and the end of Whitsun holidays, be ready for some congestion. ADAC Württemberg anticipates increased traffic, particularly on motorways heading north, as many folks use the long weekend for a mini-vacation.
As the two-week Whitsun holidays in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria wrap up on Sunday, expect those roads to be packed with vacationers returning home. According to ADAC expert, Holger Bach, traffic jams are likely, especially on Sunday afternoon. However, Corpus Christi itself may be quieter, as many short-haul travelers will have hit the road by Wednesday afternoon.
Bach offers some advice: if you're flexible with timing, take to the roads on Thursday. If weekend travel is a must, consider leaving before 8:00 AM or after 6:00 PM to dodge the worst traffic.
The following routes typically experience the most chaos:
- A5 (Basel - Karlsruhe - Heidelberg)
- A6 (Nuremberg - Heilbronn - Mannheim)
- A7 (Füssen - Ulm - Würzburg)
- A8 (Munich - Stuttgart - Karlsruhe)
- A81 (Singen - Stuttgart - Heilbronn)
- Greater Stuttgart area
Keep in mind that construction zones further slow down traffic, and the sections of the A8 near Pforzheim and the A6 between Walldorf interchange and Wiesloch exhibit the most traffic jam potential. In 2024, the total traffic jam length in the state at the end of the Whitsun holidays was a whopping 416 kilometers.
Planning to cross borders? Austria and Switzerland, which also observe Corpus Christi as a holiday, anticipate congestion - for example, on the Tauern and Brenner motorways and at the Gotthard tunnel. Be prepared for the summer heat by stocking up on drinks and taking regular breaks. Never leave children or pets in a hot car!
While specific ADAC reports for the post-Whitsun holiday weekend in 2025 aren't available, based on general knowledge and common traffic patterns, expect major highways and autobahns connecting large cities and tourist spots, such as A8 between Stuttgart and Munich, A81 in Baden-Württemberg, and routes leading to Alpine holiday regions, to be the busiest. Check ADAC’s official traffic news or travel forecasts closer to or immediately after the holiday weekend for more precise data on 2025 traffic hotspots.
- As you prepare for your travels during the post-Whitsun holiday weekend, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the community policy regarding traffic and road safety, especially when traveling through Baden-Württemberg.
- When considering your lifestyle choices during the long weekend, remember that employment policies may change to accommodate the increase in demand for workers during this busy travel period, particularly in the hospitality and transportation sectors.
