Anticipated Travel Figures: A Spike in Summer Journeys Predicted Between July 4th to 6th
As summer holidays approach, many European countries are bracing for increased traffic on their motorways, leading to familiar congestion hotspots. This year, Germany is expected to face significant challenges due to large numbers of holidaymakers and environmental factors.
## Busiest Motorways and Congestion Hotspots
### Germany
Several major motorways in Germany, including the A8, A5, A7, A2, and A9, are expected to be heavily congested during the summer holiday season. Notable congestion hotspots include the Munich Ring, the Hamburg–Hanover corridor, Frankfurt am Main area, and the A5 near Offenburg in the Black Forest region.
The extreme heatwave currently affecting Germany is causing additional risks and disruptions on motorways, with maximum temperatures reaching up to 40°C in some areas, causing motorway surfaces to buckle in places and increasing the risk of accidents. Ongoing maintenance and construction work can further exacerbate congestion.
### Austria
In Austria, the A12 Inntal Autobahn, A13 Brenner Autobahn, A14 Rheintal/Walgau Autobahn, and A10 Tauern Autobahn are particularly busy due to truck bans for vehicles over 7.5 tons on certain Saturdays and sections during the peak holiday season. Key congestion hotspots include the Brenner Pass and the Salzburg and Tyrol regions.
### Other Countries
In France, the A7 (Autoroute du Soleil) and A6 Paris–Lyon are extremely busy for traffic heading to the south and Mediterranean coast, while in Italy, the A1 Autostrada del Sole and A4 are heavily congested during the summer months. In Spain, the AP-7 Mediterranean coast motorway is a major route for holidaymakers traveling to the Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, and Costa del Sol.
## Additional Notes
In Austria, several motorways (A12, A13, A14) enforce truck bans on certain days and hours during the holiday season to ease congestion. Extreme heat in 2025 is causing additional risks and disruptions on German motorways, such as buckling surfaces and increased accidents. Ongoing construction can create unexpected delays, so travelers should check for real-time updates before departure.
Intensified entry controls to Germany are taking place at the crossings of Suben (A3 Linz - Passau), Walserberg (A8 Salzburg - Munich), and Kiefersfelden (A93 Kufstein - Rosenheim). Those who are flexible should consider traveling on quieter days like Monday or Tuesday, preferably outside of rush hour.
A major event with approximately 500,000 visitors is taking place in Zagreb from July 4 to 6, causing heavy traffic around the Croatian capital. Italy and Switzerland are also experiencing construction on the Reschen pass road and in the Pfändertunnel on the Rheintal motorway A14.
The Tauern motorway in Austria has relief as the Golling-Werfen tunnel chain has been two-lane again since late June. In Tyrol, exit restrictions apply on the Inntal motorway A12 and the Fernpass route for through traffic on weekends.
Summer 2025 is expected to be particularly challenging on these routes due to large numbers of holidaymakers and environmental factors. Travelers are advised to plan their journeys carefully, check for real-time updates on roadworks, and consider traveling on quieter days to avoid congestion.
[1] ADAC, July 2, 2025. [2] Image source: Pixabay. [3] German Weather Service, July 2, 2025. [4] Austrian Road and Motorway Authority, July 2, 2025. [5] German Government, July 2, 2025.
- Other environmental factors such as a fat content by weight exceeding 13% in diesel fuels could exacerbate emissions and air pollution issues on heavily congested motorways, particularly during the summer holiday season.
- Adopting a lifestyle that promotes the use of renewable energy sources, like electric vehicles, may help reduce the overall impact of travel on the environment, especially when considering long-distance trips during periods of extreme weather conditions.
