The National Park Service will once again host the annual celebration of Independence Day on

the National Mall, the nation’s most important civic space and home to more than a dozen
memorials that commemorate great Americans and significant events in our nation’s history.
The National Mall provides prime viewing for both the Salute to America flyover (6:45 p.m. – 8
p.m.) and the annual fireworks demonstration (9:07 p.m – 9:42 p.m.).

Complete information and updates on the Independence Day celebrations on the National Mall
can be found at www.nps.gov/foju. Sign up for day-of-event emergency information
notifications by texting JULY4DC to 888777.

Health and Safety Precautions

For any fireworks viewing location, the public is asked to prevent the spread of infectious
diseases by following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for events
and public gatherings:

• Practice social or physical distancing, staying at least six feet away from others who are
not a member of your household.

• Wear a mask or face covering, especially when you are unable to maintain social
distancing.

• Avoid attending if you show symptoms of any transmissible infectious disease, such as
cough, fever, runny nose or have a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

• Wash hands often and cover coughs and sneezes. More than 100 hand washing stations
will be located throughout the Mall.

• Do not shake hands or engage in any unnecessary physical contact.

As always, visitors are encouraged to bring sunscreen/sun block to prevent sun burn and plenty
of water in order to keep properly hydrated. Concession operations will have water, soda and
pre-packaged foods available for purchase, but these operations will be limited. Visitors are
encouraged to pack their own refreshments.

Public Access
National Mall – The area from 17th Street to the Lincoln Memorial and between Constitution
Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW will be a secure area on July 4. Access will be via
four entry points, and visitors will be subject to a bag check upon entering the secure area. All
coolers, backpacks, packages, and persons will be subject to inspection.
The following public access points for the secure area will open at 1 p.m. and will remain open
until 9 p.m. There may be changes to access points on the day of the event to enhance security.

• Constitution Avenue NW at 20th Street NW

• Constitution Avenue NW between 23rd Street NW and Henry Bacon Drive NW
• 17th Street NW between Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue SW (near
the World War II Memorial)
• East Basin Drive just south of the Jefferson Memorial (visitors will not be able to access
the National Mall from here)

Prohibited Items and Activities

The following items and activities are prohibited on all National Park Service land.

• Aerosols
• Alcohol
• Ammunition
• Balloons
• Explosives/Fireworks
• Firearms
• Glass
• Laser Pointers
• Mace/Pepper Spray
• Packages
• Structures (folding tables, chairs, tents, etc)
• Supports for Signs
• Unmanned Aerial Devices (UAS)
• Weapons
• Any other items determined to be a potential safety hazard

• No grills, alcohol, glass containers, or personal fireworks are permitted on National Park
Service property.
• Launching, landing or operating unmanned or remote controlled aircraft (drones) on
National Park Service property is strictly prohibited.
• Personal tents that block other visitors’ views and tents that require stakes are prohibited
on the National Mall and along the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
• Due to limited space on the Washington Monument grounds, visitors are asked to refrain
from recreational activities (e.g. – volleyball, badminton, etc.).
• It is strongly recommended that pets be left at home.
• Possession of firearms in national parks is prohibited, governed by federal as well as
local law, which may vary depending on the jurisdiction in which the national park is
located. All visitors should be aware of and follow applicable firearms laws of the
District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• There is no parking allowed in the lanes of, or the grassy areas adjacent to, the George
Washington Memorial Parkway at any time.
Getting There
Visitors are strongly advised to use public transportation. Metrorail riders should try using
stations other than the Smithsonian or Federal Triangle, which have the heaviest use on the
Fourth of July. Up-to-date information on Metro can be found at www.wmata.com.

Area Closures
• The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial will close at 11:59 p.m. on July 3 and will
remain closed 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.
• 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 has concluded and the site will open as soon as the cleanup is complete.
• East Potomac Golf Course will close at 7 p.m. (last tee time will be a 4 p.m.).
• East Potomac Tennis Center will close at 3 p.m.
• Water taxi service to the National Mall will not operate (closed due to COVID-19).
• Paddle boats at the Tidal Basin will not operate (closed due to COVID-19).
• Big Bus Tours will not operate on the Mall on July 4 (closed due to COVID-19).
• The D.C. Circulator’s National Mall route will not operate on July 4 (closed due to
COVID-19).

Road Closures
The following roads will be closed and off limits to vehicles on Saturday, July 4:

• Closed from 12 a.m. until approximately 11 p.m.

o Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington Memorial Circle, to and including Lincoln
Memorial Circle
o Rock Creek Parkway south of Virginia Avenue NW to Lincoln Memorial Circle,
including all approaches and ramps
o Parkway Drive from Rock Creek Parkway to Lincoln Memorial Circle
o Henry Bacon Drive NW from Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW
o Daniel Chester French Drive SW
o Lincoln Memorial Circle and all approaches and ramps into and out of Lincoln
Memorial Circle, including Henry Bacon Drive N, Daniel Chester French Drive SW,
23rd Street NW and 23rd Street SW
o 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
o Constitution Avenue NW from 23rd Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
o 3rd Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 4th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 6th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Constitution Avenue NW
o 7th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 9th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Constitution Avenue NW 
o 12th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Constitution Avenue NW
o 14th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
 o 15th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue NW south to Independence Ave SW
o 17th Street, NW from New York Avenue NW south to Independence Avenue SW
o 18th Street NW between Constitution Avenue NW and Virginia Avenue NW
o 19th Street NW from Constitution Avenue NW to Virginia Avenue NW
o 20th Street NW from Constitution Avenue NW to C Street NW
o 21st Street NW from Constitution Avenue NW to C Street NW
o 22nd Street NW from Constitution Avenue NW to C Street NW
o Virginia Avenue NW from Constitution Avenue NW to 18th Street NW
o C Street NW from 17th Street NW to 18th Streets NW
o D Street NW from 17th Street NW to 18th Street NW
o Raoul Wallenberg Place SW to Maine Avenue SW
o Independence Avenue SW from 14th Street SW to 23rd Street SW including merge
with Rock Creek Parkway
o Madison Drive NW from 15th Street NW to 3rd Street NW 
o Jefferson Drive SW from 15th Street SW to 3rd Street SW  
o Ohio Drive, SW from the Inlet Bridge to Independence Avenue, SW
o West Basin Drive SW from Ohio Drive SW to Independence Avenue, SW
o East Basin Drive SW east of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial to Ohio Drive SW
o Ramp from southbound and northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway
(GWMP) to Memorial Avenue /Circle
o Ramp from northbound Va. Route 110 to Memorial Avenue/Circle
o Ramp from Va. Route 27 to Memorial Avenue/Circle
o The right lane of northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway from the 14th
Street Bridge to Theodore Roosevelt Island.
o Access to East Potomac Park from I-395 will be by National Park Service permit only
after 4 p.m.

Closed from 11 a.m. until approximately 10 p.m. 

o 3rd Street from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Maryland Avenue SW
o Constitution Avenue NW from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to 14th Street NW
o 14th Street NW from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW

Closed from 3 p.m. until approximately 12 a.m., July 5

o Eastbound U.S. Route 50 ramps to GWMP and roads in the immediate area of U.S.
Marine Corps War Memorial;       
o Southbound GWMP ramp to 14th Street Bridge (9 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. as necessary)
o Northbound GWMP ramp to 14th Street Bridge (9 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. as necessary)