District residents, businesses, and visitors should prepare for significant road closures throughout Downtown Washington, D.C., during the 2025 Presidential Inauguration. This guide provides crucial information to help you navigate the city during this important event, focusing on key Presidential Streets affected by traffic restrictions.
For a comprehensive visual overview, refer to the 2025 Inauguration Public Safety Overview Map available as a PDF here. Text message updates are also available; simply text DCINAUG to 888-777 to stay informed.
Key Presidential Streets Remaining Open
Despite widespread closures, several vital routes will remain accessible throughout the 60th Presidential Inauguration, ensuring some level of connectivity across the city. These open routes include:
- 3rd Street Tunnel
- Arlington Memorial Bridge
- All inbound ramps of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge
- Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
- Independence Avenue from 23rd Street to Washington Avenue, SW
- All roadways west of 18th Street, NW
- All roadways south of Independence Avenue, SW and west of 4th Street, SW
Capital One Arena Rally Perimeter Closures (January 19)
As of Sunday, January 19, certain streets around the Capital One Arena are closed for rally events. These closures, impacting several blocks surrounding this popular venue on presidential streets, are expected to last until approximately 6:00 p.m., but times are subject to change. Affected streets include:
- 7th Street from H Street NW to E Street NW
- 6th Street from H Street NW to E Street NW
- 5th Street from H Street NW to E Street NW
- G Street from 9th Street NW to 7th Street NW
- G Street from 6th Street NW to 4th Street NW
- F Street from 9th Street NW to 4th Street NW
Swearing-In Ceremony and Capital One Arena Event Closures (January 19)
Further closures took effect from 12:45 PM on January 19 for the Swearing-In Ceremony and related events near Capital One Arena. These extensive closures significantly affect numerous presidential streets in the downtown core. The following roads are now closed to vehicle traffic:
- 17 Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- Connecticut Avenue from K Street NW to H Street NW
- 16 Street from K Street NW to H Street NW
- Vermont Avenue from K Street NW to H Street NW
- 15 Street from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 14 Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 13 1/2 Street from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to D Street NW
- 13 Street from K Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 12 Street from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 11 Street from K Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 10 Street from H Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 9 Street from N Street NW to New York Avenue NW
- 9 Street from H Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 8 Street from H Street NW to D Street NW
- 7 Street from N Street NW to Massachusetts Ave NW
- 7 Street from H Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 6 Street from New York Avenue NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 5 Street from New York Avenue NW to Indiana Avenue NW
- 4 Street from New York Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 3 Street from Massachusetts Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 2 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
- North 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 18 Street NW to 3 Street NW
- I Street from 18 Street NW to 4 Street NW
- H Street from 18 Street NW to Massachusetts Ave NW
- G Street from 18 Street NW to 3 Street NW
- F Street from 18 Street NW to North Capitol Street NW
- E Street from 18 Street NW to Columbus Circle NE
- New York Avenue from 18 Street NW to 4 Street NW
- D Street from 18 Street NW to 3 Street NE
- Indiana Avenue from 7 Street NW to 3 Street NW
- C Street from 18 Street NW to 17 Street NW
- C Street from 6 Street NW to 2 Street NE
- Constitution Avenue from 14 Street NW to 3 Street NE
- East Capitol Street from First Street NE to 3 Street NE
- Louisiana Avenue from Constitution Avenue NW to Columbus Circle NE
- Independence Avenue from Washington Avenue SW to 3 Street SE
Convention Center Inaugural Ball Perimeter (January 20)
On Monday, January 20, streets surrounding the Convention Center will be affected for Inaugural Ball events. These presidential streets will experience closures or restricted access from early morning through late evening:
Closed to Vehicle Traffic (12:01 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. approx.):
- M Street from 9 Street NW to 7 Street NW
- L Street from 9 Street NW to 7 Street NW
- K Street from 9 Street NW to 7 Street NW
- New York Avenue from 10 Street NW to 9 Street NW
- 9 Street from N Street NW to K Street NW
- 7 Street from N Street NW to New York Avenue NW
Local Traffic Only (12:01 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. approx.):
- N Street from 10 Street NW to 6 Street NW
- M Street from 11 Street NW to 9 Street NW
- M Street from 7 Street NW to 6 Street NW
- L Street from 11 Street NW to 9 Street NW
- L Street from 7 Street NW to 6 Street NW
- K Street from 11 Street NW to 9 Street NW
- K Street from 6 Street NW to 7 Street NW
- 10 Street from O Street NW to Massachusetts Avenue NW
- 9 Street from O Street NW to N Street NW
- 9 Street from New York Avenue NW to H Street NW
- 8 Street from O Street NW to N Street NW
- 7 Street from O Street NW to N Street NW
- 7Street from Massachusetts Avenue NW to H Street NW
Closed to Vehicle Traffic (5:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m. approx.):
- Massachusetts Avenue from 7 Street NW to 6 Street NW
- Allen Y. Lew Place from 9 Street NW to 7 Street NW
- 7 Street from New York Avenue NW to Massachusetts Avenue NW
Local Traffic Only (5:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m. approx.):
- Massachusetts Avenue from 11 Street NW to 9 Street NW
- New York Avenue from 7 Street NW to 4 Street NW
Union Station Inaugural Ball Perimeter (January 20)
Similarly, streets around Union Station, another key area with presidential street access, will have closures for Inaugural Ball events on Monday, January 20.
Closed to Vehicle Traffic (12:01 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. approx.):
- F Street from 2 Street NE to Columbus Circle NE
- First Street from G Place NE to Columbus Circle NE
Local Traffic Only (12:01 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. approx.):
- G Street from North Capitol Street NE to First Street NE
- First Street from K Street NE to G Place NE
Closed to Vehicle Traffic (5:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m. approx.):
- Massachusetts Avenue from North Capitol Street NE to 2 Street NW
- Columbus Circle from E Street NE to First Street NE
Highway Closures (January 19-21)
Major highway exits will also be closed, impacting access to presidential streets and downtown D.C. from Sunday, January 19 through Tuesday, January 21.
- Eastbound I-395 Exit 1 toward 14 Street / National Mall
- Eastbound I-395 HOV exit toward 14 Street / National Mall
- Eastbound I-395 Exit 3 toward 12 Street Expressway
- Westbound I-395 Exit 4B toward 12 Street Expressway
- Northbound I-395 toward C Street SW / US Capitol
Important Note: All street closure times are approximate and subject to change. Always heed posted emergency no parking signs as vehicles parked in violation will be ticketed and towed.
Virginia Department of Transportation Updates
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is also implementing closures on routes into D.C. from Virginia on January 20, focusing on bridges and ramps that connect to presidential streets in the capital.
I-395 Northbound
- I-395 northbound general-purpose lanes will remain open
- 395 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. 95 Express Lanes drivers 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
- I-395 southbound general-purpose lanes will remain open
- I-395 southbound (George Mason Memorial Bridge) to 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
Plan ahead and stay informed about these presidential street closures to navigate Washington D.C. effectively during the 2025 Inauguration. Remember to check official sources for the latest updates and allow extra travel time.
