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Drivers are being warned over exceptionally heavy traffic this weekend, as millions are set to take advantage of Thursday’s Ascension public holiday. 

Intense traffic is expected across the country today (May 28), Thursday (May 29) and Sunday (June 1), warns official traffic watchdog Bison Futé. 

Many people are set to leave for an extended weekend holiday, making the bridge (faire le pont) by taking Friday off as a paid holiday to profit from a four-day weekend (Thursday is the Ascension public holiday). 

Schools are also closed on Friday for pupils, encouraging more families to take advantage of the time off. 

On Sunday, several ‘black’ warnings – the highest possible level – have been issued over traffic returning to major population points in the north of France, one of only four days this year facing the maximum warning. 

On Wednesday and Thursday, all of France has been issued a ‘red’ warning – the second highest possible – on roads leading out of major cities. 

Warnings are not in place on Friday or Saturday, as roads are expected to be relatively quiet with people already at their destinations and not leaving until Sunday.

The image below shows the warnings for each day.

On days when the entire country is affected by warnings, it means that difficult conditions are expected on most major roads either into or out of holiday destinations.

A full breakdown of information is provided by Bison Futé .

Day-by-day breakdown 

Wednesday May 28 

Traffic is expected to be busy in all regions of France on outward journeys, particularly from the afternoon onwards. 

However, roads will begin to get busy from as early as 10:00, as some try to get the jump on the expected traffic. 

Major arteries across the French network are likely to be saturated, particularly those heading to holiday destinations, namely in the south-west, Mediterranean, and Normandy.

Bison Futé has issued the following advice for outward journeys: 

• Exit or pass through the ÃŽle-de-France region before 10:00 or after midnight

• Avoid the A31 in the direction Nancy-Luxembourg from 16:00 to 19:00

• Avoid the A13 in the direction Paris-Caen from 17:00 to 20:00

• Avoid the A11 in the direction Angers-Nantes from 16:00 to 19:00

• Avoid the A63 in the direction Bordeaux-Bayonne from 16:00 to 20;00

• Avoid the A7 in the direction Lyon-Orange from 16:00 to 23:00, and between Salon-de-Provence-Marseille from 16:00 to 20:00

• Avoid the A9 in the direction Orange-Narbonne from 17:00 to 21:00

• Avoid the A61 in the direction Toulouse-Narbonne from 17:00 to 19:00

• Avoid the Mont-Blanc tunnel (N205) in the direction France-Italy between 16:00 and 21:00

This is the advice for those returning to larger cities: 

• Re-enter the ÃŽle-de-France region before 15:00 or after 20:00

• Avoid the A22 in the direction Belgium-Lille from 15:00 to 18:00

• Avoid the A21 in the direction Douchy-les-Mines-Bully-les-Mines from: 14:00 to 19:00

• Avoid the A1 in the direction Lille-Paris from 15:00 to 20:00

• Avoid the A50 in the direction Toulon-Marseille from 16:00 to 19:00

• Avoid the A7 in the direction Marseille-Salon-de-Provence from 12:00 to 19:00 

• Avoid the A54 and the N113 trunk road in the direction Nîmes-Salon-de-Provence from 14:00 to 20:00

• Avoid the A75 in the direction Béziers-Clermont-Ferrand from 13:00 to 18:00

Thursday May 29

Heightened traffic levels will continue into the Ascension public holiday as more holidaymakers set off, with traffic beginning early in the morning. 

While fewer roads are likely to be impacted, the roads that are may face heavier traffic

The following advice has been issued: 

• Exit or pass through the ÃŽle-de-France region before 05:00 or after 16:00

• Avoid the A13 in the direction Paris-Caen from 10:00 to 14:00

• Avoid the Route Nationale 165 in the direction Nantes-Quimper from 10:00 to 17:00

• Avoid the A10 in the direction Orléans-Tours from 11:00 to 13:00

• Avoid the A7 in the direction Lyon-Orange from 11:00 to 17:00

• Avoid the A9 in the direction Montpellier-Narbonne from 12:00 to 14:00

• Avoid the A61 in the direction Toulouse-Narbonne from 11:00 to 15:00

• Avoid the Mont-Blanc tunnel (N205) in the direction France-Italy from 07:00 to 18:00

Sunday June 1 

Black-level warnings are in place for roads returning to larger cities in Brittany, Normandy, the Pays de la Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, and Hauts-de-France. 

The ÃŽle-de-France region is not at the highest level, but many drivers will be returning to the capital.

However, all other regions face red warnings for return journeys, with major roads in the south of France also set to be busy. 

There are no warnings in place for those departing larger cities for smaller or touristic areas, as the vast majority of people will be coming back from their extended weekend and not set to start a new one. 

The following advice is in place: 

• Rejoin the ÃŽle-de-France region before 10:00 or after midnight

• Avoid the A25 in the direction Socx-Lille from 17:00 to 19:00

• Avoid the A13 in the direction Caen-Paris from 11:00 to 16:00

• Avoid the A11 in the direction Angers-Le Mans from 10:00 to 19:00, and Le Mans-Paris from 16:00 to 20:00

• Avoid the Route Nationale 157 and A81 in the direction Rennes-Le Mans from 15:00 to 17:00

• Avoid the Route Nationale N165 in the direction Quimper-Nantes from 15:00 to 18:00

• Avoid the A10 in the direction Bordeaux-Tours from 12:00 to 19:00 and in the direction Tours-Orléans, from 18:00 to 21:00

• Avoid the A9 in the direction Spain-Narbonne from 13:00 to 17:00 and in the direction Narbonne-Orange from 13:00 to 19:00

• Avoid the A7 in the direction Marseille-Orange from 10:00 to 17:00 and in the direction Orange-Lyon, from 12:00 to 19:00

• Avoid the A20 in the direction Brive-La-Gaillarde-Châteauroux from 15:00 to 18:00

• Avoid the A61 in the direction Narbonne-Toulouse from 15:00 to 17:00

• Avoid the Mont-Blanc tunnel (N205) in the direction Italy-France, from 10:00 to 23:00