Driving to Memmingen Airport: A96, A7 and the Sat-Nav Trap
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Hardly any German airport lies as close to a motorway junction as Allgäu Airport. The A96 from Munich to Lindau and the A7 from Ulm to Füssen meet near Memmingen, and a few minutes east of there is the terminal in Memmingerberg. For drivers this is convenient – with two catches: entering “Memmingen” in the sat nav leads to the old town instead of the airport, and in an Allgäu winter the drive can take considerably longer than in summer. This guide shows the most important routes, typical pitfalls and how to build your schedule.
Key facts at a glance
- A96, exit Memmingen-Ost; from the A7 via the Memmingen junction.
- Enter Memmingerberg or the address from your booking in the sat nav.
- In winter, allow for snow and ice.
- Work out your schedule backwards from the departure time and the airline deadlines.
Via the A96
The A96 is the main access road. Coming from Munich, Landsberg and Buchloe, drive west to the Memmingen-Ost exit and then follow the signs to the airport. Coming from Lindau and Lake Constance, drive east, pass the Memmingen junction and also take the Memmingen-Ost exit. The road is well developed; at the start of the holidays and on Friday afternoons it can get busy, however, especially between Munich and Landsberg.
Via the A7
From Ulm and Neu-Ulm, the A7 runs south to the Memmingen junction, where you switch to the A96 towards Munich and, after a short distance, take the Memmingen-Ost exit. From Kempten, Füssen and the Oberallgäu, drive north on the A7 to the Memmingen junction and then onto the A96. In summer and winter the A7 is dominated by holiday traffic heading for Austria and Italy.
The sat-nav trap
The most common mistake on the way there: only “Memmingen” is entered in the sat nav. The route then leads into the town centre, several kilometres away from the airport. Allgäu Airport is located in the municipality of Memmingerberg. So enter the exact address from your parking booking or “Flughafen Memmingen, Memmingerberg”. Check the route in the map view the evening before so that you can be sure.
Winter in the Allgäu
The Allgäu gets a lot of snow. Anyone coming from the Oberallgäu, from Füssen or the Westallgäu often drives on snow-covered roads in winter before reaching the cleared motorway. Winter tyres are mandatory in wintry conditions, and a snow shovel and an ice scraper belong in the car. When it snows, allow considerably more time – an extra 30 minutes is no exaggeration. Check the weather forecast and traffic reports before you set off.
Holiday traffic from two federal states
Allgäu Airport is in Bavaria, but many passengers come from Baden-Württemberg – from Ulm, Biberach, Ravensburg or Lake Constance. When the holidays start in both states, the A7 and A96 carry more traffic. On top of that comes through traffic heading for the Alps and Italy. If you fly on such days, set off earlier.
Working out your schedule backwards
- Check the airline’s deadlines for bag drop and boarding.
- Set the recommended arrival time at the terminal.
- Time for parking: valet takes a few minutes, shuttle a transfer block.
- Driving time plus buffer – generous in winter.
Example: departure at 11:20, two hours in advance, so at the terminal at 9:20. Valet meeting point at 9:05. From Augsburg via the B17, the A96 and the Memmingen-Ost exit, allow around 70 minutes, plus 25 minutes of buffer: departure at 7:30. For early flights, the guide Early flights from Memmingen will help.
The last stretch
After the Memmingen-Ost exit, a few kilometres of country road lead to the airport grounds. The signposting is clear. Private parking providers have their sites partly along this route and partly in surrounding villages. Many ask you to call before you arrive – see frequently asked questions about calling the provider.
When time gets tight
In a traffic jam or snow, first inform the parking provider, check online check-in and, if time is very short, contact the airline. Tips: frequently asked questions about delays on the way there. With low-cost airlines the deadlines are often strict, so it is better to plan more buffer.
Refuelling and charging
Refuel or charge before the trip so that after your return you can get home without a detour. After a late return flight to the Allgäu, not all petrol stations are open, and nobody wants to search for a free charging point at night with an electric car.
Country roads, tractors and cattle drives
Anyone coming from the rural Unterallgäu or the Westallgäu often drives a fair distance on country roads before reaching the motorway. At harvest time, tractors and agricultural vehicles are on the move there and cannot be overtaken everywhere. In September, during the traditional “Viehscheid” cattle drives in many villages of the Oberallgäu, the cows come down from the alpine pastures into the valley; village through-roads are then closed at times. If you fly on such a day, check the dates in your municipality beforehand and plan a detour or more time.
Föhn, thunderstorms and hail
In summer, violent thunderstorms sometimes build up over the Allgäu, bringing traffic to a brief standstill with heavy rain and hail. When the warm föhn wind blows, on the other hand, it is warm and clear. A look at the weather forecast the evening before helps you prepare for such situations. If there is a severe weather warning, it is better to set off half an hour earlier.
With a motorhome or trailer
Many people in the Allgäu own a motorhome or a caravan. If you drive one to the airport, you need a provider that accepts large vehicles. State the length and height when booking and ask whether the access to the site is suitable. More: frequently asked questions about large vehicles.
With an electric car
Along the A96 and the A7 there are fast chargers at several service areas. Still, plan so that you arrive at the airport with enough range for the journey home. After a late return flight to the Oberallgäu or Lake Constance, nobody wants to look for a free charger, and in winter the range drops noticeably in the cold.
Service area or straight through?
From Munich it is a good hundred kilometres to Memmingerberg – short enough to drive without a break, long enough to get tired after a strenuous working day. If you drive to an airport hotel or to the car park in the evening after work, take a short break at an A96 service area if in doubt.
Major events in the region
In summer, festivals such as the Memmingen Fischertag or the Allgäuer Festwoche in Kempten attract many visitors. Large music festivals and markets in the Allgäu also cause more traffic on the access roads on certain days. If you fly on such days, check the regional events calendar beforehand and allow a little more time. On the motorway itself you usually notice little of this – more so on the last kilometres through the towns.
Roadworks at the Memmingen junction
At the Memmingen junction, the north–south traffic of the A7 meets the east–west traffic of the A96. When there are roadworks here, tailbacks build up quickly – especially in the holiday season, when many cars are heading for Austria and Italy. Die Autobahn GmbH, the federal motorway company, announces major roadworks in advance. A look at the roadworks overview before the trip is worthwhile.
With the right address in the sat nav, a look at the weather and some buffer, you will arrive relaxed in Memmingerberg from any direction.
Don’t forget the vignette
If you are travelling from Vorarlberg, Tyrol or Switzerland, you need a valid vignette for the motorways there. Without one, you risk fines. Before you set off, check whether your vignette is still valid – also for the return journey after your holiday.
Have a good drive to Memmingerberg!
If you have questions about the last part of the route, your parking provider will be happy to help.
Checklist
- Sat nav set to Memmingerberg or the address from the booking
- Weather and traffic on the A96 and A7 checked
- Airline deadlines known
- Provider’s phone number saved
- Winter equipment in the car
All options: Parking options at Memmingen Airport. Routes by region: Getting to Memmingen Airport from the region. Whether offers can be booked via Friend-Park: Parking at Memmingen Airport.
