Traffic disruption for the Christmas vacations: Bison Futé's advice for this weekend

This weekend, France's roads are likely to see heavy traffic due to Christmas returns and New Year's Eve departures. The Bison Futé forecasts classify several areas as orange, a sign of difficult conditions. On Friday December 27, traffic will be particularly heavy in the direction of departures in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Eastern France, especially on the A4, A6 and A31 freeways heading for the borders with Germany and Luxembourg. On Saturday December 28, the Rhône valley routes, such as theA43 andA7, will experience heavy congestion until late afternoon. Return journeys will also be severely disrupted, particularly on roads linking theMediterranean Arc to the Lyon region.

In the Île-de-France region, major difficulties are expected on the A10 and A6 freeways in the return direction from Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, these routes will continue to be very busy until early evening, with heavy traffic at toll booths.

Anticipation tips from Bison Futé

To limit the impact of traffic jams, Bison Futé recommends :

• Friday December 27:

  • Avoid theA31 between Nancy and Luxembourg (3pm-5pm).
  • Avoid theA6 between Auxerre and Beaune (12h-19h).
  • Avoid the Lyon eastern bypass via theA46 (4pm-6pm).

• Saturday December 28:

  • On departures, avoid theA43 between Lyon and Chambéry (10am-6pm) and theA48 between Bourgoin-Jallieu and Grenoble (2pm-4pm).
  • On returns, reach theÎle-de-France region before 11am and avoid theA7 between Orange and Vienne (12pm-2pm).

• Sunday December 29:

  • For return journeys, cross the Paris region before 11am to avoid traffic jams.

These recommendations are accompanied by a call for caution, particularly on roads where weather conditions could make travel even more difficult. If your itinerary passes through one of the regions concerned, it's best to plan your travel outside the critical time periods. By planning your journeys according to these recommendations, you should increase your chances of travelling with peace of mind during this festive period. For up-to-date information, visit the Bison Futé website.

• To be read
• Transport Disruptions and Maintenance in Île-de-France: Weekend Schedule for March 14-15, 2026
• This week's top deals and tips in Paris and Île-de-France, from March 9 to 15, 2026