# DC dopers...the skinny 4th on traffic **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-the-skinny-4th-on-traffic/186051 "2003-07-03T15:55:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![horhay\_achoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@horhay\_achoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horhay_achoa)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-the-skinny-4th-on-traffic/186051/1 "2003-07-03T15:55:53Z")
I am heading to DC for the 4th. My girlfriend has a friend who lives in Waldorf, MD, and she wants to go see her. All my friends down there are telling me it will be absolute hell to get there this weekend. They are also saying going downtown for the fireworks is a bad idea because it will take 3 hours to get home. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-the-skinny-4th-on-traffic/186051/2 "2003-07-03T16:08:52Z")
No matter where you go to watch the DC fireworks, you’ll be stuck in traffic. If you come to the Arlington side of the river, you’ll be able to park closer to the action though. Otherwise, take Metro! ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-the-skinny-4th-on-traffic/186051/3 "2003-07-03T16:13:09Z")
Jeff is very wise and helpful. Listen to him. ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-the-skinny-4th-on-traffic/186051/4 "2003-07-03T16:37:17Z")
If you’re driving downtown for the fireworks, you’re absolutely insane; Metro is not much better. Find a place where you can see the fireworks without having to actually be down on the Mall; the Washington Post normally publishes some sort of list of popular places to go. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-the-skinny-4th-on-traffic/186051/5 "2003-07-03T16:47:05Z")
The one year that I took a car to DC for the Fourth, we parked around Bannecker Circle. That’s at L’Enfant & G SW, which is a good walk from The Mall. No other cars were around though, but that was at least ten years ago. Things may have changed since then. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-the-skinny-4th-on-traffic/186051/6 "2003-07-03T16:53:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by booklover \* > \*\*If you’re driving downtown for the fireworks, you’re absolutely insane; Metro is not much better. Find a place where you can see the fireworks without having to actually be down on the Mall; the Washington Post normally publishes some sort of list of popular places to go. \*\* Yeah, but if they’re **popular** , it might not be so good of an idea…