Heavy Traffic Expected on French Roads During Winter Break
Travelers face congested highways as winter vacations overlap across multiple academic zones.
The weekend of February 21-23, 2025, is set to see significant traffic challenges on French roads, particularly in the Savoie region. The prefecture projects nearly 230,000 vehicles will be on the move, leading to potential congestion as winter vacationers head to and from ski resorts.
According to the prefecture of Savoie, "Près de 230 000 véhicules sont attendus sur nos routes en Savoie ce week-end, pour ce chassé-croisé des vacances d’hiver." With this surge of travelers, they anticipate the busiest day will be Saturday, when conditions will be rated as red for departures and orange for arrivals by traffic management service Bison Futé.
On Friday, February 21, movement through Savoie will be interrupted from 5 PM to 9 PM, with Bison Futé marking the day orange for departures. The following day looks even more challenging, as the prefecture warns of "conditions de déplacement perturbées sur le réseau routier de Savoie de 8h à 21h pour les arrivées, et de 6h à 13h pour les départs. L'objectif ce week-end sera d'accueillir autant d'automobilistes que possible, tout en assurant leur sécurité."
Motorists are advised to plan accordingly, especially on Saturday when they should expect heavy traffics on major roads leading to ski resorts. The A43 highway, which connects Lyon to Chambéry, will likely see significant delays throughout the day. To help ease congestion, drivers are advised to avoid the following routes at peak hours:
- A72 between Nervieux and Saint-Étienne from 2 PM to 7 PM on Friday.
- A43 between Lyon and Chambéry from 5 PM to 11 PM on Friday.
- The Mont-Blanc Tunnel (N205) between France and Italy from 4 PM to 8 PM on Friday.
On Saturday, the recommended times to avoid driving are:
- A40 between Mâcon and Passy from 11 AM to 4 PM.
- A430 between Chambéry and Albertville from noon to 5 PM.
- A43 from Chambéry to Lyon from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Meanwhile, return traffic is expected to hit particularly hard on Sunday, February 23, with Bison Futé predicting calmer conditions rating green for both directions. Regardless, the reminders continue: "Chaque conducteur doit s’équiper de pneus hiver ou disposer de chaînes ou chaussettes à neige à bord de son véhicule dans tout le département de la Savoie jusqu’au 31 mars 2025," as stated by the prefecture.
Beyond road traffic, travelers utilizing rail services should take note: the SNCF has declared complete service halts on major lines out of Bordeaux for the weekends of February 22-23 and March 1-2 due to network renovations. These lines include Bordeaux-Arcachon, Bordeaux-Le Verdon, and Bordeaux-Dax, causing significant inconveniences for those hoping to travel by train during the busy vacation period.
Travelers are encouraged to check for updates, plan their journeys carefully, and remain patient, as they navigate what is sure to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. With winter holiday schedules overlapping across different academic zones, the roadways will be busier than ever, urging everyone to drive safely and be prepared for the unexpected.