A2 (Germany)

The A2 in Germany is a major motorway in Germany. It connects the Ruhr Area with Berlin, via Hannover, Braunschweig and Magdeburg.

It crosses the A1 (Hamburg-Cologne) near Dortmund, the A7 (Hamburg-Frankfurt) in Hannover and the A30 (Bad Oeynhausen - Amsterdam (it merges into the Dutch A1 near Hengelo)) in Bad Oeynhausen

You can almost be sure to travel very fast here. There are plenty of gas stations, and all of them are highly frequented. It is also the most important connection between Poland and western Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Because of the many Polish cars and trucks, it is often referred to as Warsaw Alley. So when heading to Poland, you can try to find a direct ride here.

The A2 from Bad Oeynhausen til Berlin is part of the European road E30.

<map lat='52.2008737173322' lng='9.95361328125' zoom='7' view='0' width='800' height='200' />

Hitching the A2

Legend:  (very good) |  (good) |  (average) |  (bad) |  (senseless)

• (1) Kreuz Oberhausen
• (2) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Oberhausen-Königshardt
• (2b) Bottrop
  • Service station, only in direction Hannover.
• (3) File:AB-AS-blau.svg & Kreuz Bottrop
• (4) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Gladbeck-Ellinghorst
• (5) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Essen/Gladbeck
• (6) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Gelsenkirchen-Buer
• (6a) Resser Mark
  • Only in direction Oberhausen.
• (7) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Herten
• (8) Kreuz Recklinghausen
• (9) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Recklingenhausen-Süd
• (10) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Recklinghausen-Ost
• (11) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Henrichenburg
• (12) Kreuz Dortmund-Nordwest
• (12a) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Dortmund-Mengede
• (13) Kreuz Dortmund-Nordost
• (14) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Dortmund-Landstrop
• (15) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Kamen-Bergkamen
• (16) Kreuz Kamener Kreuz
• (17) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Bönen
• (18) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Hamm
• (18a) Hamm-Rhynern 10px (good)
  • For going west (Dortmund, Essen, Köln) easy to get rides, quite hard to find people going onto the A1 direction Münster.
• (19) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Hamm-Uentrop
• (20) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Beckum

At service area Auetal direction Dortmund.

• (21) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Oelde
• (23) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Rheda-Wiedenbrück
• (23a) Kleinraststätte-Gütersloh (very good)
• (24) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Gütersloh
• (24a) Obergassel/Niedergassel (bad)
• (25) Kreuz Bielefeld
• (26) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Bielefeld-Sennestadt 10px (very good), 10px (average)
  • This ramp is perfect for hitchhiking out of Bielefeld towards the Ruhr Area. At the ramp you find traffic lights and if you walk some 30m up the ramp you'll find a lay-by with enough space for cars to stop. For direction north towards Hannover it's a bit harder, no space for cars to stop along the ramp. You can try it in front of the traffic lights, but cars go up the highway quite fast.
• (27) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Bielefeld-Zentrum (good)
  • Forget it directly at the ramp, but there's a good spot some 1km before the ramp where the approach road starts. Have a look at the Bielfeld article for specific information.
• (28) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Ostwestfalen-Lippe
• (29) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Herford/Bad Salzuflen
• (29a) Herford (average)
• (30) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Herford-Ost
• (31) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Exter
• (32) Kreuz Bad Oeynhausen
  • Chance to get over to the A30.
• (33) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Porta Westfalica
• (34) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Veltheim
• (35) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Bad Eilsen
• (35a) Auetal (good)
  • In both directions, good to get lifts towards Bielefeld, Ruhr Area or Hannover. If going towards Amsterdam, you have to get out here if your driver isn't going on to the A30.
• (36) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Rehren
• (37) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Lauenau
• (38) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Bad Nenndorf
• (39) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Wunstorf-Kolenfeld
• (40) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Wunstorf-Luthe
• (40a) Garbsen (very good)
  • Your service station for finding rides from Hannover towards Dortmund or Berlin. A lot of traffic here, easy to reach by bus.
• (41) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Garbsen
• (42) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Hannover-Herrenhausen
  • Get off here, when heading to Hannover. A tram station is very close.
• (43) Dreieck Hannover-West Chance to get over to the A352.
• (44) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Hannover-Langenhagen
  • You can get off here if you want to visit Hannover. There's a tram station directly at the ramp, and drivers can go back to the highway easily. For hitchhiking there's not much space on the ramp itself, but should be possible somehow.
• (45) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Hannover-Bothfeld
• (46) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Hannover-Lahe
• (47) Kreuz Hannover-Buchholz Chance to get over to the A37.
• (48) Kreuz Hannover-Ost Chance to get over to the A7.
• (49) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Lehrte
• (50) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Lehrte-Ost
• (51) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Hämelerwald
• (51a) Lehrter See
• (52) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Peine
• (52a) Zweidorfer Holz
• (53) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Braunschweig-Watenbüttel
• (54) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Braunschweig-Hafen
• (55) Kreuz Braunschweig-Nord
  • Chance to get over to the A391
• (56) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Braunschweig-Flughafen
• (57) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Braunschweig-Ost
• (58) Kreuz Wolfsburg/Königslutter
  • Chance to get over to the A39.
• (59) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Königslutter
• (60) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Rennau
• (61) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Helmstedt-West
• (62) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Helmstedt-Zentrum
• (62a) Helmstedt (good)
  • Only in direction Magdeburg. This is the first of two service station's within 5 kilometers. Quite hidden behind a big wall along the highway, it is a good spot to get cars towards Magdeburg or Berlin. Better try it here than the next service station some kilometer further.
• (63) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Helmstedt-Ost / Marienborn
• (63a) Lappwald / Marienborn (very good)
  • Two big service station's in both directions. Lappwald towards Hannover with a good construction, all cars of the service station have to get out at one long road with enough space to stop for you. On the other side (Marienborn) you can visit the old inner-German border, many tourist will stop here, but also good to get cars towards Berlin.
• (64) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Alleringsleben
• (65) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Eilsleben
• (66) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Bornstedt
• (66a) Börde (very good)
  • Service station in both directions. Very good to get lifts towards Berlin, Poland, Leipzig, even München. Last station before the A14. On the other side good spot to get cars towards Hannover. Highly recommended!
• (67) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Irxleben
• (68) Kreuz Magdeburg
• (69) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Magdeburg-Kannenstieg (average)
  • Get out here if you want to go towards Magdeburg. Walk some meters down the road, there you'll have enough space to stop cars. They can take you for around 2-3 kilometers, there you'll find a small train station that brings you right into the city. Not much traffic for hitching up the highway though, so only average rating.
• (70) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Magdeburg-Zentrum (bad)
  • Direct ramp towards the center, but quite busy road with not much chance to stop cars. Better try Kannenstieg, somewhat less traffic but you can get into the city more relaxed. If going out of Magdeburg, this ramp is good because some 1-2 kilometers before there is a gas station situated. Check the Magdeburg-page for further information.
• (71) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Magdeburg-Rothensee
• (72) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Lostau/Hohenwarthe
• (73) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Burg-Zentrum
• (74) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Burg-Ost
• (75) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Theeßen
• (76) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Ziesar
• (76a) Buckautal (good)
  • Standing on this service station, doesn't matter in which direction, for sure gives you rides towards Berlin or Magdeburg because there is nothing else inbetween :). Good one, but not that much crowded than the other gas stations before.
• (77) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Wollin
• (78) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Brandenburg (Stadt)
• (79) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Netzen
• (80) File:AB-AS-blau.svg Lehnin
• (81) Dreieck Werder
  • End of the highway. If going towards Berlin or Poland, follow the A10 eastwards. If going north and if you want to avoid the German capital, go up on the A10 northwards. For going south towards Wittenberg or Leipzig, hitch down the A9.