The key French autoroutes to avoid during France's long May holiday weekend
If you are planning to drive in France over the long Ascension weekend, then here are some motorways to avoid.
Workers in France had the rare opportunity this week to enjoy two back-to-back public holidays - VE Day on Wednesday and Ascension on Thursday.
As a result, French motorways will be more crowded than usual this weekend, and especially on Sunday as people begin to head home.
READ MORE: Travel, events, closures: What to expect over France’s double public holiday this week
France's traffic watchdog has given the day a 'black' rating for 'extremely difficult' traffic in the north-west of the country, and a 'red' rating for 'very difficult' traffic across the rest of the country for returns.
As for Saturday, the autoroutes will be slightly less busy than Sunday, though Bison Futé has put the country in 'orange' for 'difficult traffic'.
ℹ️#InfoTrafic #weekend #8mai #Ascension2024 #Départs
🟥Très Difficile National le 07/05
🟧Difficile National le 08/05#Retours
🟧Difficile National le 11/05
⬛️Extrêmement Difficile Grand-Ouest et Nord,🟥Très Difficile National le 12/05
Détails➡️https://t.co/UQayKOBrnY🚗🛣️ pic.twitter.com/r7UETgxszW
— Bison Futé (@BisonFute_MT) May 6, 2024
Here are motorways you should avoid, and you can consult Bison Futé's more detailed predictions at this LINK.
The A13
Part of the A13 motorway had previously been closed for works between Paris and Vaucresson, in the Hauts-de-Seine département, and it finally began reopening on Friday morning.
However, it will still be very busy on Sunday, and Bison Futé recommends avoiding it between Caen and Paris from 11am to 4pm
The A6 and A10
Heavy traffic is predicted along both motorways in the capital region on Saturday and Sunday.
The A7
Saturday - Avoid it between Orange and Lyon from 1pm to 8pm.
Sunday - Avoid it between Salon-de-Provence and Orange from 11am to 1pm and between Orange and Lyon from 12pm to 9pm.
The A9
Saturday - Avoid it between Spain and Narbonne from 12noon to 6pm
Sunday - Avoid it between Spain and Narbonne from 1pm to 6pm, and between Montpellier and Orange from 3pm to 5pm.
The A11
Sunday - Avoid it between Angers and Le Mans from 4pm to 8pm
The A25
Saturday - Avoid it between Socx and Lille, from 6pm to 9pm.
Sunday - Avoid it between Socx and Lille from 4pm to 6pm.
The A61
Sunday - Avoid it between Narbonne and Toulouse from 3pm to 7pm.
Mont Blanc Tunnel (N205)
Saturday - Avoid it in the Italy-France direction from 1pm to 8pm
Sunday - Avoid it in the Italy-France direction from 11am to 11pm
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Workers in France had the rare opportunity this week to enjoy two back-to-back public holidays - VE Day on Wednesday and Ascension on Thursday.
As a result, French motorways will be more crowded than usual this weekend, and especially on Sunday as people begin to head home.
READ MORE: Travel, events, closures: What to expect over France’s double public holiday this week
France's traffic watchdog has given the day a 'black' rating for 'extremely difficult' traffic in the north-west of the country, and a 'red' rating for 'very difficult' traffic across the rest of the country for returns.
As for Saturday, the autoroutes will be slightly less busy than Sunday, though Bison Futé has put the country in 'orange' for 'difficult traffic'.
ℹ️#InfoTrafic #weekend #8mai #Ascension2024 #Départs
— Bison Futé (@BisonFute_MT) May 6, 2024
🟥Très Difficile National le 07/05
🟧Difficile National le 08/05#Retours
🟧Difficile National le 11/05
⬛️Extrêmement Difficile Grand-Ouest et Nord,🟥Très Difficile National le 12/05
Détails➡️https://t.co/UQayKOBrnY🚗🛣️ pic.twitter.com/r7UETgxszW
Here are motorways you should avoid, and you can consult Bison Futé's more detailed predictions at this LINK.
The A13
Part of the A13 motorway had previously been closed for works between Paris and Vaucresson, in the Hauts-de-Seine département, and it finally began reopening on Friday morning.
However, it will still be very busy on Sunday, and Bison Futé recommends avoiding it between Caen and Paris from 11am to 4pm
The A6 and A10
Heavy traffic is predicted along both motorways in the capital region on Saturday and Sunday.
The A7
Saturday - Avoid it between Orange and Lyon from 1pm to 8pm.
Sunday - Avoid it between Salon-de-Provence and Orange from 11am to 1pm and between Orange and Lyon from 12pm to 9pm.
The A9
Saturday - Avoid it between Spain and Narbonne from 12noon to 6pm
Sunday - Avoid it between Spain and Narbonne from 1pm to 6pm, and between Montpellier and Orange from 3pm to 5pm.
The A11
Sunday - Avoid it between Angers and Le Mans from 4pm to 8pm
The A25
Saturday - Avoid it between Socx and Lille, from 6pm to 9pm.
Sunday - Avoid it between Socx and Lille from 4pm to 6pm.
The A61
Sunday - Avoid it between Narbonne and Toulouse from 3pm to 7pm.
Mont Blanc Tunnel (N205)
Saturday - Avoid it in the Italy-France direction from 1pm to 8pm
Sunday - Avoid it in the Italy-France direction from 11am to 11pm
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