Autumn holiday chaos: traffic jams and full streets in northern Germany!

Autumn holiday chaos: traffic jams and full streets in northern Germany!

The autumn holidays in Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg are in full swing, while Lower Saxony has already been in holiday mode for a week. This time brings with it a real rush of traffic, which is particularly noticeable today, October 18, 2025. The traffic flow on the motorways in the north is dense and often causes despair for travelers. How ndr.de reports, traffic jams and stalled traffic are the norm - especially along the busy A7.

Drivers face several challenges on the A7: between Neumünster-Nord and Neumünster-Süd they have to expect a time loss of around 20 minutes. Things get even worse between Bispingen and Egestorf, where it takes at least 30 minutes. An accident has closed the road between Evendorf and Garlstorf, and a diversion leads via the Egestorf forest settlement. Travelers also have to expect traffic jams on the A1, both on the route from Lübeck to Hamburg, where there is a problem before the Norderelbe triangle, and between Osnabrück and Bremen. This is where things get difficult between the Stuhr and Bremen-Arsten triangle and in the opposite direction.

Traffic forecasts and construction sites

The weekend from October 17th to 19th, 2025 will be loud adac.de even more crowded since almost all federal states are on vacation. In particular, the A1 and A7, which are full of construction sites, as well as the Hamburg Elbe Tunnel are real traffic jam hotspots. Interestingly, a planned 55-hour full closure of the Elbe Tunnel was canceled to minimize the impact on traffic flow.

A massive risk of traffic jams awaits travelers in large areas such as Hamburg, Berlin and Munich. A look at the traffic jam forecast shows that the main roads to the North and Baltic Sea coasts will also be heavily congested. If you want to get on the motorway, you shouldn't ignore the ADAC tips for preparing for your trip. The ADAC recommends choosing the A21 as an alternative route to the heavily used A1 and A7.

Tips for stress-free travel

For those traveling on Friday or Saturday, it is advisable to monitor current traffic reports and pack plenty of drinks and snacks. Particularly important: keep the emergency exit clear! Traffic problems can also be exacerbated by random checks at the border with Denmark and by weather-related obstructions such as fog.

Loading the car train to Sylt in Niebüll is also a particular challenge and will probably take longer. Around 55,000 passengers are expected at Hamburg Airport on Friday, with a total of around 370,000 passengers expected during the autumn holidays.

With all this information, drivers are well equipped to make their journeys relaxed. In the second week of the holiday, which has begun in Bremen and Lower Saxony, it is important to plan ahead and find out about alternative routes. Although traffic jams can be frustrating, there are ways to make the journey more enjoyable.