Getting to the National Mall on the Fourth of July

The Fourth of July celebrations in Washington, DC are among the most attended events of the year and many people arrive early at the National Mall to stake out a seat on the lawn. There are lots of things to do throughout the day. For details, see a guide to Washington, DC's Fourth of July events.

There will be many street closings and parking will be limited. Both the National Park Service and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority strongly encourage all visitors to take public transportation to attend the Independence Day celebrations. Public access to the National Mall begins at 10:00 a.m. on July 4th. The following transportation information is provided by the National Park Service.

Public Transportation

Metrorail hours of operation on July 4th are from 7:00 a.m. to midnight. The Smithsonian Metrorail station will be closed for most of the day for security reasons. The station will reopen for entry-only shortly after the fireworks show has concluded to help get people home. It typically takes 1 ½ to 2 hours to clear the Mall after the fireworks. Metro Stations near the National Mall include Federal Triangle, Metro Center, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Capitol South, L’Enfant Plaza, Federal Center SW, Archives-Navy Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery.

To avoid long lines at fare vending machines, be sure to have enough fare value on your SmarTrip card or farecard to complete the round trip. See a guide for using Washington Metro.

Metrobus will provide free shuttle service between the L’Enfant Plaza and Pentagon stations. On July 4th, Metro will not allow bicycles on Metrorail, but will allow bikes on Metrobus.

See a map and directions to the National Mall

Bike Valet Parking

Free bicycle valet will be available from 2:00 p.m. until one-half hour after the end of the fireworks display. Locations include 15th Street between Independence Avenue and Jefferson Drive (east of the Washington Monument) and the south side of the Lincoln Memorial on Daniel French Drive.

Parking

Parking throughout the National Mall area will be extremely limited. Limited public parking will be available at the Pentagon’s North parking lot. Call (703) 697-6251 for more information.

Security Checkpoints

On the 4th of July all visitors must go through security checkpoints to enter the National Mall and areas along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Coolers, backpacks, packages and persons will be subject to inspection. Possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages and the use of personal fireworks are prohibited. National Mall Checkpoints:

• West entrance, or George Washington Memorial Parkway side of Memorial Bridge
  
• Constitution Avenue and 23rd Street
  
• Constitution Avenue and 17th Street
  
• Constitution Avenue between 14th and 15th streets
  
• Independence Avenue and 14th Street
  
• Westside of 14th Street, at Jefferson Drive, SW
  
• Westside of 14th Street, at Madison Drive, SW
  
• Maine Avenue and Raoul Wallenberg Place, (Le. formerly 15th Street)

George Washington Memorial Parkway Checkpoints: (no access to National Mall)

• Columbia Island/Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove
  
• Gravelly Point, immediately north of National Airport
  
• Washington Sailing Marina at Daingerfield Island
  
• U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and Netherlands Carillon
  
• Memorial Circle (access to National Mall via Memorial Bridge restricted to pedestrians only)

Expected Road Closures

From 6:00 a.m. to approximately 10:00 p.m.

• Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington Memorial Circle on the Virginia end to and including Lincoln Memorial Circle in the District
  
• Rock Creek Parkway south of Virginia Avenue, NW to Lincoln Memorial Circle, including all approaches and ramps
  
• Parkway Drive from Rock Creek Parkway to Lincoln Memorial Circle
  
• Lincoln Memorial Circle and all approaches and ramps into and out of Lincoln Memorial Circle, including Henry Bacon Drive, NW and Daniel Chester French Drive, SW
  
• Ramp from Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge to Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW and Ohio Drive, SW; Inbound traffic on 1- 66 will be directed to the "E" Street Expressway
  
• Constitution Avenue, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 14th Street, NW
  
• 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd Streets, NW between Constitution Avenue, NW and C Street, NW
  
• 18th Street, NW between Constitution Avenue, NW and Virginia Avenue, NW
  
• Virginia Avenue, NW between Constitution Avenue, NW and 18th Street, NW
  
• 17th Street, NW from E Street, NW south to Independence Avenue, SW
  
• C and D Streets, NW from 17th to 18th Streets, NW
  
• 15th Street, NW from E Street, NW south to Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
  
• Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW to Maine Avenue, SW
  
• Independence Avenue, SW west of 14th Street, SW to 23rd Street, SW, including merge with Rock Creek Parkway
  
• Madison Drive, NW from 15th Street, NW to 3rd Street NW
  
• Jefferson Drive, SW from 15th Street, SW to 3rd Street, SW
  
• 7th Street, NW between Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW
  
• 4th Street, NW between Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW
  
• Ohio Drive, SW from the Inlet Bridge to Independence Avenue, SW
  
• West Basin Drive, SW from Ohio Drive, SW to Independence Avenue, SW
  
• East Basin Drive, SW, east of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial to Ohio Drive, SW.

11:00 a.m. to approximately 10:00 p.m.

• 3rd St. between Pennsylvania Ave. and Maryland Ave.
  
• Constitution Avenue, NW from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to 14th Street, NW
  
• 14th St. between Pennsylvania Ave. and Independence Ave.

Virginia Closures from 6:00 a.m. to approximately 10:00 p.m.

• Ramp from southbound and northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway to Memorial Avenue /Circle
  
• Ramp from northbound Route no to Memorial Avenue
  
• Ramp from VA Rte- 27 to Memorial Avenue/Circle.

Virginia Closures from 3:00 p.m. to midnight

• Eastbound U.S. Route 50 ramps to the George Washington Memorial Parkway and roads in the immediate area of U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
  
• Southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway ramp to 14th Street Bridge
  
• Northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway ramp to 14th Street Bridge.

The SoberRide program will be available on July 4th from 10:00 pm until 4:00 a.m. on July 5th as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during this traditionally high-risk holiday period.

Read more about the Fourth of July Fireworks in Washington, DC.

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