Jun 30, 2025 - Travel

Best and worst July 4 weekend travel times around D.C.

Anna Spiegel

Illustration of the Lincoln Memorial wearing pink sunglasses and a lei made of cherry blossom flowers. — Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

Record-breaking July 4 travel is expected to jam D.C.'s roadways and runways— so plan ahead.

The big picture: Nationwide, more than 72 million people are expected to travel 50+ miles over the long Independence Day holiday, per AAA data for June 28–July 6.

That's 1.7 million more than last year, and 7 million more than in 2019.

🚗 Vroom in: With over 61 million drivers anticipated — the highest number ever recorded for the holiday — these are the best/worst times to drive.

Worst days: Wednesday, July 2 (noon-9pm) and Sunday, July 6 (noon-6pm).
Worst times: Afternoons — congestion peaks.
Best bet: Leave in the morning (ideally before 11am).

The intrigue: The best time to return to D.C. from Annapolis (and the Eastern Shore/Delaware beaches by extension) on Route 50 is July 4th at 11:30am, per AAA.

✈️ Take-off tips: Over 5.8 million flyers are expected — a record-setting year.

Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport travelers can reserve parking spaces online. You can also take Metro to both airports.
Both airports just added new concessions.

Don't forget your Real ID or another federally recognized ID (e.g., a passport).

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Best and worst July 4 weekend travel times around D.C.

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