WASHINGTON — In a city where traffic can be as stationary as the monuments its known for, residents are reminded several roads and landmarks will shut down ahead of Independence Day.
Officials say getting around might be trickier than finding a spot for a picnic blanket on the Mall to see the fireworks.
Here's what you need to know, according to NPS.
Site closures:
- The Washington Monument will close at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3 and reopen at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 5.
- Due to construction, the Lincoln Memorial, including the steps, will be closed on July 4.
- The World War II Memorial will close at 4 p.m. on July 4. 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.
Road Closures:
Starting at midnight on June 24 until July 8:
- Ohio Drive SW between West Basin Drive SW and Inlet Bride
Starting at midnight July 3:
- Ohio Drive SW between 23rd Street SW and West Basin Drive SW
Starting at 6 a.m. on July 4 and until midnight on July 5:
- 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.
- Access to East Potomac Park from I-395 will be by National Park Service permit only after 4 p.m.
Closed from 3 p.m. on July 4 until midnight on July 5:
- 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).
DC Police also released a list of street closures connected to the Fourth of July celebrations.
The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking for the National Independence Day Parade from 4:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.:
- Pennsylvania Avenue from Constitution Avenue to 3rd Street, NW
- 3rd Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 6th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 9th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 10th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 12th Street from Madison Drive, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 15th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 17th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 18th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
- 19th Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
- 20th Street from Virginia Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 20th Street from C Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 21st Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
- 22nd Street from Constitution Avenue to C Street, NW
- 23rd Street from Constitution Avenue to E Street, NW
- C Street from 21st to Virginia Avenue, NW
- C Street from 19th to 17th Street, NW
- D Street from 18th to 17th Street, NW
- E Street from 20th to 17th Street, NW (eastbound lanes only)
- Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue to Ohio Drive Bridge
- Parkway Drive NW from Ohio Drive, SW to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW (Zone 5850)
- Jefferson Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, NW
- Madison Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, SW
- Independence Avenue from 17th Street to 3rd Street, SW
- Maryland Avenue from Independence Avenue to 3rd Street, SW
The following streets will be closed for the National Independence Day Parade and fireworks show from 4:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.:
- Inbound Case Bridge ramp to 12th Street tunnel
- Jefferson Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, SW
- Madison Drive from 15th to 3rd Street, NW
- Independence Avenue from 14th Street to Ohio Drive, SW
- C Street from 21st to 17th Street, NW
- D Street from 18th to 17th Street, NW
- E Street from 20th to 17th Street, NW (eastbound lanes only)
- 4th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 6th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 7th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 9th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 10th Street from Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 12th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- The 12th Street tunnel
- 1200 block of Maine Avenue, SW
- 13th Street from F Street to E Street, NW
- 14th Street Bridge Inbound, SW (ALL Traffic will remain on E/B I-395)
- 14th Street Bridge (HOV) Inbound, SW (ALL Traffic will remain on E/B I-395)
- 14th Street from F Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 15th Street from F Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- Raoul Wallenberg Place from Independence Avenue to Maine Avenue, SW
- 17th Street from New York Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- 18th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 19th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 20th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 21st Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 22nd Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 23rd Street from Virginia Avenue, NW to Memorial Bridge
- Lincoln Memorial Circle
- Arlington Memorial Bridge
- Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 23rd Street, NW
- Virginia Avenue from Constitution Avenue, NW to 24th Street, NW
- Maine Avenue from I-395 W/B to Independence Avenue, SW
- Southbound Potomac River Freeway exits to Independence Avenue and E Street, NW
- TR Bridge ramp to Constitution Avenue, NW
- TR Bridge ramp to Ohio Drive, NW
- E/B E Street Expressway ramp to E Street, NW
- E Street Expressway ramp from the TR Bridge
- Southbound Rock Creek Parkway will be closed at Virginia Avenue, NW
- Henry Bacon Drive from Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW
- Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue to the Ohio Drive Bridge
- Parkway Drive from Ohio Drive to the Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW
- West Basin Drive from Independence Avenue to Ohio Drive, SW
The following streets will be closed for the National Independence Day Parade and fireworks show from 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.:
- 23rd Street from Virginia Avenue to Washington Circle, NW – no southbound traffic
- 3rd Street from D Street, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- Pennsylvania Avenue from the east crossover to 3rd Street, NW
RELATED: After split with NYC July 4 hot dog competition, Joey Chestnut heads to army base event in Texas
WATCH NEXT:
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
HOW TO ADD THE FREE WUSA9+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "WUSA9" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE WUSA9 NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.