DC Metro Adjusts 12 Routes for Memorial Parade

12 Metro bus routes detour around downtown DC from 7am-7pm for Memorial Day parade

DC Metro Reroutes 12 Bus Routes for Memorial Parade

Twelve Washington Metro bus routes will detour around downtown on Memorial Day as the city hosts the Freedom 250 National Memorial Day Parade, transit officials said. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced the changes will affect routes D10, D1X, D30, D32, D40, D4X, D44, D50, D5X, D60, D6X, and D74 from 7:00am to 7:00pm on Monday, May 25, 2026. Most routes will operate on shortened schedules and terminate at temporary downtown locations rather than their usual endpoints.

Context

The Freedom 250 parade commemorates the nation's 250th anniversary and requires extensive street closures throughout the capital's core. Major thoroughfares including Constitution Avenue, Independence Avenue, and Pennsylvania Avenue will be closed to accommodate the event, according to WMATA. The closures will also impact the SE/SW Freeway and inbound I-395 from the 14th Street Bridge, with all traffic redirected eastbound. Transit agencies typically implement detours for large-scale downtown events to maintain service while accommodating parade routes and crowd management needs.

Route Details

Most affected routes will terminate at various downtown locations rather than continuing to their regular endpoints, officials said. Buses will stop at temporary locations along H Street, E Street, F Street, G Street, and Pennsylvania Avenue during the detour period. Two routes—D60 and D6X—will only detour between midnight and 7:15am, returning to normal service earlier than other affected lines. WMATA didn't specify exact alternate endpoints for each individual route, though officials said detailed route maps would be available through the agency's alert system.

Timeline

The detours take effect at 7:00am on Monday, May 25, 2026, and continue until 7:00pm that evening. Routes D60 and D6X will return to normal service by 7:15am, officials confirmed. WMATA encourages passengers to sign up for MetroAlerts for real-time service updates as conditions change throughout the day. The agency's customer support lines operate Monday through Friday from 7am to 8pm and weekends from 8am to 8pm.

Rider Impact

Riders traveling to or through downtown Washington on Memorial Day should expect longer travel times and different boarding locations. Those with trips planned during the detour period should check their routes before leaving, as buses won't serve their usual downtown stops. Moovit provides real-time updates for WMATA routes, helping riders navigate temporary service changes and find alternate boarding locations during the parade.