London to Berlin

[Chris944]

I have an end-August trip to Berlin coming up, with two nights in Berlin for a work event and driving to and from there from London in a 996. The plan is to drive there in a day and drive back in a day, which means, I think the A2 autobahn. Google maps suggests going via Antwerp, which means in turn the dreaded Kennedy tunnel and Antwerp ring road.

If this can't be avoided then what time would people advise Eurotunneling across the channel to get to Antwerp and the Kennedy Tunnel at a time when the traffic is bearable? I'm guessing it means driving in the dark.

Chris.

[spookly]

Chris944 said:

I have an end-August trip to Berlin coming up, with two nights in Berlin for a work event and driving to and from there from London in a 996. The plan is to drive there in a day and drive back in a day, which means, I think the A2 autobahn. Google maps suggests going via Antwerp, which means in turn the dreaded Kennedy tunnel and Antwerp ring road.

If this can't be avoided then what time would people advise Eurotunneling across the channel to get to Antwerp and the Kennedy Tunnel at a time when the traffic is bearable? I'm guessing it means driving in the dark.

Chris.

Other tunnels are available. I took a wrong turn coming south through Antwerp a few weeks ago and the sat nav took me through a series of shorter tunnels (about 4 IIRC) and out onto a rural-ish road leading down to Bruges.

Traffic in Antwerp is worst around either rush hour... starting from about 7.30am, and not great through the day, really bad between about 4 and 7pm. Unless it is a weekend, then it seems completely random.

If I was driving and wanting an easy life I'd want to be past Antwerp by 7am, then I could hit the traffic jams near Duisburg/Essen/Dortmund in time for rush hour :-)

[Red Devil]

You could avoid Antwerp altogether and cross the Ruhr this way - https://goo.gl/maps/nko2jiqVR912

[Mandat]

I drive to Berlin at least once a year, and go via Antwerp. The Kennedy tunnel is slow going at peak times, but I have never found completely blocked.

I would say that the drive through Antwerp via the tunnel is usually 30-45 minutes.