Huge distance of summer vacation traffic congestion recorded by ADAC at 203.830 kilometres
In the summer of 2026, German motorways faced a surge in traffic congestion, with the August 1-3 weekend emerging as the most unfavourable. A total of 4,201 traffic jams were recorded, covering a staggering length of 9,498 kilometers and lasting for a whopping 4,721 hours, according to data from the ADAC.
The longest individual traffic jam of the year took place on the A24 from Schwerin to the Berliner Ring, lasting around ten hours and reaching a maximum length of 35 kilometers on Sunday, June 29.
Unsurprisingly, the ADAC recorded the highest figures for traffic jams, total length, and duration during the summer holidays in 2026. The A99, known as a traffic jam hotspot, saw significant congestion during this period, although specific details about its traffic conditions are not provided.
The A99 motorway bypassing Munich held the title for the worst traffic stretch during the summer holidays, with approximately 3,024 traffic jams normalized per 100 kilometers. The A3 followed closely behind with 1,245 traffic jams per 100 kilometers. The A8 in the south of Germany came in third with 1,473 traffic jams per 100 kilometers.
Contrary to common belief, Saturdays during weekends in 2026 were the most traffic-heavy days, with the average number of traffic jams almost twice as many as on Fridays and Sundays. The weekend of July 25-27, for instance, saw 3,946 traffic jams and a total length of 8,767 kilometers.
Despite the decrease in traffic jams and total length compared to the previous year, the total time loss due to all traffic jams during the summer holidays in 2025 was 119,233 hours, an increase of 7.6% compared to the year before. The number of traffic jams on German motorways during the summer holidays in 2024 was 119,246, which is higher than in 2025 (116,020).
However, the overall trend shows fewer but still significant traffic jams nationwide during the 2025 summer period, totaling about 116,000 traffic jams with a length of over 203,000 kilometers, according to ADAC data. The German motorway with the most traffic jams per 100 kilometers in 2025 was not explicitly stated in the search results.
It's important to note that this article does not compare the traffic conditions on the A99 to other German motorways. Similarly, the total length of traffic jams on the A99 during the summer holidays in 2025 is not mentioned, nor is the total time loss due to traffic jams on the A99 during this period.
The comparison of traffic conditions between 2023, 2024, and 2025 shows that the total length of traffic jams on German motorways during the summer holidays in 2025 was shorter than in 2023 and 2024.
As the summer holidays approach, it's crucial for drivers to plan their journeys carefully to avoid the gridlock and ensure a smoother, more enjoyable travel experience.
