France’s traffic agency Bison Futé predicts severe congestion on routes from Paris to the Spanish border between 10 and 14 July, with Saturday 11 July coded ‘rouge’ (very difficult) for south-bound departures. The warning covers the A10 and A9 corridors used by thousands of holidaymakers driving to Catalonia and the Costa Brava. Spanish motorway operator Abertis has activated additional toll-lane staff at La Jonquera and will display bilingual alerts about expected wait times at the Le Pertus frontier.
![Bison Futé forecasts ‘very heavy’ cross-border traffic on 11 July as French holidays begin]()
Travellers should also double-check that their paperwork is in order before hitting the road; VisaHQ offers an easy online platform to obtain visas for Spain and the wider Schengen area, complete with live support and clear guidance: Sorting out formalities in advance can help avoid last-minute stress at already busy border crossings.
In 2025, the same weekend saw delays of up to two hours at the AP-7 toll plaza, prompting complaints from coach operators transporting package-tour groups. Logistics firms moving time-sensitive goods are advised to schedule crossings overnight or use the Atlantic corridor via Irún. Car-hire companies in Barcelona expect a 15 % spike in late pick-ups as arrivals are delayed; many now offer grace periods of up to three hours. The DGT recommends that Spanish residents returning from France avoid Sunday afternoon, traditionally the peak return window, and consider rail alternatives such as Renfe-SNCF’s high-speed services, which are adding 4,000 extra seats this weekend.
Travellers should also double-check that their paperwork is in order before hitting the road; VisaHQ offers an easy online platform to obtain visas for Spain and the wider Schengen area, complete with live support and clear guidance: Sorting out formalities in advance can help avoid last-minute stress at already busy border crossings.
In 2025, the same weekend saw delays of up to two hours at the AP-7 toll plaza, prompting complaints from coach operators transporting package-tour groups. Logistics firms moving time-sensitive goods are advised to schedule crossings overnight or use the Atlantic corridor via Irún. Car-hire companies in Barcelona expect a 15 % spike in late pick-ups as arrivals are delayed; many now offer grace periods of up to three hours. The DGT recommends that Spanish residents returning from France avoid Sunday afternoon, traditionally the peak return window, and consider rail alternatives such as Renfe-SNCF’s high-speed services, which are adding 4,000 extra seats this weekend.
