turnoff / branch
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turnoff
A place where a path, road, or line branches off from a main direction; also the branching part itself.
An der nächsten Abzweigung müssen Sie rechts in die kleine Seitenstraße fahren.
At the next turnoff, you need to turn right into the small side street.
'Die Abzweigung' (the turnoff) is derived from the verb 'abzweigen' (to branch off). This word contains 'Zweig' (branch of a tree). So an 'Abzweigung' is figuratively a place where a road branches off like a branch from a tree trunk.
Der kleine Feldweg zweigt hier von der Hauptstraße ab.
The small farm track branches off from the main road here.
In the context of directions, 'Abzweigung' (turnoff) is often used with the verbs 'nehmen' (to take) or 'verpassen' (to miss).
Fahren Sie geradeaus und nehmen Sie die zweite Abzweigung links.
Drive straight ahead and take the second turnoff on the left.
To describe the location of the action, the preposition 'an' with the dative is almost always used: 'an der Abzweigung' (at the turnoff).
An der nächsten Abzweigung musst du scharf links abbiegen.
At the next turnoff, you have to turn sharply left.
departure / exit
'die Abfahrt' and 'die Abzweigung' can both describe a place where you drive off from a road. 'Abfahrt' is used especially for motorways or major roads when you leave them. 'Abzweigung' is more general and means any place where a path or road goes off in another direction. So a motorway exit can be a type of 'Abzweigung', but not every 'Abzweigung' is an 'Abfahrt'. In city traffic or on small paths, 'Abzweigung' often sounds more natural.
Nach der Brücke kommt eine kleine Abzweigung zum See.
After the bridge, there is a small turnoff to the lake.
Auf der Autobahn nehmen sie die Abfahrt Richtung Zentrum.
On the motorway, they take the exit toward the city center.