The general traffic forecast for this weekend is for moderate to high congestion, particularly on main arterial routes and along coastal roads, as holidaymakers take advantage of the weekend. However, this is your advance warning that the busiest weekend of the summer is almost upon us. More about that next time!

Operation Return: August 29-31

Friday, 22 August 2025

Traffic is expected to be heavy, especially from the late afternoon and into the evening as people finish work and begin their weekend journeys. The main problems will be on the major motorways heading out of large cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, as well as on coastal routes towards the popular holiday destinations in Andalusia, the Valencian Community, and Catalonia.

The DGT has advised that drivers should expect delays on the A-3 in the direction of Valencia, the A-4 towards Seville, the A-5 to Mérida, the A-6 towards A Coruña, and the AP-7 along the Mediterranean coast.

There are no major national holidays, but local events in smaller towns and villages across the country may cause localised road closures and diversions. The “Feria de Málaga” will be continuing throughout the weekend and will likely cause significant traffic and parking problems in and around the city.

Saturday, 23 August 2025

Morning traffic is anticipated to be very heavy, with a combination of long-distance trips and shorter journeys to beaches and local events. Congestion is expected to be at its peak between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the main routes leading to coastal and mountain resorts.

The DGT has advised drivers to be particularly aware of the start of the “Vuelta a España” cycling race, which will be affecting roads across Spain in the coming weeks. Specifically, today, there is a “Cicloturista Caboalles de Abajo – Leitariegos” cycling event, a cyclosportive in the province of León, which may cause some localised road closures and diversions in the area around Caboalles de Abajo.

The “Festa Major” of Sitges in Catalonia is also taking place over the weekend, which will impact local traffic in the town and its surrounding area.

Sunday, 24 August 2025

The DGT is forecasting that Sunday will see a substantial volume of return traffic, particularly in the afternoon and evening. Drivers heading back towards major urban centres will experience significant delays on the main motorways, with peak congestion expected between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Routes such as the A-3 from Valencia to Madrid, the AP-7 along the coast, and the A-4 from Seville towards Madrid will be particularly affected. The ongoing Feria de Málaga and the Festa Major in Sitges may also continue to impact local traffic.

Next Week

As we enter the final week of August, traffic will remain busy, but the patterns will shift. We anticipate a significant number of vehicles returning from their summer holidays, with particularly high volumes on the major routes back towards the large urban centres throughout the week.

This will coincide with the start of the ‘Operation Crossing the Strait’ where traffic from neighbouring countries begins to make its way towards the border checkpoints.

The first stages of the “Vuelta a España” will also be taking place, so road users should check for daily stage routes to avoid potential closures and diversions, especially in the areas of Valladolid, Andorra, and the Angliru mountains.

The post The Relative Calm Before the Storm on Spain’s Busy Roads this Weekend! first appeared on N332 Radio.