France’s traffic-monitoring agency Bison Futé forecasts heavy congestion on 20–21 February 2026 as Zone C schools—Paris, Créteil and Versailles—start their winter break. Île-de-France is classified ‘orange’ for departures, meaning delays of several hours on the A6, A10 and A43 arterials that funnel holidaymakers towards ski resorts and southern sun.
Drivers are urged to leave the capital before 10 a.m. or after 10 p.m.; on Saturday the worst bottlenecks are expected between 08:00 and 14:00 around Lyon and Chambéry. New ‘Mountain Law’ rules on snow tyres and chains, in force until 31 March, will be policed rigorously, officials warn. Strong gusts forecast by Météo-France could further slow high-altitude passes.
![Bison Futé issues orange traffic alert as winter-holiday exodus begins]()
For international travellers who intend to hit these same roads, VisaHQ can help remove one layer of uncertainty by handling Schengen visa applications and even advising on International Driving Permits. Their easy online process at https://www.visahq.com/france/ ensures visitors nail the paperwork long before they encounter any traffic snarl-ups, keeping the focus on the journey rather than the red tape.
Although the alert targets leisure travel, companies running time-critical deliveries or employee relocations along the Rhône–Alps corridor could face knock-on costs. Logistics firms have re-scheduled overnight trucking slots, while some relocation providers are advising clients to hand over apartment keys on Thursday instead of Friday to avoid missing inventory checks.
Bison Futé expects traffic to normalise by Sunday night, offering a respite before the next holiday wave later in the month.
Drivers are urged to leave the capital before 10 a.m. or after 10 p.m.; on Saturday the worst bottlenecks are expected between 08:00 and 14:00 around Lyon and Chambéry. New ‘Mountain Law’ rules on snow tyres and chains, in force until 31 March, will be policed rigorously, officials warn. Strong gusts forecast by Météo-France could further slow high-altitude passes.
For international travellers who intend to hit these same roads, VisaHQ can help remove one layer of uncertainty by handling Schengen visa applications and even advising on International Driving Permits. Their easy online process at https://www.visahq.com/france/ ensures visitors nail the paperwork long before they encounter any traffic snarl-ups, keeping the focus on the journey rather than the red tape.
Although the alert targets leisure travel, companies running time-critical deliveries or employee relocations along the Rhône–Alps corridor could face knock-on costs. Logistics firms have re-scheduled overnight trucking slots, while some relocation providers are advising clients to hand over apartment keys on Thursday instead of Friday to avoid missing inventory checks.
Bison Futé expects traffic to normalise by Sunday night, offering a respite before the next holiday wave later in the month.
