Holiday departures this weekend: how to avoid traffic jams? Bison Futé issues an orange alert for Île-de-France

This weekend dedicated to vacation departures is set to be busy on roads throughout Île-de-France and beyond. Friday, February 20, 2026, marks the start of the winter holidays for Zone C, which includes the academic regions of Paris, Créteil, and Versailles. Bison Futé has classified Île-de-France as being in orange, signaling a peak in departure traffic, with traffic jams expected from late morning through the evening.

This seasonal shuffle between holidaymakers heading out and others returning home is a classic February pattern. The C zone now takes over from zones A and B, which have been on vacation for several weeks already, leading to increased traffic on major routes—especially those heading to the ski resorts in the Alps and Burgundy. It’s also worth noting that this weekend marks the start of school holidays in the Dutch North zone, while those in Luxembourg and the Central and Southern Dutch zones are coming to an end. As a result, more international drivers are adding to the usual flow on French roads.

Friday, February 20: The Best Time to Travel and Skip the Traffic Jams in Île-de-France

In Île-de-France, the first slowdowns are set to begin as early as late morning on the A6 motorway between Wissous and Chilly-Mazarin in Essonne, with traffic disruptions expected to last into the evening. By mid-afternoon, usual commuter traffic will add to the congestion, making the journey even more challenging.

To minimize delays, Bison Futé advises travelers to leave or cross Île-de-France before 10 a.m. or after 10 p.m.. On routes heading east, it's recommended to avoid the A31 between Nancy and Luxembourg from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the A36 between Besançon and Germany from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the A6 between Beaune and Mâcon from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 21: the busiest day in both directions

Saturday is set to be the busiest day of the weekend for travel. In terms of departures, roads heading east, toward Burgundy, and in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region are expected to see heavy traffic starting early morning and continuing into the early evening. Bison Futé's advice for Saturday includes the following tips:

On the departure front:

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• Avoid the A31 motorway between Dijon and Nancy from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Steer clear of the A6 motorway connecting Auxerre and Beaune between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Skip the A39 highway from Dijon to Viriat, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Avoid the A40 motorway between Mâcon and Passy from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Refrain from using the A43 motorway between Lyon and Chambéry from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and between Chambéry and the Fréjus Tunnel from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Island the RN85 road between Grenoble and Gap from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Algebra the Mont-Blanc Tunnel (N205) connecting France and Italy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On the return journey:

• Avoid the RN85, between Gap and Grenoble, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Steer clear of the A43, between the Fréjus Tunnel and Chambéry, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and between Chambéry and Lyon, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Refrain from using the A40, between Passy and Mâcon, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Caution: Sudden Gusts of Wind Across the Roads

This weekend, weather conditions are expected to further complicate travel plans. Gusts of wind have been reported on several major routes. Before hitting the road, drivers are strongly advised to check the latest alerts from Météo-France and monitor real-time traffic updates on bison-fute.gouv.fr. For mountain journeys, remember that the Mountain Law requires winter tires or chains from November 1st to March 31st in the 48 designated departments.

The good news: starting Sunday, February 22, traffic is expected to return to normal across the entire country, lasting through the weekend of February 27. A much-needed breather before the next busy holiday period.