What you need to know about riding Metro on July 4th

As thousands of people are expected to travel to the National Mall for the Fourth of July festivities, getting there could be difficult. Given some of the problems we have seen plaguing Metro over the last few months, you may be rethinking riding the rails altogether.

The good news is Metro is suspending its SafeTrack work, so the entire system will be running on July 4. But there will be some changes specifically for Monday.

Metrorail will run from 7 a.m. to midnight on Independence Day. Metro will be run on a Saturday schedule until 2 p.m. and then begin rush hour service before and after the fireworks. Riders will be paying off-peak fares during the entire day.

This year, the Smithsonian station will be open all day. However, the National Mall entrance will be entrance-only after 9:30 p.m. Passengers will still be able to enter and exit the Independence Avenue entrance throughout the day.

However, Metro is recommending riders to avoid the Smithsonian station because it can get overcrowded and they encourage people to choose a destination station on the same line you started on to avoid transferring lines.

July 4th Metro Service Information

HOURS & SERVICE

Monday, July 4

TRAVELING TO THE NATIONAL MALL

The closest station to the Mall is Smithsonian . However this is not your best choice.

While many passengers choose to use Smithsonian, this station can become overcrowded during larger Mall events. Metro recommends selecting a destination station on the same line as your origin to avoid the need to transfer. There is a station near the Mall on every line. Here is a list of suggested stations:

This year, Smithsonian station will be open all day, however, the mall entrance will become ENTRANCE ONLY after 9:30 p.m. The Independence Avenue entrance will be available for both entry and exit throughout the entire day. Sign up for MetroAlerts or follow us on Twitter @metrorailinfo for up-to-the-minute station information.

METROBUS INFORMATION
Routes 30N, 30S, 32, 36, 39, 52, 54 and 74 operate along the perimeter of the Mall at various locations. Use our Trip Planner for specific date and time travel information, as some nearby Metrobus routes operate Monday through Friday only. Another helpful resource is our holiday service schedule.