Celebrate 4th of July in Washington DC
- Laura Bruckmann
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
When you think about the perfect way to celebrate the Fourth of July, the nation’s capital is an obvious choice. However, what will it actually be like to be in Washington for the 4th? Our guides at Unscripted have put together their ideas for where to go, what to do, and what to bring for a wonderful Fourth of July in Washington DC.
What’s Open for the Fourth of July in Washington DC?
Lots of local sites are open for the Fourth of July celebration in Washington DC. These locations are likely to be busy, but if you are patient and flexible, there are lots of once in a lifetime experiences on such a special day.
Here’s a list of our favorite sites that will be open:
US Capitol: Open 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
With the earliest opening, this is a great place to start the day. Later will be much busier as folks arrive to stake out a spot for the Capitol Fourth concert.
National Archives: Open 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Seeing the Declaration of Independence on Independence Day is a special experience. With the Fourth of July parade rolling by through the mid-day, plan to hit this stop early or late.
National Gallery of Art: Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
An oasis of calm beauty on the busiest of days on the National Mall. Along with the only DaVinci in the Americas, there’s tons of wonderful American art to keep the day on theme.
Smithsonian Museums: Open 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., (Portrait Gallery/SAAM 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
Traditionally these are the busiest museums on the busiest day. These buildings are close to the Fourth of July parade route and the fireworks and have amazing iconic objects that everyone wants to see.
Ford’s Theater: Open 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
See where President Lincoln was shot and then cross the street to see where he died. Tickets are required, but limited walkup tickets are available same-day, first-come, first-served.
Arlington Cemetery: Open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. only accessible by Metro/walk/bike
With stunning ceremony, moving monuments and more than 400,000 heroic stories, Arlington is a poignant place to connect with the true meaning and cost of Independence Day.
What’s Closed for the Fourth of July?
Here at Unscripted Tours, our staff has the day off for the Fourth of July celebration in DC. With many roads closed, public transportation is busy, and security lines are long, so giving tours on a specific timeline is challenging. We will be giving tours on July 3rd and 5th and tickets are booking quickly!
While the final plans have not yet been publicized, typically the following sites/areas are closed:
Library of Congress
National Mall: From 14th St to the Potomac River, closed from late night July 3 until early afternoon July 4 and then only accessible via secured gates
Washington Monument will close in the afternoon of July 3 and reopen on July 5.
Lincoln Memorial, including the steps, will be closed on July 4.
Paddle boats at the Tidal Basin closed on July 4.
Water taxi service to the National Mall will not operate on July 4.
Air Force Memorial in VA will be closed and inaccessible on July 4.
So, what’s the plan for the day?
Check out our choose your own adventure itinerary to put together the best Fourth of July in Washington DC!
Choice 1: Start early or sleep in so you’re ready for fireworks. (8 a.m. - 10 a.m.)
Start Early: We love this idea. You can enter the Capitol starting at 8 a.m. and enjoy the museum and statues in the Capital Visitor’s Center. If there is availability, you can try to get on a tour of the historic spaces.
OR
Sleep In: That’s what our staff will be doing on July 4th! Typically the fireworks don’t start until just after 9 p.m. so catching some extra z’s is a good idea.
Choice 2: Mid-morning museum or “I love a parade” (10 a.m. - Noon)
Mid-morning museum: Whether you’re coming from early morning at the Capitol or a sleep-in and slow start to the day, most of the museums open at 10 a.m. Our pick for your next stop is Ford’s Theater. It is off the Mall by a couple of blocks, so away from the crowds and closed streets, but close enough that you can head to the parade later.
OR
“I love a parade”: If the Independence Day parade is on the top of your list, you should head to Constitution Avenue and stake out a good spot. The parade starts at noon and runs from 7th St to 17th St, so you should be able to find a good spot for viewing. Consider the patio outside the Smithsonian Museum of American History for a higher view.
Choice 3: Parade and street food or Paintings and cafe (Noon - 2 p.m.)
Parade and street food: Just because you didn’t want to get to the parade route super early doesn’t mean that you can’t catch some of the action. If you walk down 10th street from Ford’s theater, you’ll be about halfway along the route. You might not be able to see every person marching on the street, but you’ll still be able to hear the bands and see the floats which might be perfect for your group. Keep your eyes open for grab and go lunch options along your walk and you can eat lunch while being entertained!
OR
Paintings and cafe: If the Fourth of July parade scene isn’t your thing, stroll over to the National Gallery of Art. You can see where the parade lines up and steps off on 7th street, a neat peek behind the scenes, but you’ll scoot by just outside the parade perimeter and enter the cool, quiet National Gallery of Art West Building. There are a couple of cafe choices here and once you’ve refueled, you can explore everything the galleries have to offer. There is a tunnel on the lower level to transport you into the East Building for a taste of modern art as well. It’s the perfect place to take a break from a crazy day.
Choice 4: Focus on Fireworks or Sleuth the Smithsonian (2 p.m. - 4 p.m.)
Focus on fireworks: Once the Fourth of July parade has passed, you can typically begin to clear security onto the National Mall to choose your spot for the fireworks. Arriving early will allow you to get the perfect place on the grass, fireworks are launched over the reflecting pool and Lincoln Memorial. Arrive early to ensure a view of the fireworks that you’ll be talking about for years.
OR
Sleuth the Smithsonian: Instead of putting all of your chips into the perfect spot for the fireworks, you could choose to explore one of the museums and then choose your fireworks spot later in the evening. Given the typical length of security lines, it is easiest to choose one museum and see everything it has to offer rather than trying to jump among the buildings. This is a rare chance to truly dig into one museum and all of its exhibits.
Choice 5: Concert or fireworks (4 p.m. - 6 p.m.)
Concert: The Capitol Grounds will open in the late afternoon for guests to find a seat near the “Capitol Fourth” concert stage. The concert won’t start until 8 p.m., but arriving early is essential to getting a spot at the popular Independence Day tradition. Just keep in mind that you will be more than 2 miles from the fireworks so you are not going to get the perfect view from this venue.
OR
Fireworks: If you are still leaning towards fireworks, you could head over to the Mall now. The prime spaces will be taken, but you will still be able to find a good piece of lawn where you can see the display above the Lincoln Memorial. You could also make one more sightseeing stop and scoot over to the Mall for a decent view of the fireworks later. Our late afternoon suggestion is the National Portrait Gallery. It’s the perfect day to check out portraits of our Presidents and other accomplished Americans. You can grab a bite at the cafe inside or one of the many eateries in the Penn Quarter neighborhood around the building. The museum is open until 7 p.m. so you can take your time.
The Big Finale (7 p.m. and beyond)
At this point, you have chosen not to be the front row at the concert or the ideal centered view of the fireworks. However, you can still sneak over to the periphery of either celebration and enjoy the evening excitement of Washington on Independence Day.
What should I bring?
The most important thing to bring is a reusable water bottle. Some buildings, like the Capitol, will not allow you to bring water into the building, but you may refill your own water bottle inside. Throughout the day you will find water stations along the parade route, on the Mall and inside of the museums. Weather tends to be very hot and humid during Fourth of July celebrations in Washington DC so hydrating is essential to having a safe, fun day.
Bring rain jackets and small travel umbrellas. The umbrellas can help create shade on a very sunny day. The rain jackets and umbrellas are also very useful when the inevitable late afternoon storm rolls through the area.
Don’t bring folding chairs as they are prohibited and most coolers are as well. In addition to the typical rules about dangerous objects, don’t bring balloons, large banners or any other decorations to supplement your parade spot or fireworks area. Also, no glass containers or laser pointers are allowed, so check your bag before you head out.
Secret tips or insider info?
Check with your hotel to see if there is rooftop access and if you need tickets or to line up in advance. With such a low skyline in DC even distant buildings can have a good view of the fireworks.
The river also makes an excellent vantage point for the fireworks displays. Most of the boat companies sell special packages for the evening that you should book in advance. We recommend Embark DC for the best experience on the water.
Consider the opposite bank of the river. Many of the tall buildings in Rosslyn, VA offer restaurants or rooftops with views of the fireworks and again tickets are usually available. With many of the roads closed in the area of Arlington Cemetery, there are some pedestrian friendly spots that are accessible via paths along the river.
Don’t drive anywhere on the 4th of July. So many roads are closed for the parade, security gates for the fireworks viewing area and for the launching area for the pyrotechnics. If you are coming from Virginia, plan to use 495 over the Wilson Bridge and enter the city on the southeast side. For anyone driving into the city, expect lots of traffic and very little parking. After the fireworks, traffic is particularly difficult as everyone is trying to head home at the same time and road closures will not end until after midnight.
Local communities have their own Independence Day celebrations which are charming and less crowded than Washington. Check out celebrations in Alexandria, VA or at Mt. Vernon as alternatives to downtown.
Regardless of which adventure you choose we hope that you have a safe and happy Fourth of July celebration. To learn more about any or all of these great sites, check out our full slate of tours at unscripted.tours
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