This is my first visit to DC and am planning to go from July 1-5...would that be a bad time to go due to large crowds...especially since I want to spend most of my time on the mall?

It will be jampacked and very hot.

Yes it will be a bad time unless you like a lot of heat and humidity combined with zillions of people.

A major holiday during peak season in a major tourist destination.

Yes, expect big crowds.

I went back in 1998 on July fourth. Had a great time. It was hot, but the air conditioned museums were open during the day, so it was not bad, and we saw the fireworks from the steps of the Capitol. They film the ceremony for PBS. Getting out from the mall area was easy, as they have extra Metro trains running a special schedule. I recommend going.

Alohaaa...type "Washington DC July 4th" in the "search this forum" at the top of the screen and you'll get a recent DC 4th of July thread w/ some good advice.

I'd go back in a beat!

Just fyi, the news reported yesterday that there were several robberies/assaults committed since last Thursday (5 day period) on the Mall.

Yes, recently there have been reported 3 horrific experiences of tourists including muggings and one rape of a 17 year old. These events took place at night when the mall area was sparsely populated. In my 37 years of living in this area, I have never heard of such incidents. Expect increased park police presence. I still predict that you will be safe in daylight hours. As for the 4th, it should be heavily patroled and you will have no difficulty keeping yourself within the apparent safety of a crowd. Really, seeing fireworks from the Mall on the 4th of July is an unforgettable experience. If you wish to see the monuments on nights other than the 4th, I suggest you do it from the safety of a cab.

On the other hand, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival usually falls around the 4th of July, doesn't it? I've only been to one of them, but I have a friend who goes every year. They're really quite fabulous, set up along the Mall, showcasing the art, music, food, literature, theatre, etc. of a given country or region. I for one would brave crowds to attend another such festival.

We went over 4th of July in 2003. There were crowds, but the only time it really bothered my was the night of the 4th, taking the Metro to the Mall to watch the fireworks that night....however, the firework show was spectacular and well worth the crowded subway. On the Metro we talked to some young guys that were standing near us and they came all the way from Boston in a very crowded subway, so I guess my quick 2 minute trip was not so bad. After the show we didn't bother with the Metro, decided to walk and so did a LOT of other people, we felt very safe walking back to hotel. It was VERY humid, I was 5 months pregnant at the time, I managed but it was VERY humid....Did I mention it was VERY humid, I thought I could handle heat being from Vegas, but that was just silly! With all that, I would actually go again over the 4th, probably the most fun/patriotic place to be!

I've jogged around the mall at night and ridden the Metro and never felt unsafe.

Unfortunate about the assaults.