Fireworks on the National Mall this year are a go and ready for out-of-town visitors as the nation’s vaccination campaign continues and jurisdictions across the country reopen. But it’s not just the celebration that’s returning — road closures are also back.
The National Park Service has released the full list of roads that are off limits to vehicles starting this week and extending past the holiday. Below is a comprehensive list of the closures, including a searchable interactive map, plus information about WMATA’s July 4 schedule.
As of Thursday night through July 8, Ohio Drive SW between West Basin Drive SW and Inlet Bridge will be closed. Starting midnight on July 3, Ohio Drive SW between 23rd Street SW and West Basin Drive SW will be closed.
And starting July 4 at 6 a.m. until July 5 at midnight, the follow roads closures will be in effect:
- Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington Memorial Circle, to and including Lincoln Memorial Circle
- 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
- Henry Bacon Drive NW from Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW
- Daniel Chest French Drive SW from Independence Ave SW to Lincoln Memorial Circle
- Lincoln Memorial Circle and all approaches and ramps into and out of Lincoln Memorial Circle, including Henry Bacon Drive NW, Daniel Chester French Drive SW, 23rd Street NW and 23rd Street SW
- Ramp from Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge to Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue SW and Ohio Drive SW; all inbound traffic from the bridge will be directed to the E Street Expressway
- Constitution Avenue NW from 23rd Street NW to 15th St NW
- 23rd St SW from Independence Ave SW to Lincoln Memorial Cir and Constitution Ave to Lincoln Memorial Circle
- 17th St NW from Constitution Ave NW to Independence Ave SW
- Homefront Drive SW
- 15th Street NW from Constitution Ave NW to Independence Ave SW
- Raoul Wallenberg Place SW to Maine Avenue SW
- Independence Avenue SW from 14th Street SW to 23rd Street SW, including merge with Rock Creek Parkway
- Ohio Dr SW from 23rd St SW to Inlet Bridge
- Madison Drive NW from 15th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- Jefferson Drive SW from 15th Street SW to 3rd Street SW
- East Basin Drive SW east of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial to Ohio Drive SW
- West Basin Drive SW from Ohio Drive SW to Independence Avenue, SW
- Ramp from southbound and northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) to Memorial Avenue /Circle
- Ramp from northbound Va. Route 110 to Memorial Avenue/Circle
- Ramp from Va. Route 27 to Memorial Avenue/Circle
- The right lane of northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway from the 14th Street Bridge to Theodore Roosevelt Island
From 3 p.m. on July 4 until around midnight on July 5 there will be three more road closures:
- 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 GWMP ramp to 14th Street Bridge (8 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. as necessary)
- Northbound GWMP ramp to 14th Street Bridge (8 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. as necessary)
There will also be a number of sites that are closed to visitors:
- The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and World War II Memorial will close at 11:59 p.m. on July 3 and will remain closed on July 4. Cleanup of the memorials will begin immediately following the fireworks show and the site will open as soon as the cleanup is complete.
- The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial will close at 4 p.m. on July 4 as part of the fireworks safety zone. Cleanup of the memorial will begin immediately following the fireworks show and the site will open as soon as the cleanup is complete.
- Paddle boats at the Tidal Basin will not operate.
- Big Bus Tours will not operate on the Mall on July 4.
- The D.C. Circulator’s National Mall route will not operate on July 4.
- East Potomac Golf Course will be open regular operating hours on July 4 (6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.).
- East Potomac Tennis Center will close at 3 p.m. on July 4
- Water taxi service to the National Mall will not operate on July 4.
Roads around Rosslyn and the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial will also be closed on July 4 from 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.:
- Exit Ramp from Westbound Route 50 to N. Lynn Street (Rosslyn exit)
- Exit Ramp from Eastbound Route 50 to N. Meade Street (Rosslyn exit)
- N. Meade Street at Marshall Drive
- Exit Ramp from N. Meade Street to Route 50 Eastbound
- Route 110 South onto Marshall Drive
- N. Meade Street near the Route 50 Ramps
See more Arlington road closures on the county website.
Meanwhile, WMATA announced Friday that trains on July 4 will run on a regular weekend schedule from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and on a rush hour schedule from 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Additional trains will be running in the evening, and off-peak fares will be in effect all day. Officials say bicycles and large coolers will not be allowed on trains after 2 p.m. to conserve space. To make room for crowds returning from the fireworks show, the Smithsonian Station’s National Mall entrance will switch to “entrance-only” after 9 p.m., WMATA says.
On July 5, Metro trains and buses will operate on a Sunday schedule from 8 a.m.-11 p.m.
Lori McCue contributed to this post. It has been updated with additional road closures in Arlington, and with information about WMATA operation.
Dominique Maria Bonessi