La rentrée is fast approaching and summer holiday travellers are heading back home, prompting Bison Futé to warn that traffic jams are likely on major routes this weekend.

With France’s long summer holidays winding down, holidaymakers are heading back home to prepare for la rentrée, meaning key routes will again be jammed with traffic.

Roads watchdog Bison Futé has issued red travel warnings – indicating very difficult conditions on the roads in parts of France on Friday and Saturday, and its highest black alert – extremely difficult driving conditions – across the entire south of the country on Saturday.

Friday, August 22nd

Home-heading holidaymakers are expected to clog up major routes across the whole country. 

In particular, significant difficulties are expected from the south-west (A63, A10) and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (A7 and access to the Mont Blanc Tunnel from Italy). These could extend from mid-morning until the evening, depending on the area.

Colour coded map of France indicating travel conditions on the roads Map: Bison Futé

Motorists travelling on Friday afternoon are advised to:

  • Avoid travel in the Île-de-France region until after 11pm;

  • Avoid the A11 between Nantes and Angers until 7pm;

  • Avoid the A10 between Bordeaux and Tours until 7pm, between Tours and Orléans from 4pm to 8pm, and between Orléans and Paris until 11pm;

  • Avoid the A7 between Marseille and Orange until 5pm and between Orange and Lyon until 10pm;

  • Avoid the A75 between Béziers and Clermont-Ferrand until 8pm;

  • Avoid the A71 between Bourges and Orléans until 7pm;

  • Avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) into France until 10pm.

Advertisement

Saturday, August 23rd

Outbound travel on Saturday – lucky holidaymakers are still heading out – is expected to be heaviest in the south-east quarter of France, mainly on the A7, A8, A9, and A54.

Traffic will be heavier still in the direction of major cities from popular holiday destinations, with red and black travel alerts in place. Congestion is expected to start building from early in the morning and continue in some areas.

Colour coded map of France indicating travel conditions on the roads Map: Bison Futé

Anyone planning long journeys on the penultimate Saturday of the summer holiday period should take head of the following advice:

Outbound travel

  • Avoid the A7 between Lyon and Orange from 7am to 4pm and between Orange and Marseille from 11am to 5pm;

  • Avoid the A8 between Le Luc and Italy from 1pm to 4pm;

  • Avoid the A9 between Montpellier and Narbonne from 9am to 7pm;

  • Avoid the A54 and the N113 between Nîmes and Salon-de-Provence from 3pm to 7pm;

  • Avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel into Italy from 11am to 3pm.

Return travel

  • Reach or cross the Île-de-France before 10am or after 12midnight;

  • Avoid the A11  between Angers and Le Mans from 10am to 7pm and between Le Mans and Paris from 11am to 5pm;

  • Avoid the A63  between Bayonne and Bordeaux from 9am to 12noon;

  • Avoid the A10  between Bordeaux and Poitiers from 2pm to 5pm;

  • Avoid the A9  between Spain and Narbonne from 11am to 4pm, between Narbonne and Nîmes from 12noon to 4pm, and between Nîmes and Orange from 3pm to 6pm;

  • Avoid the A7  between Orange and Lyon from 11am to 10pm;

  • Avoid the A75  between Béziers and Clermont-Ferrand from 11am to 7pm;

  • Avoid the A61  between Narbonne and Toulouse from 10am to 5pm;

  • Avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) into France from 1pm to 6pm;

  • Avoid the A43  between Chambéry and Lyon from 11am to 2pm.

Advertisement

Sunday, August 24th

The travel watchdog’s focus on Sunday is again on travellers heading back home from their holidays, with jams expected on roads heading from the Mediterranean coast – notably the A9, A75, and A7, as well as routes heading towards the Île-de-France, such as the A10, and A71.

Colour coded map of France indicating travel conditions on the roads Map: Bison Futé

 

All the specific travel advice is for motorists heading away from holiday destinations:

  • Reach or cross the Île-de-France region before 10am or after 11pm;

  • Avoid the A85 between Theillay and Tours from 12noon to 3pm;

  • Avoid the A10 between Poitiers and Orléans from 12noon to 6pm and between Orléans and Paris from 10am to 9pm;

  • Avoid the A9 between Spain and Narbonne from 12noon to 6pm;

  • Avoid the A7 between Marseille and Orange from 11am to 6pm, and between Orange and Lyon from 2pm to 7pm;

  • Avoid the A75 between Béziers and Clermont-Ferrand from 11am to 7pm;

  • Avoid the A71 between Bourges and Orléans from 4pm to 8pm;

  • Avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) into France from 10am to 9pm.

Monday, August 25th

On Monday, travel in Île-de-France will be heavier than normal for a Monday as commuter traffic and holiday traffic combine from early afternoon through to late evening. Advice for travellers in the area is simple. Reach your destination, or pass through the region before 11am or after 8pm.

Colour coded map of France indicating travel conditions on the roads Map: Bison Futé

Although French schools do not return until Monday, September 1st, it seems that the majority of families are planning to return this weekend – giving themselves a week of stationery shopping and other preparations. Traffic forecasts for next week are therefore less problematic.