Fourth of – Drivers heading through Washington and nearby Virginia for Independence Day face sweeping street shutdowns, emergency no-parking restrictions, bridge and parkway closures, and heightened transit measures—including free Metro fares for part of the evening.
By 4 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, drivers in Washington were warned to expect large stretches of the city locked down—some closed entirely to traffic, others restricted to “local vehicles” only—while the Fourth of July celebrations ramped up across the region.
The District is running a dense schedule of parking bans and street closures tied to multiple events. including Freedom 250 Salute to America on Saturday. plus the Independence Day Parade and the Palisades Parade. For people trying to get to Nationals Park or move through the core streets. the impact starts early and continues through the holiday week.
On Saturday. July 4. the Freedom 250 Salute to America celebration. the Barracks Row Parade. the Independence Day Parade. and the Palisades Parade are all taking place in Washington. The District also laid out extensive parking restrictions and street shutdowns that begin before the main festivities and then expand as the days go on.
Several roads are already closed to vehicle traffic for Salute to America, including 15th Street from Constitution Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW, Madison Drive from 15th Street to 14th Street NW, and Jefferson Drive from 15th Street to 14th Street SW.
On Monday. June 29. beginning at 7 p.m. further changes are scheduled: Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street to 6th Street will be posted as Emergency No Parking; the eastbound curb lane of Constitution Avenue from 14th Street to 6th Street will be closed to vehicle traffic; and Independence Avenue from 15th Street to Maine Avenue SW will be closed to vehicle traffic.
More restrictions follow on Tuesday, June 30. Beginning at 8 p.m., 17th Street from Constitution Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW will be closed to vehicle traffic.
Wednesday, July 1 brings additional impacts starting in the morning and again at night. Beginning at 9 a.m. the westbound curb lane of Constitution Avenue from 14th Street to 6th Street NW will be closed to vehicle traffic. and Raoul Wallenberg Place from Maine Avenue to Independence Avenue SW will also be closed to vehicle traffic. Starting at 8 p.m. several streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking and closed to vehicle traffic. including 17th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW and 15th Street from Lower Pennsylvania Avenue/E Street to Constitution Avenue NW.
Beginning at 8 p.m. on July 1. the District also lists a long series of streets to be closed to vehicle traffic. including Constitution Avenue from 18th Street to 14th Street NW; 17th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW; G Street from 18th Street to 17th Street NW; F Street from 18th Street to 17th Street NW; New York Avenue from 18th Street to 17th Street NW; E Street from 18th Street to 17th Street NW; D Street from 18th Street to 17th Street NW; C Street from 18th Street to 17th Street NW; Virginia Avenue from Constitution Avenue to 18th Street NW; and 15th Street from Lower Pennsylvania Avenue/E Street to Constitution Avenue NW.
By Thursday, July 2, the changes continue. Beginning at 6 a.m. C Street from 19th Street to 18th Street NW will be marked as Emergency No Parking and closed to vehicle traffic. At 9 p.m. the District scheduled additional closures and no-parking postings. including E Street from 18th Street to 17th Street NW (noted as previously closed on July 1. 2026) and 14th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW. with the southbound lanes only.
On Friday, July 3, the District lists more emergency no-parking restrictions and additional time-specific street closures. Beginning at 6 a.m. inbound Case Bridge ramp to 12th Street Expressway/Tunnel. Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street to 18th Street NW. Constitution Avenue from 14th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 22nd Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue NW. 21st Street from Virginia Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW. Henry Bacon Drive from Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle NW.
C Street from 21st Street to Virginia Avenue NW. 19th Street from Virginia Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW. 14th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Independence Avenue SW. 12th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW. 10th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW. 7th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue. NW. 6th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW are among the segments posted as Emergency No Parking and closed to
vehicle traffic.
That day also includes major closures beginning at 10 p.m. Westbound I395 exit to Maine Avenue/12th Street Expressway is listed as closed to vehicle traffic. with all traffic continuing west on I395 to Virginia. Other shutdowns at the same time include Maiden Lane from 12th Street to Maine Avenue SW; the southbound Potomac River Freeway split to Independence Avenue. Maine Avenue. and E Street NW (with all traffic to I66 West); and several bridge ramps and crossings. including the Arlington Memorial Bridge and multiple closures tied to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and E Street Expressway split.
By Saturday morning. July 4. beginning at 4 a.m. the District again moves into broad no-parking restrictions on an even wider set of streets. Emergency No Parking and closures to vehicle traffic are scheduled across corridors including Pennsylvania Avenue from 18th Street to 17th Street NW; Virginia Avenue from 24th Street to 18th Street NW; 23rd Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue NW; and many others. including sections along E Street. 15th Street. New York Avenue. G Street. F Street. Upper Pennsylvania Avenue. and D Street.
At the same time—Saturday. July 4 beginning at 4 a.m.—the District also lists roads closed to vehicle traffic. including Exit 4 from eastbound I395; the Virginia Avenue from 24th Street to 18th Street NW segment; Pennsylvania Avenue from 18th Street to 17th Street NW; and multiple expressway ramp and bridge-access routes.
The restrictions don’t stop at full closures. Starting Saturday at 4 a.m. the District says certain streets will be closed to “thru” traffic and restricted to “local vehicles” only. with access for residents. parking garages. delivery vehicles. and other stated reasons. That list includes G Street from 15th Street to 14th Street NW; F Street from 15th Street to 14th Street NW; Upper Pennsylvania Avenue from 15th Street to 14th Street NW; E Street from 14th Street to 12th Street NW; and many additional blocks through the core.
Drivers are also warned to expect heavy traffic and delays around other Fourth of July events across Washington.
The schedule of events adds another layer for motorists. The Washington Nationals will host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on Saturday starting at 11:05 a.m. The Palisades Citizens Association will host its annual Palisades Parade at 11 a.m. on July 4, and the Barracks Row Parade will begin at 10 a.m.
For the Palisades Parade, the District posted Emergency No Parking for the parade from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on MacArthur Boulevard from Whitehaven Parkway to Arizona Avenue NW. Edmunds from MacArthur Blvd to Sherier Place NW. and Whitehaven Parkway from MacArthur Boulevard to Foxhall Road NW. The parade route itself is listed as closed from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. covering MacArthur Boulevard from Whitehaven Parkway to Arizona Avenue NW. Edmunds Place from Sherier Place to MacArthur Boulevard NW. and Sherier Place from Edmunds Place to Dana Place NW.
For the Barracks Row Parade, Emergency No Parking is set from 8 a.m. to noon on 8th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Virginia Avenue SE and D Street from 7th Street to 8th Street SE. The parade route is listed as closed from 8 a.m. to noon on 8th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Virginia Avenue SE; D Street from 7th Street to 8th Street SE; E Street from 7th Street to 9th Street SE; G Street from 7th Street to 9th Street SE; and I Street from 7th Street to 9th Street SE.
Just across the river, Virginia’s closures for the holiday are also set to be broad. The Arlington County Police Department, Virginia State Police, United States Park Police, and the Virginia Department of Transportation are closing multiple roadways on Saturday for Fourth of July events.
Virginia’s list begins with major bridge and parkway impacts. Memorial Bridge, Memorial Circle, and Theodore Roosevelt Bridge will be closed for the fireworks display.
On Saturday, July 4, from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. on July 5, I-395 Southbound Exit Ramp 10B and Northbound Exit Ramp 10C to Northbound GW Parkway will be closed. From 6 a.m. on July 4 to 1 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, Northbound GW Parkway/Memorial Circle from I-395 Northbound Ramp to Theodore Roosevelt Island will be closed.
Starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 4 through 1 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, Virginia lists closures including Marshall Drive from Route 110 to N. Meade Street; N. Meade Street from Marshall Drive to N. Fairfax Drive (with access to the Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood from the Rhodes Street Bridge—local traffic only); the Rt. 50 Eastbound ramp to N. Ft. Myer Drive/N. Lynn Street; the Rt. 50 Westbound ramp to N. Rt. 50 Eastbound ramp to N. Meade Street; and additional ramp and local street closures, including N. Rhodes Street Southbound at 14th Street N. (Local traffic only—no traffic to Meade Street) and Arlington Boulevard Service Road Eastbound at N. Nash Street (local access to Rosslyn Heights North Condominium only).
From 4:30 p.m. on July 4 to 1 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, additional roads shut down, including Eastbound N. Fairfax Drive from N. Pierce Street to N. Fort Myer Drive and Long Bridge Drive from Boundary Channel to 6th Street S.
Later at night, closures include Eastbound Arlington Boulevard from 9 p.m. on July 4 to 1 a.m. on July 5, specifically from N. Pershing Drive to Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. From 10:30 p.m. on July 4 to 1 a.m. on July 5, Virginia lists Ft. Myer Drive southbound (ramps and tunnel access closed) at Wilson Boulevard; Eastbound I-66 from Fairfax Drive to Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and all associated ramps to I-66; and Fort Myer Drive between 19th Street N. and Arlington Boulevard.
In the final stretch before the fireworks window, from 11:35 p.m. on July 4 to 12:15 a.m. on July 5, Virginia says the I-395 Southbound Lanes of the 14th Street Bridge will be closed during the fireworks presentation. The Air Force Memorial is closed on Saturday, July 4.
Street parking in these areas is restricted as well.
Metro’s planning mirrors the scale of the road shutdowns. WMATA announced that fares will be free systemwide from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on July 4, and the agency plans to increase Metrorail service starting at 5 p.m. to accommodate larger crowds.
WMATA also warned that enhanced security—described as including fencing around most of the National Mall. airport-style checkpoints. and road closures—may make the area feel more restricted than usual. and that customers should make a plan ahead of travel. Additional information and bus schedules are listed on Metro’s website.
For many commuters, the message is simple: plan earlier than you think you need to, and expect detours and delays not just near one event, but across multiple parts of the District and the surrounding road network.
Fourth of July road closures Washington DC Virginia closures WMATA free fares Nationals Pirates Palisades Parade Barracks Row Parade traffic restrictions