Tips for watching July Fourth fireworks on the National Mall in DC

Every Fourth of July, hundreds of thousands of people flock to the National Mall to watch D.C.’s annual fireworks display. This year’s show is expected to be “one of the most spectacular in recent memory,” according to the National Park Service’s website. Fireworks will be launched from both sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool beginning at 9:09 p.m. and will go on for a total of 18 minutes.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of this iconic Independence Day celebration in the nation’s capital on Thursday:

Arrive early

This year’s fireworks show isn’t scheduled to begin until after 9 p.m., but plan to arrive a couple of hours before that to stake out a prime viewing spot. 

You can access the Mall as early as 1 p.m. through a few designated entry points:

— Constitution Ave. at Henry Bacon Drive NW

— 17th St. NW at Constitution Ave. NW

— 15th St. NW at Madison Drive NW

— 14th St. SW at Jefferson Drive SW

— George Mason Memorial

Take public transportation

Due to the crowds, public parking will be nearly impossible to find, and several roads will be closed and off limits to vehicles. (You can find a full list of road closures on the National Park Service’s website.)

The Smithsonian/National Mall Metro station (Blue, Orange, and Silver lines) is the closest stop to the fireworks area, but the National Park Service recommends that you use other nearby Metro stops to avoid overcrowding at Smithsonian.

You can walk to the Mall from each of the following Metro stations:

— Federal Triangle (Blue, Orange, and Silver lines)

— Foggy Bottom-GWU (Blue, Orange, and Silver lines)

— L’Enfant Plaza (Green, Yellow, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines)

— Archives/Navy Memorial (Green and Yellow lines)

— Metro Center (Red, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines)

— Judiciary Square (Red Line)

Bring:

A picnic blanket, plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, and a ball or Frisbee if you’re arriving early.

Concession stands will be located at places such as the Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the Washington Monument, although the lines are likely to be long.

Don’t bring:

Alcohol, weapons, glass containers, explosives, balloons, packages, tents, drones, and coolers larger than 36 quarts are all prohibited by the National Park Service. You will have to pass through a security checkpoint before entering the fireworks area.

You can find a complete list of banned items on the National Park Service’s website. 

Be weather prepared

Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s on July 4, so be sure to hydrate and dress in appropriate clothing.

Storms are also possible, although it’s too early to tell if they will affect outdoor plans. In the event of inclement weather, the National Park Service has designated several nearby locations as safe havens. Remember that it is not safe to take shelter under a tree in a thunderstorm.

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Take advantage of the District’s other celebrations

You can celebrate the Fourth of July during the day at the National Independence Day Parade down Constitution Ave., the Capitol Fourth Concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Nationals’ game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, and more.

If you want to avoid the crowds at the National Mall during the fireworks display, you can also see the fireworks from other locations in D.C. such as the Washington National Cathedral, The Wharf, Hains Point at East Potomac Park, the Francis Scott Key Bridge, or across the Potomac River in Virginia.

You can also take part in a watch party for free at Fourth at The Wharf or the Line Hotel, or indulge in pricier alternatives like Top of the Gate at the Watergate Hotel, L’Ardente, the Vue Rooftop at Hotel Washington, Salamander DC, or even a cruise down the Potomac River.

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