Ascension Weekend 2026: red and black days ahead for Bison Futé, a forecast update

Ascension Day long weekend is shaping up to be particularly tough for drivers across France. Bison Futé foresees heavy traffic from Wednesday, May 13, 2026, through Sunday, May 17. Here are the detailed forecasts and tips to avoid the jams.

The Ascension Day long weekend is here, bringing four days of rest and activities for kids and adults alike. Yet such freedom comes with its hiccups, especially for those planning to travel a bit this weekend. Bison Futé projects heavy traffic from Wednesday, May 13 across the country. A long weekend that, unfortunately, tends to mean jams. For a stress-free travel experience, we suggest keeping an eye on the Bison Futé forecasts and planning your trips accordingly.

Major traffic disruption expected from Wednesday as departures begin

The forecasts from Bison Futé are not very encouraging for those planning to hit the road starting this Wednesday. The entire country is ranked in red, and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is even classified as black. Bison Futé expects very heavy traffic from late morning in Île-de-France, around the toll booths on the A6 and A10 highways. This congestion is likely to rise throughout the afternoon and stay difficult into the evening.

For the return traffic, France is also rated orange, signaling heavy activity on all major road corridors this Wednesday.

Which times should be avoided for departures on Wednesday and Thursday?

Wednesday, May 13, drivers should:

Leave or cross Île-de-France before 10 a.m.
Avoid the A25 highway, between Lille and Dunkerque, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Avoid the A13 highway, between Paris and Rouen, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and between Rouen and Caen, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Avoid the A10 highway, between Poitiers and Bordeaux, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Avoid the A7 highway, between Lyon and Orange from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and between Orange and Marseille, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Thursday, May 14, a day still tough on the departures front:

Exit or cross Île-de-France before 6 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
Avoid the A4 motorway, between Paris and Reims, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Avoid the A13 motorway, between Paris and Rouen, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and between Rouen and Caen, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Avoid the A11 motorway, between Paris and Le Mans, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and between Le Mans and Angers, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Avoid the A10 motorway, between Paris and Tours, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., between Tours and Poitiers, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and between Poitiers and Bordeaux, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Bison Futé advises drivers to leave Île-de-France early in the morning, or after 5 p.m., on these two weekend departure days to limit the disruption.

Which routes should be avoided for weekend returns?

The peak of difficulty is expected on Sunday, May 17, rated red by Bison Futé. Traffic will be very heavy in the return direction, notably from the Grand Ouest and North regions. Highways are expected to be particularly congested from the afternoon through to early evening. Motorists are advised to:

Enter or pass through Île-de-France before 10:00.
Avoid the A13 motorway, between Caen and Rouen from 11:00 to 18:00, and between Rouen and Paris from 12:00 to 18:00.
Avoid the A81 motorway and the N81 national road between Rennes and Le Mans from 16:00 to 19:00.
Avoid the A11 motorway between Angers and Le Mans from 11:00 to 14:00, and between Le Mans and Paris from 15:00 to 17:00.
Avoid the A10 motorway between Bordeaux and Poitiers from 15:00 to 17:00, between Poitiers and Tours from 12:00 to 17:00, between Tours and Orléans from 16:00 to 19:00, and between Orléans and Paris from 11:00 to 23:00.

In Île-de-France, the A10, A13 and A6 motorways are expected to be heavily congested today, with traffic delays likely to persist well into the evening.

Tips for avoiding traffic jams

On departures:

Leave Île-de-France before 10:00 or after midnight on Wednesday, and again before 05:00 or after 17:00 on Thursday.
Avoid the main routes listed by Bison Futé during the critical hours.

For feedback:

Getting to Île-de-France before 3:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Avoid the major western highways and the Mont-Blanc tunnel.

The Ascension weekend is traditionally a peak travel period, but with careful planning you can minimize the disruption and then enjoy the long weekend. Stay on top of the latest traffic updates and adjust your plans accordingly for a smoother trip.