DC Metro Reroutes 12 Lines for Memorial Day
DC Metro reroutes 12 bus lines for 12 hours on Memorial Day due to parade closures
DC Metro Reroutes 12 Bus Routes for Memorial Day
Riders using a dozen downtown Washington bus routes should plan for detours and extra travel time on Memorial Day. WMATA will reroute 12 bus lines from 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday, May 25, 2026, due to the Freedom 250 National Memorial Day Parade, transit officials said. The affected routes include D10, D1X, D30, D32, D40, D4X, D44, D50, D5X, D60, D6X, and D74, with modified service and temporary stops throughout the detour period.
Extensive Street Closures Drive Service Changes
The parade will trigger extensive street closures throughout downtown Washington, requiring buses to bypass their normal routes, according to WMATA. Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 23rd Street NW will be closed, along with major cross streets including 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 17th, 18th, and 19th Streets. The inbound I-395 at the 14th Street Bridge will redirect all traffic eastbound, and the 12th Street Tunnel exit from Independence Avenue SW will also be closed. Transit agencies typically implement such detours for major downtown events to accommodate parade routes and crowd management.
Routes Face Varying Detour Schedules
Each of the 12 affected bus routes will operate with designated temporary stops during the detour period, WMATA said. Three routes—D50, D60, and D6X—will face additional early-morning detours from midnight to 7:15am, officials said. The agency didn't specify exact temporary stop locations for each route, though officials said riders should expect modified service throughout the 12-hour main detour window. All routes will return to normal service after 7:00pm Monday evening.
Detours Take Effect Memorial Day Morning
The main detour period runs from 7:00am to 7:00pm on Monday, May 25, 2026, coinciding with the Freedom 250 National Memorial Day Parade. The three routes with extended detours will begin modified service at midnight, more than seven hours before the main detour period starts. WMATA announced the service changes in late April to give riders advance notice of the Memorial Day modifications.
Riders Advised to Plan Ahead for Delays
Transit officials urged riders to allow extra travel time and consider alternative routes during parade hours. WMATA encouraged passengers to sign up for MetroAlerts for real-time service updates throughout the detour period. Riders can also use Moovit for real-time bus tracking and trip planning to navigate the temporary route changes on Memorial Day.
