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Fairfax County travelers should prepare for crowded highways, packed airports and altered transit service during the extended Independence Day holiday period.
More than 72 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, July 6, according to AAA. That would be 1.7 million more travelers than in 2024 and follows a record-setting Memorial Day travel period.
About 1.8 million Virginia residents are projected to travel by car, also an increase from last year.
AAA Travel Vice President Stacey Barber said the holiday’s Friday timing gives travelers the option of taking a long weekend or extending their trips through the week.
Crowded roads and a new seat-belt law
The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to suspend many work zones and lift lane closures around the holiday, beginning at noon before the July Fourth weekend and continuing until noon Monday, July 7.
Virginia motorists will also encounter a new statewide requirement: Everyone inside a vehicle must now wear a seat belt. State law previously required restraints for all children but only for adults riding in the front seat.
Virginia Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard Miller III called the expanded requirement a common-sense measure with the potential to save lives.
State data show that 31 unrestrained back-seat passengers died in Virginia crashes last year.
Airports brace for a record-setting summer
Dulles International and Reagan National airports are expecting heavy passenger traffic as part of what could be a record-breaking summer.
More than 20 million passengers are projected to pass through the two airports from May through August, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. A slight majority are expected to use Dulles.
Parking could be particularly difficult at Reagan National, where lots began filling early in the holiday week. Travelers are encouraged to use Metro when possible or reserve airport parking in advance.
United Airlines, which operates nearly 300 daily flights at Dulles, expects July 3 to be the airport’s busiest day during its June 27-to-July 7 holiday travel period. The carrier is offering nearly 60,000 seats into and out of Dulles each day and anticipates carrying 10% more passengers than during last year’s holiday.
United’s leading domestic destinations from Dulles are Orlando, Seattle and Boston. Its most popular international destinations are Frankfurt, London and Paris.
Both Northern Virginia airports are now enforcing REAL ID requirements. Passengers without acceptable identification could face additional screening or be denied boarding.
Free Metro rides after 5 p.m.
Amtrak plans to follow its normal schedule on July 4, with no holiday-related service disruptions scheduled.
Metro will offer free Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess trips from 5 p.m. until closing on Independence Day. Rail service will increase to rush-hour levels during the afternoon as tens of thousands of passengers travel to events around the region, while Metrobus will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Metrorail service is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m., with final train times depending on the station.
Passengers leaving the National Mall after the fireworks should expect especially long lines at Smithsonian station. Metro warned that crowds there could take an hour or longer to clear and recommended delaying return trips or using another station when possible.
Road closures could also cause bus delays and detours.
No track work is planned for July 4, but Blue Line summer construction is scheduled to begin July 5 and continue through July 26.
Metrobus passengers should also review the redesigned network that took effect June 29 because routes and route numbers have changed throughout the system.
Fairfax Connector buses will operate on a Saturday schedule on July 4.