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 3:00 a.m. The Smithsonian Metro Station is closed all day on the 4th of July. 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. 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.

• Memorial Bridge to Memorial Circle on the Virginia end of the bridge
  Rock Creek Parkway south of Virginia Avenue to Lincoln Circle Drive, including all approaches and ramps
  
• I-66 in the DC, just south of the Kennedy Center
  
• Lincoln Circle Dr. and all approaches and ramps into and out of Lincoln Circle Dr., including Henry Bacon Dr. and Daniel French Dr.
  
• Constitution Ave. ramp off of Eastbound I-66 in DC
  
• Constitution Ave. from 23rd St. to 12th St.
  
• 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd Sts. between Constitution Ave. and C St.
  
• 18th St. between Constitution Ave. and Virginia Ave.
  
• Virginia Ave. between Constitution Ave. and 18th St.
  
• 17th St. from E St. south to Independence Ave.
  
• C and D Sts. from 17th to 18th Sts.
  
• 15th St. NW from E St., NW south to Raoul Wallenberg Pl., SW
  
• Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW to Maine Ave. SW
  
• Independence Ave. west of 14th to 23rd St., including merge with Rock Creek Pkwy.
  
• Madison Dr. from 15th St. to 3rd St.
  
• Jefferson Dr. from 15th St. to 3rd St.
  
• 7th St. between Constitution Ave. and Independence Ave.
  
• 4th St. between Constitution Ave. and Independence Ave.
  
• Ohio Drive, SW from the Inlet Bridge to Independence Ave
  
• West Basin Dr., SW from Ohio Dr., SW to Independence Ave., SW
  
• Inbound traffic on I-66 will be directed to the “E” Street Expressway

11:30 a.m. to approximately 10:00 p.m.

• 3rd St. between Pennsylvania Ave. and Maryland Ave.
  
• 14th St. between Pennsylvania Ave. and Independence Ave. will be closed at 11:30 a.m. and a decision will be made after the parade whether to re-open 14th St

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

• Ramps from Rte. 110 to Memorial Avenue (access is allowed to Arlington Cemetery)
  
• Memorial Bridge and Memorial Circle
  
• Eastbound Route 50 ramps to the GWMP will be closed beginning at 3:00 p.m. to midnight.

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