Avoiding the Gotthard: the alternative routes
When a queue forms in front of the Gotthard road tunnel, the real question is rarely “is there an alternative?” but “is it still worth switching now?”. This page weighs up the realistic alternative routes and shows the point at which a detour stops paying off.
San Bernardino tunnel (A13): the main alternative
The A13 via Chur, Thusis and the San Bernardino tunnel to Bellinzona is the only alternative route that is open all year, safe in winter and motorway or expressway all the way. At about 6.6 kilometres, the tunnel is much shorter than the Gotthard.
The catch: when the Gotthard is jammed, a lot of drivers have the same idea at the same time. If the Gotthard queue lasts for hours, part of the traffic shifts to the A13, and then you are queuing there. If you are going to switch, do it early, not once everyone else has. The closure of the Gotthard tunnel after the 2001 fire showed how much traffic can shift: according to the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), lorry traffic on the San Bernardino route rose at the time from 650 to 2,700 lorries a day, and car traffic doubled.
Gotthard Pass: summer only, rarely faster
The pass road over the Gotthard is closed in winter, usually from November to May. The exact dates depend on snow and weather: in winter 2025/26 it was closed from 7 November 2025 to 8 May 2026. It is a rewarding scenic drive, with the historic Tremola on the Ticino side, but it is not a shortcut. Expect it to take considerably longer than the tunnel, even without a queue. With a queue at the north portal it can still make sense, because at least you keep moving. To see what it looks like up there right now, check the Gotthard Pass webcam.
If you are coming from the north and want to take the pass, use the extended Göschenen exit, which operates while the pass is open. It starts right after the Wassen slip road, is about 3 kilometres long and takes you onto the pass road without driving through Wassen on the cantonal road. The pass also serves as a diversion during the night closures of the tunnel, as long as it is open. For the dates, see Gotthard closures.
Nufenen and Lukmanier: for those who know the area
The Nufenen Pass (from Ulrichen in the Valais to Airolo) is only open in summer; according to the Touring Club Switzerland (TCS), its usual winter closure runs from November to June. The Lukmanier Pass (from Disentis to Biasca) has been open all year since the winter of 1999/2000, but in winter it can be closed overnight, or even during the day, depending on the weather and avalanche risk.
Both only make sense if your route already takes you in that direction. As a spur-of-the-moment reaction to a queue at Göschenen, both are usually too far away.
When is a detour worth it?
As a rule of thumb, a detour only pays off if its extra driving time is shorter than the expected delay at the tunnel. Bear in mind that the delay reported on this site applies to the moment of the report, not to the time you reach the portal. If the queue is growing, the real delay when you arrive will be longer than shown; if it is easing, it will be shorter.
In numbers: from Zurich to Chiasso, the TCS reckons on 2 hours 45 minutes through the tunnel without queues, and 3 hours 15 minutes via either the San Bernardino or the Gotthard Pass. The detour therefore costs about 30 minutes. With the rule of thumb 1 km of queue ≈ 10 minutes of waiting, it only pays off from about 3 km of queue at the portal, more reliably from 4 to 5 km if the queue is still growing, and only if no queue is reported on the A13. The comparison applies from Zurich, where the routes split.
| Route | Zurich–Chiasso without queues (TCS) | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Gotthard road tunnel (A2) | 2 h 45 min | all year, closed on some nights |
| San Bernardino tunnel (A13) | 3 h 15 min | all year |
| Gotthard Pass | 3 h 15 min | summer; winter closure usually November to May |
| Nufenen Pass | – | summer; winter closure usually November to June |
| Lukmanier Pass | – | all year, sometimes closed in winter |
Two situations clearly favour the A13: a queue that is still growing on the morning of a weekend in the holiday season, and a closure of the tunnel. Anything that looks like a short tailback that is already easing argues against the detour. The Gotthard traffic forecast shows which days, and which direction, typically see queues.
Check before you set off
The queue length and delay in each direction are on the home page with the live traffic situation. Where the southbound queue forms and how far back it reaches is explained on our Gotthard tunnel southbound page. How the tunnel works, why traffic is metered and why queues form in the first place is covered in our guide to the Gotthard road tunnel.
Alternative routes: frequently asked questions
Is the San Bernardino quicker than the Gotthard when there is a queue?
Only if the detour’s extra driving time is shorter than the expected delay at the tunnel. When the Gotthard is congested for hours, part of the traffic moves to the A13 and you end up queuing there instead, so if you switch, do it early. The delay shown on Stauportal applies to the moment of the report, not to the time you reach the portal.
Can you take the San Bernardino route in winter?
Yes. The A13 via Chur, Thusis and the San Bernardino tunnel to Bellinzona is the only alternative that is open all year, safe in winter and motorway or expressway all the way. At about 6.6 kilometres, the San Bernardino tunnel is much shorter than the Gotthard.
Is the Gotthard Pass faster than the tunnel?
No. Even without a queue, the pass road takes considerably longer than the tunnel. With a queue at the north portal it can still make sense, because at least you keep moving. The pass is closed in winter, usually from November to May; in winter 2025/26 it was closed from 7 November 2025 to 8 May 2026.
Are the Nufenen and Lukmanier passes open in winter?
The Nufenen Pass is only open in summer; according to the TCS its usual winter closure runs from November to June. The Lukmanier Pass has been open all year since the winter of 1999/2000, but in winter it can be closed overnight, or even during the day, depending on the weather and avalanche risk. Both are only worth it if your route already takes you that way.
Information provided without guarantee. For closures and pass openings, the official announcements from the Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) and the cantonal police always take precedence.