Motorists returning from summer holidays in France should brace for significant congestion this weekend, though conditions are expected to be less severe than the previous week’s “black” travel day. Traffic authority Bison Futé has issued detailed forecasts for August 22–24, highlighting particular pressure on western and southern routes.
Saturday: Red Alert for Western France
For Saturday, August 22, Bison Futé has classified the entire western side of the country as red, indicating very difficult traffic conditions for return journeys. The eastern half is rated orange, signaling difficult circulation. Heavy traffic is anticipated in the Grand Ouest, the North, and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region from early morning until early evening.
In the Île-de-France region, delays are expected to begin by late morning on the A10 between the Saint-Arnoult toll barrier and Wissous, as well as on the A6 between Corbeil and Wissous. Dense traffic is forecast to persist until late in the evening.
Sunday: Nationwide Orange Alert
On Sunday, August 23, the entire country will be under an orange alert for return traffic. Bison Futé predicts significant movement on routes along the Atlantic coast, the South-East, and central France from late morning until mid-evening. In Île-de-France, slowdowns will concentrate on the A13, A10, and A6 motorways, potentially lasting into the late evening.
Monday: Mostly Back to Normal
By Monday, August 24, traffic should return to normal levels across most of France, with the exception of the south-west quarter and Île-de-France, which remain under an orange alert.
Context: Recent Traffic Peaks
Last Saturday, Bison Futé recorded a peak of 712 kilometers of cumulative traffic jams nationwide outside Île-de-France shortly before noon. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region alone accounted for 135 kilometers of jams at that time, with major bottlenecks on the A7, A10, A9, N165, and A71.
Earlier this month, on August 1, France experienced over 1,000 kilometers of cumulative traffic jams, a day classified as black by Bison Futé for departures across metropolitan France.
Travelers are advised to plan their journeys carefully, avoid peak hours where possible, and stay updated with real-time traffic information before hitting the road.
