From June to August, every weekend brings significant queues at the Gotthard. Saturday morning is the critical time for travel towards Italy.
N → S (Göschenen)
S → N (Airolo)
Tunnel
openPass
closedQueue updated every 60 seconds
Worst hours
08:00–12:00
Depart before
06:30
or after
14:00
Worst hours
08:00–13:00
Depart before
06:00
or after
15:00
August is the worst month of the year: queues of 15–20 km are common, especially around Ferragosto.
Worst hours
15:00–19:00
Depart before
12:00
or after
20:00
Worst hours
14:00–18:00
Depart before
12:00
or after
19:00
| Day | Direction | Risk | Best windows | Peak hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday – southbound | ↓ Southbound | High | before 12:00 · after 19:00 | 14:00–18:00 |
| Saturday (June–July) – southbound | ↓ Southbound | Extreme | before 06:30 · after 14:00 | 08:00–12:00 |
| Saturday (August) – southbound Departing before 06:00 is the only reliable way to avoid the queue in August. | ↓ Southbound | Extreme | before 06:00 · after 15:00 | 08:00–13:00 |
| Sunday – northbound | ↑ Northbound | High | before 12:00 · after 20:00 | 15:00–19:00 |
Worst hours
08:00–14:00
Expected queue
~15 km
Saturdays in July and August see the longest queues of the year, with peaks up to 20 km in exceptional years. Traffic starts forming from 07:00 and reaches its peak between 10:00 and 12:00.
Contraflow threshold: 10 km
For extreme summer queues, ASTRA activates the official diversion via the San Bernardino (A13) with variable signs at Amsteg (north) and Airolo (south). For weeks with very poor forecasts, an advance warning is published the evening before on trafik.info.
Queue ≥ 10 km southbound
Official diversion to A13 San Bernardino activated — variable signs at Amsteg and Airolo
Extreme traffic forecast for the weekend
Advance warning published the night before via trafik.info and TCS bulletins
Main alternative during summer weekends. Often saves more than one hour compared to the congested Gotthard.
Open approximately June to October. Scenic but with possible local traffic.
For travellers heading to Lake Maggiore or western Ticino.
Traffic information and forecasts from the Touring Club Switzerland. Publishes weekly bulletins every Thursday.
Official Swiss road information portal managed by the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA/FEDRO).
Real-time traffic information for Switzerland, with advance warnings for peak weekends.