If you’ve been on the National Mall lately, you may have noticed that it feels a bit like a maze—sidewalks are closed, fences abound, and sometimes you just have to walk toward the Washington Monument and hope for the best. To clear up confusion, we’ve created this interactive map that shows all the road closures, fencing, and barricades, and also lets you know where to get some water and go to the bathroom. Check out our map right here, and see below for where to get even more updates on road closures, Metro schedules, and more.
We’re going to be updating this as new information becomes available, but if you see something that isn’t updated that should be, let us know!
What roads are closed?
The National Parks Service has published all of the semi-permanent road closures through July 24 for the Great American State Fair here. Your best resource on road closures for the day-to-day is the DC Department of Transportation, who provide up-to-date information on their website and social media.
What upcoming events might impact walkability and driving on the Mall?
With the Fourth of July, America’s 250th birthday celebrations, and general summertime activities, a lot is going on on the Mall. Events to be aware of include the Great American State Fair (June 25 – July 10), the FIFA Fan Zone (June 11 – July 19), the Giant BBQ Battle (June 27-28), Fourth of July fireworks (need I specify the date?), and plenty of others.
Will the Metro be affected?
According to WMATA, they are not currently expecting station closures in the general vicinity of the Mall, but they will communicate if anything changes. As for the State Fair, they say they are going to adjust based on the crowds: “Extra Metro staff and Transit Police will be on hand to help manage crowds at stations near the National Mall. Some busy stations, like Smithsonian, may become exit-only after 5 p.m. to accommodate crowds traveling to the National Mall, and entry-only after 9 p.m. Additionally, Metro Transit Police will be at station entrances to help with crowd flow and may, at times, meter entry to prevent overcrowding on the platforms.”
Your best bet for real-time information is the WMATA website or app.
