Easter Weekend: Heavy Traffic Expected from Friday on French Roads

Spring holidays are beginning for Zone A, and with them come the usual traffic jams. Friday, April 18, is set to be particularly difficult on the roads, marking the start of a long weekend and school break. France’s road traffic agency Bison Futé has issued a red alert for outbound traffic across the country, signaling very heavy congestion on major routes leading to popular destinations.

Friday: A Day to Avoid for Departures

Bison Futé forecasts severe traffic jams on Friday for those heading out of town. Key motorways expected to be heavily impacted include the A1 and A25 heading north, the A13 to Normandy, the A11 and A63 along the Atlantic coast, and the A7 through the Rhône Valley, including access to Italy via the Mont-Blanc tunnel. Traffic will be dense from early morning and is expected to remain heavy throughout the day. For return trips, Friday is rated orange—difficult, but less intense.

Saturday: Further Disruptions for Departures

Saturday, April 19, won’t bring much relief. While Zone A kicks off its spring break, Zone C continues its second holiday week, increasing overall road traffic. The northwestern quarter of the country will see red-level conditions for departures, with the rest of France rated orange. In the Paris region, congestion is expected to begin mid-morning on the A13 and persist into the afternoon. Return traffic, however, should remain smooth on Saturday.

Sunday Calm Before Monday Storm

Sunday will offer a welcome break, with green-rated traffic both ways. But this pause will be short-lived: Monday, April 21—Easter Monday and a public holiday—is forecast to be another challenging day on the roads. The return journey is expected to be particularly congested in the northwest (red), with moderate delays elsewhere (orange).

In short: if you can, avoid hitting the road on Friday and consider traveling on Sunday for a smoother ride.