Arlington braces for July 4 road closures and fireworks traffic

Arlington County is warning drivers to expect significant delays on Saturday, July 4, as county, state, federal, and VDOT partners close multiple roadways for Independence Day crowds heading to the National Mall fireworks display. The county says the fireworks are expected to begin around 11 p.m.

The biggest disruption will hit river crossings and routes near the district, including Memorial Bridge and Memorial Circle, Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, I-395 ramps to the George Washington Parkway, and later closures on Arlington Boulevard, Fort Myer Drive, I-66, and the 14th Street Bridge.

Where the disruption will be felt

County officials say additional closures may be added for public safety, and reopening times are approximate. The list also includes Marshall Drive, N. Meade Street, Route 50 ramps, Long Bridge Drive, and several local-access-only segments near Rosslyn and Fort Myer Heights.

Parking in the affected areas will be restricted. Arlington says temporary no-parking signs will be posted, illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed, and stopping or standing in a travel lane to watch fireworks is illegal. The county also says parking on Route 110 shoulders, Arlington Boulevard shoulders, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway is prohibited and will be strictly enforced.

Transit is the safer bet

Arlington is urging people to use public or other multimodal transportation instead of trying to drive into the event zone. The county says the Rosslyn Metro stop on the Orange Line is about five blocks north of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial.

WMATA says Metro Rail will run special service on July 4 from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., with first and last trains varying by station. Metro Bus scheduling was still listed as TBD.

Who should pay attention

Residents and workers near Rosslyn, Route 110, Route 50, Fort Myer Heights, and the river crossings should plan for spillover congestion even if they are not attending the fireworks. If you are leaving Arlington after dark, build in extra time and expect detours to shift as crowds build.

Sources

• Arlington County traffic alert: Planned road closures for July 4, 2026
• National Park Service: July 4 directions for the National Mall fireworks area
• ARLnow: Arlington Independence Day fireworks and celebrations guide