The Easter holiday is expected to increase traffic on popular thoroughfares, like highway A6 in Kaiserslautern, next week, according to the ADAC. (Markus Hannich/ADAC)

Eleven German states and neighboring countries embark on Easter holidays next week, bringing an uptick in traffic and congestion on highways and during peak travel times this weekend, according to German automobile club ADAC.

Schools in Hamburg, Bremen and Lower Saxony are starting the holiday today. Schools are then closing for two weeks next Monday in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen-Anhalt and Thuringia.

Popular destinations for German holidaymakers include the Alps, Austria and Italy, and coastal regions, though a significant number of families are expected to remain local, according to ADAC.

Prime congestion times are anticipated between 1-7 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to noon and 4-8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Traffic hotspots include the A1 from Hamburg to Cologne, the A3 from Oberhausen to Passau, and the A6 from Mannheim to Nuremberg, among others. Additionally, travelers should expect delays at major border crossings into Germany, with wait times estimated between 15-30 minutes.