Fear of traffic jams at the start of your vacation: How to escape the travel chaos!

Fear of traffic jams at the start of your vacation: How to escape the travel chaos!

The summer holidays start in Lower Saxony and Bremen on Thursday, July 3, 2025. The anticipation of the holiday season is great, but be careful: there is a high risk of traffic jams, especially at the start of the holidays. The Elbe Tunnel in Hamburg is completely closed from July 4th to 7th, and many travelers have to prepare for chaotic conditions like this Association office reported.

All drivers can expect particularly thick air in the first week of August - especially on the weekend from August 1st to 3rd. This period probably sees the most traffic jam events. In addition, experience and statistics clearly show that Fridays in August are among the most congested days of the year. Travelers should definitely take this into account when planning their vacation.

Make the most of travel times

The holiday periods in Northern Germany are scheduled as follows: In Bremen the holidays start on July 3rd and end on August 13th, while Hamburg is in holiday mode from July 24th and until September 3rd. Holiday times are also regulated similarly in other federal states, such as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein, which also makes these regions a stronghold for travelers.

The travel destinations in Lower Saxony are booming, especially the Baltic and North Seas as well as the Harz. While the accommodation in the Harz is already well booked, those who decide at short notice can still find offers. A new trend that is emerging is the so-called “coolcations”. More and more travelers are moving from hot cities to cooler regions, especially to the North Sea.

Danger of traffic jams throughout Germany

The ADAC warns of a full motorway and assumes there are around 1,200 construction sites on the German road network. Some of these construction sites are associated with full closures, which doesn't make matters any easier. Routes that are particularly prone to traffic jams include the A1 (Cologne-Hamburg) and the A3 (Cologne-Nuremberg-Passau) - motorways that are part of the main travel route. Increased traffic density is also expected in North Rhine-Westphalia, especially around metropolises such as Cologne and Düsseldorf.

• A1 Bremen – Hamburg: Baustelle, Verbindungsfahrbahn gesperrt
• A2 Braunschweig – Magdeburg: Dauerbaustelle, Fahrbahn verengt
• A7 Kassel – Hannover: Dauerbaustelle, Fahrbahn verengt
• A28 Oldenburg – Leer: Brückenarbeiten, geänderte Verkehrsführung
• A31 Leer – Emden: Bauarbeiten, Fahrbahn verengt

And that's not all! The police are investigating negligent bodily harm after an incident with a defective Nordwestbahn, which puts additional strain on the situation. The weather also plays a role: While the situation in northern Germany calms down on Thursday, meteorologists are warning of storms on Wednesday.

The ADAC has useful tips for everyone who is traveling. It is advisable to travel during off-peak times, check current traffic information regularly and use alternative routes if necessary. Patience and increased attention in traffic are also essential!