This weekend’s military parade is expected to close a portion of GW Parkway, the Arlington Memorial Bridge and part of the Mount Vernon Trail.
However, none of the extensive festivities in honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army are currently expected to happen in Arlington, county spokesperson Erika Moore told ARLnow.
This is in contrast to original plans suggesting that the parade would begin at the Pentagon. The new route on the National Mall is about half the length of what organizers originally proposed.
Though the event coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday is expected to bring thousands of soldiers, heavy Army equipment and a fireworks display to D.C. in just a few days, many key pieces of information have only recently been released.
GW Parkway will be closed in both directions between Arlington Blvd and I-395, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department announced in a traffic advisory yesterday (Monday). The closure will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday and continue through 6 a.m. on Sunday.
Additionally, Washington Blvd will be closed between Route 50 and the Pentagon, according to an Arlington County press release issued Tuesday night.
“Right lane [of Washington Blvd] closed in both directions beginning 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 11,” the press release says. “All lanes closed in both directions between US-50 and Pentagon North Parking beginning Friday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m. through Saturday, June 14, at 10:00 p.m.”
Weekend closures are also expected at Arlington Memorial Bridge.
Pedestrian traffic will be restricted on the bridge, in Lady Bird Johnson Park and adjacent to the Pentagon’s north parking lot, according to an event notice also posted yesterday.
The Washington Post reported that the Potomac River will be shut down between Hains Point and the Key Bridge.
More fencing now up on the Virginia side of the Memorial Bridge ahead of Saturday’s military parade pic.twitter.com/R5IG5Ygl2g
— Steve Chenevey FOX5 (@stevechenevey) June 10, 2025
This is all in addition to flight disruptions at Reagan National Airport, where pyrotechnics and flyovers along the parade route will suspend airline operations on Saturday evening.
More extensive closures are planned on the other side of the Potomac, where the parade is scheduled to take place on Constitution Avenue NW between 23rd Street NW, in front of the Lincoln Memorial, and 15th Street NW, in front of the White House.
Original plans for the parade had suggested that a substantial portion of it would happen in Arlington.
A permit application from late March proposed assembling in the Pentagon’s north parking lot, proceeding north on Washington Blvd and crossing into D.C. at Arlington Memorial Bridge to continue along the National Mall. That route was about 2.2 miles long, more than twice the length of the current one.
The U.S. Army has not responded to ARLnow’s repeated requests for comment on why organizers opted for a shorter route. According to The Washington Post, the Army says it made the change primarily because of challenges related to parking for Pentagon workers.
“You fill up the parking lot with tanks, where do the cars go?” Army spokesperson Steve Warren told that publication. “Frankly, it was going to be annoying.”
Despite these concerns, the Pentagon last week ordered all personal vehicles removed from its north parking lot ahead of festivities. It advised people to “expect military vehicles” in that area.
A media event on “parade preparations for the military personnel and equipment” is scheduled to happen in that parking lot on Saturday.
Elsewhere in Arlington that morning, a full honors wreath ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier.
A press conference on the parade yesterday evening primarily focused on safety efforts on the part of the Secret Service, the FBI, U.S. Park Police, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Metro Transit Police Department.
Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s D.C. field office, emphasized the condensed timeline that organizers have faced.
“Planning [a National Special Security Event] in a matter of weeks is unprecedented, and our success in creating the security plan was in large part a result of our outstanding relationships,” McCool said.
No Arlington County representatives spoke at yesterday’s press conference. Moore said that the county is still awaiting information on further possible impacts.
“We are still waiting for confirmation of any road closures by VDOT of state-owned roads in Arlington, but we anticipate state roads will be closed as well,” she said. “When that information is finalized, we will be amplifying it for the Arlington community. No road closures are planned for County-owned roadways.”
Moore added that ACPD has been in contact with other regional partners, “but we are not the lead agency nor part of the decision-making process for the event.”
“ACPD will have increased police resources in Arlington County, to include both visible and non-visible assets, on June 14, to ensure public safety,” she said.
