Weekend drive: up to an hour's wait at Horgos
The AMSS reports the worst delays this morning at Horgos, where entering Serbia takes about an hour. After Friday's showers, the weekend turns sunny and warm.
- Entering Serbia at Horgos takes about 60 minutes this morning, the AMSS reports.
- At Gradina and Presevo, leaving the country takes about 20 minutes; trucks at Batrovci wait about an hour.
- Friday, July 24, brings local showers with a high near 26 degrees Celsius.
- The weekend, July 25 and 26, turns mostly sunny and warm, ideal for a trip to the coast.
Heading to the coast this weekend and wondering how long you will sit at the border? If you are driving north, count on about an hour at Horgos, and if you wait for the weekend, sunshine will greet you instead of rain.
The AMSS published where the biggest delays are this morning. The reason is the summer changeover of tourists, when thousands of families head to or from the sea at the same time. Traffic is heavier on the motorways and at the crossings with Hungary, Croatia and Bulgaria, so patience pays off more than speed.
Where the biggest delays are this morning
The longest wait is at Horgos. Passenger vehicles entering Serbia are held up for about an hour, so if you are coming back from Hungary or farther in Europe, factor that into your travel plan.
At the Gradina and Presevo crossings, things are far easier. Leaving the country takes about 20 minutes, which is quite manageable for the summer season. Truck drivers need the most patience at Batrovci, where freight vehicles are held up for about an hour.
Our advice is simple. If you can pick your time, set off early in the morning or late in the evening, when the flow of travelers is lightest. Before you go, keep your documents and green card within reach, bring water and a full tank, because at the border you never know in advance how long you will sit. On the toll gates inside the country there are, fortunately, no delays, so the drive itself flows normally.
What weather is coming for the weekend?
Friday is changeable. The forecast for today calls for variable cloud, mostly dry in the north of Serbia, while the rest of the country sees rain, with local showers and thunderstorms in places. The daytime high reaches 26 degrees Celsius, which means you may drive through a downpour on parts of the route.
If you are traveling on Friday itself, drive more carefully and leave a bigger gap. Thunderstorms can cut visibility within seconds, and wet asphalt lengthens your braking distance. For young families traveling with children, that is one more reason not to rush.
The good news comes for the weekend. According to the forecast, July 25 and 26 should be mostly sunny and warm, without showers to disrupt the drive. That is an ideal window for a trip to the coast or the journey home, with dry roads and clear skies.
If experience tells you the queues at Horgos only ease off in the evening, it is worth shifting your departure a little. The combination of sunny weather and an emptier border makes the difference between an exhausting trip and a pleasant one.
And you, are you setting off this weekend, and which crossing are you planning to take?
