Anyone driving, riding the Metro or taking the bus in Washington, D.C., on Inauguration Day can expect changes and plenty of closures. And those changes have changed again, following the announcement that inauguration would be held indoors and the traditional parade along Pennsylvania Avenue would be swapped for a viewing event at Capital One Arena due to the extreme cold.
Here's everything we know about getting around in D.C. on Monday — including what travelers can expect at D.C.-area airports.
Metro operating hours and station closures
Metrorail had initially planned to open an hour early on Monday and run extra trains. However, it instead opened at its regular time of 5 a.m. and will operate on a normal weekday schedule. It will be open until midnight on Monday.
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The Yellow Line is not running to Greenbelt on Monday as was previously planned.
The following stations are closed, with trains bypassing them, and will reopen Tuesday at 5 a.m.:
- Federal Triangle
- Mount Vernon Square
- National Archives
- Pentagon
Some station entrances were set to be closed during certain hours at the following stations:
- Judiciary Square: F Street/National Building Museum entrance closed from Sunday at 4 p.m. to Monday at 5 a.m.; 4th and D streets NW entrance remaining open
- McPherson Square: Vermont Avenue & I Street NW entrance closed from Sunday at 8 p.m. to Tuesday at 5 a.m.; 14th and I streets NW entrance open
- Union Station: Amtrak terminal entrance closed from Monday at 4 p.m. to Tuesday at 5 a.m.; Massachusetts Avenue and 1st Street NE entrances open
The Gallery Place-Chinatown station next to Capital One Arena is open only to passengers transferring lines. No entrances or exits will be open at that station Sunday or Monday.
The Smithsonian station was previously planned to be closed but is open. Farragut West and Metro Center previously had some planned station entrance closures, but all entrances are open.
"Inaugurations are typically high ridership events. Be prepared for long lines, full trains and buses, and the possibility of intermittent delays due to large crowds," Metro said in a news release ahead of inauguration.
Metrobus service changes
Buses on Monday are running on a Saturday supplemental schedule. Riders can check timetables for schedule information.
Detours are in effect through Tuesday due to the security perimeter and road closures.
As of late Saturday afternoon, Metro said the following bus routes would be affected: 3F, 3Y, 7A, 10A, 11Y, 16A, 16C, 16E, 16Y, 22A, 38B, 31, 32, 33, 36, 42, 43, 52, 54, 59, 63, 64, 70, 74, 79, 80, 96, D4, D6, D8, G8, L2, N2, N4, N6, P6, S2, S9, X2, X8, and X9.
The Pentagon Transit Center is closed Monday. Buses are detouring to Pentagon City.
MetroAccess
Subscription trips are canceled for Monday due to the inauguration, Metro said.
Tips for riding Metrorail on Inauguration Day
Whether you were coming to D.C. from out of town, or it's been a while since you've ridden Metro, here are few things Metro said to keep in mind:
- Metro officials suggest a mobile SmarTrip card to your phone’s wallet and making sure to add enough fare to cover a roundtrip. "Add funds to your mobile SmarTrip before arriving in case cell service is overloaded or use Metro station Wi-Fi. Newer phones will still let you tap in even if your battery dies if you have the feature enabled," Metro said.
- Physical SmarTrip cards will be available at all stations.
- Anyone over age 5 needs a SmarTrip card to enter and exit stations.
- Avoid transfers if possible. Each of Metro’s five rail lines has a stop near the National Mall. Use Metro's "Best Route" trip planner at wmata.com to find the best station to use.
- At the end of the event, riders may be metered into stations to manage overcrowding on platforms and trains. Stations near the event may become exit-only before the event and entrance-only after the event.
- Some end-of-line Metro stations will have additional portable toilets in addition to a restroom being open in most stations.
- Oversized coolers, bicycles/scooters, dollies/hand trucks and any other large objects will not be permitted in the rail system Monday.
- Several items are prohibited in the inauguration security zone. Do not bring any items from this list to the area.
Airport travel tips
Travelers going through Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport should prepare for more crowds and congestion through Tuesday, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said.
Here's what officials recommend for people flying in and out of D.C. in the coming days:
- Metro is the best option to get to inaugural activities from the airports. Expect multiple road closures throughout D.C.
- Before going to the airport, check with your airline to ensure your flight is on time. Use smartphone apps to check in early and review baggage policies.
- Arrive at least two hours before your flight. Expect large crowds and long lines.
- If parking, make a parking reservation online in advance to guarantee a space.
Inauguration road closures in DC and Northern Virginia
If you're thinking of driving anywhere near downtown D.C. from Sunday through Tuesday, you might want to rethink those plans.
On Saturday, the DowntownDC Business Improvement District shared a new map from the U.S. Secret Service showing an updated security perimeter that also includes the area around Capital One Arena and Chinatown.
D.C. and Virginia officials shared the following road closure information as of Sunday:
Swearing-In and Capital One Arena event closures:
The following roads are closed to vehicle traffic:
- 17th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- Connecticut Avenue from K Street NW to H Street NW
- 16th Street from K Street NW to H Street NW
- Vermont Avenue from K Street NW to H Street NW
- 15th Street from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 14th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 13½ Street from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to D Street NW
- 13th Street from K Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 12th Street from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 11th Street from K Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 10th Street from H Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 9th Street from N Street NW to New York Avenue NW
- 9th Street from H Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 8th Street from H Street NW to D Street NW
- 7th Street from N Street NW to Massachusetts Avenue NW
- 7th Street from H Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 6th Street from New York Avenue NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 5th Street from New York Avenue NW to Indiana Avenue NW
- 4th Street from New York Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 3rd Street from Massachusetts Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 2nd Street from Massachusetts Avenue NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- First Street from Massachusetts Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
- New Jersey Avenue from Massachusetts Avenue NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- N. Capitol Street from Massachusetts Avenue NW to Louisiana Avenue NW
- Delaware Avenue from Columbus Circle NE to Constitution Avenue NE
- First Street from Columbus Circle NE to C Street SE
- Pennsylvania Avenue from 18th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- I Street from 18th Street NW to 4th Street NW
- H Street from 18th Street NW to Massachusetts Avenue NW
- G Street from 18th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- F Street from 18th Street NW to N. Capitol Street NW
- E Street from 18th Street NW to Columbus Circle NE
- New York Avenue from 18th Street NW to 4th Street NW
- D Street from 18th Street NW to 3rd Street NE
- Indiana Avenue from 7th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- C Street from 18th Street NW to 17th Street NW
- C Street from 6th Street NW to 2nd Street NE
- Constitution Avenue from 14th Street NW to 3rd Street NE
- East Capitol Street from First Street NE to 3rd Street NE
- Louisiana Avenue from Constitution Avenue NW to Columbus Circle NE
- Independence Avenue from Washington Avenue SW to 3rd Street SE
Convention Center Inaugural Ball Perimeter:
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic on Monday until about 11:59 p.m.:
- M Street from 9th Street NW to 7th Street NW
- L Street from 9th Street NW to 7th Street NW
- K Street from 9th Street NW to 7th Street NW
- New York Avenue from 10th Street NW to 9th Street NW
- 9th Street from N Street NW to K Street NW
- 7th Street from N Street NW to New York Avenue NW
The following streets will be open for local traffic only Monday until about 11:59 p.m.:
- N Street from 10th Street NW to 6th Street NW
- M Street from 11th Street NW to 9th Street NW
- M Street from 7th Street NW to 6th Street NW
- L Street from 11th Street NW to 9th Street NW
- L Street from 7th Street NW to 6th Street NW
- K Street from 11th Street NW to 9th Street NW
- K Street from 6th Street NW to 7th Street NW
- 10th Street from O Street NW to Massachusetts Avenue NW
- 9th Street from O Street NW to N Street NW
- 9th Street from New York Avenue NW to H Street NW
- 8th Street from O Street NW to N Street NW
- 7th Street from O Street NW to N Street NW
- 7th Street from Massachusetts Avenue NW to H Street NW
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic Monday from about 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.:
- Massachusetts Avenue from 7th Street NW to 6th Street NW
- Allen Y. Lew Place from 9th Street NW to 7th Street NW
- 7th Street from New York Avenue NW to Massachusetts Avenue NW
The following streets will be open for local traffic only Monday from about 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.:
- Massachusetts Avenue NW from 11th Street NW to 9th Street NW
- New York Avenue NW from 7th Street NW to 4th Street NW
Union Station inaugural ball perimeter:
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic Monday until about 11:59 p.m.:
- F Street NE from 2nd Street NE to Columbus Circle NE
- First Street NE from G Place NE to Columbus Circle NE
The following streets will be open for local traffic only Monday until about 11:59 p.m.:
- G Street NE from N. Capitol Street NE to First Street NE
- First Street NE from K Street NE to G Place NE
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic Monday from about 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.:
- Massachusetts Avenue from North Capitol Street NE to 2nd Street NW
- Columbus Circle from E Street NE to First Street NE
Highway closures in the District:
The following exits will be closed to vehicle traffic through Tuesday at about 6 a.m.:
- Eastbound I-395 Exit 1 toward 14th Street / National Mall
- Eastbound I-395 HOV exit toward 14th Street / National Mall
- Eastbound I-395 Exit 3 toward 12th Street Expressway
- Westbound I-395 Exit 4B toward 12th Street Expressway
- Northbound I-395 toward C Street SW / U.S. Capitol
Highway changes/closures in Northern Virginia:
Some bridges and ramps will be closed from Virginia into D.C. on Monday through the end of inaugural events.
I-395 northbound:
- The general-purpose lanes will remain open
- Express Lanes (from north of Edsall Road and including the HOV/Rochambeau Memorial Bridge) will be closed
- All entries to the 395 Express Lanes will be closed. Drivers on the 95 Express Lanes will be detoured back to the I-395 general purpose lanes near Edsall Road
- The general-purpose slip ramp entry to the HOV/Rochambeau Memorial Bridge (Ramp G) will be closed
- The ramp entry from Eads Street to the HOV/Rochambeau Memorial Bridge will be closed
- I-395 northbound ramp to Boundary Channel Drive (Exit 10A) will be closed
I-395 southbound:
- The general-purpose lanes will remain open
- I-395 southbound (George Mason Memorial Bridge) will remain open
- I-395 southbound HOV/Rochambeau Memorial Bridge will be closed
- 395 Express Lanes reversal to southbound will begin at the standard time of 11 a.m.
- 395 Express Lanes access ramps at and south of Washington Boulevard are scheduled to open within the standard window, by about 12:30 p.m.
- Access ramps north of Washington Boulevard, at Eads Street, and from the southbound HOV Rochambeau Memorial Bridge coming from Washington, D.C. will remain closed until events conclude
- I-395 southbound ramp to Boundary Channel Drive (Exit 10A) will be closed