The annual winter holiday season is once again upon us and, as customary, schools start their holidays in three batches on 16 and 23 February and 2 March 2026, depending on the region. People should expect increased northbound traffic when planning their holidays. Winter holidays will cause increased traffic from Friday 13 February onwards, especially during the following weekends.
As the winter holiday season approaches, Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre reminds people to drive safely and especially to remember the importance of having a well-slept and alert driver.
”A tired driver is one of the greatest risks in traffic. During winter holidays, people often drive long distances towards the slopes and ski trails of the north. Drivers should make sure that they get enough sleep before the trip. People should also travel without needless haste; it is important to avoid unnecessary overtaking and to take enough breaks during the long journey. We must also remember that driving conditions constantly change during winter and that driving speed should always be changed accordingly,” Eero Sauramäki, Head of unit at Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre, explains.
Traffic forecasts from Fintraffic’s Road Traffic Centre
Friday 13 February and Saturday 14 February are expected to be the busiest days of outbound traffic during the winter holiday season. On these days, many travel north from Helsinki Metropolitan Area and the Southwest Finland and Satakunta regions. Traffic volumes will increase on Friday afternoon, and there may be occasional queues, especially on the exit roads from Helsinki Metropolitan Area and on main roads 4, 5 and 9 up to Jyväskylä and Mikkeli. Traffic volumes higher than on normal winter Sundays are also expected for Sunday 15 February, although they will be moderate compared to the previous days. Queues can also be expected in the vicinity of northern tourist destinations, especially during Friday and Saturday.
Shift during second weekend: Saturday busiest day in traffic
As people from Southern Finland are returning home from their winter holidays, residents of Central Finland will embark on theirs. On Friday 20 February, the roads of Southern Finland will experience increased traffic volumes, particularly in southbound traffic. In Central Finland, traffic will increase in both directions.
The busiest day of the week will be Saturday 21 February, with large amounts of northbound traffic, especially on main roads 4, 5 and 9. There will still be increased southbound traffic on Sunday 22 February, but the volumes are expected to be lower than on Saturday. On Sunday, main roads 3, 4, 5 and 9 will be the most popular routes. In addition, drivers should expect occasional queues near northern tourist destinations.
Third peak in northern traffic in late February and early March
The last traffic peak of the winter holiday season will take place at the turn of February and March, as the previous week’s travellers return home and people from Northern and Eastern Finland begin their holidays. On Friday 27 February and Sunday 1 March, traffic volumes will be high in the north, especially on routes Oulu–Kemi–Rovaniemi (main road 4) and Oulu–Kuusamo (main road 20).
Stay informed of congestion and driving conditions with the Fintraffic App
Winter holiday traffic is easier to navigate if you can anticipate the traffic situation and weather conditions.
”Information is the best travel companion on the road. Fintraffic App is a free and convenient application that people can use during breaks to check which roads have congested traffic or challenging conditions. Users can also save their favourite routes and then receive notifications of disruptions,” Eero Sauramäki explains.
Fintraffic App is available for iOS and Android from app stores.
Fintraffic wishes you a safe winter holiday on the road!
