Earth Day

Come to the National Mall and celebrate Earth Day 2026 and meet government, industry, and nonprofit leaders. Enjoy a music filled interactive learning experience focused on cleaner fuels, vehicles, air, and cities. Register yourself, family or corporate team here and receive a free T-Shirt and certificate of appreciation.

When?
Saturday, April 18, 2026. Walker Check-in at 8:00 AM, Walk at 10:00 AM, Exhibits open from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Where?
The National Mall

Who?
The Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC) is a Washington, D.C.- based nonprofit organization. GWRCCC was among the first of over 100 Clean Cities Coalitions established in the United States. For 32 years, GWRCC has worked locally to advance sustainable, affordable, domestic transportation fuels to help reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Our goal is to help the public learn how to take steps to improve personal security and the economic, energy, environmental, and national security of the United States. Find out more about what you can do and how you can help at https://gwrccc.org.

Why?
EarthDay.org’s theme for Earth Day 2026, ‘Our Power, Our Planet,’ emphasizes the importance of expanding the use of renewable energy sources to help protect our planet.
Increasing the supply of domestically produced cleaner fuels reduces oil imports and increases fuel supplies to help lower consumer prices. Sustainable transportation fuels improve the United States’ economic, energy, environmental,
and national security.
Walk with us to show your support for the laws, industries, and organizations that help increase the production and use of cleaner-burning, lower-carbon, domestically produced renewable fuels and other sustainable transportation technologies.

Why Not?

• Decreasing billions of tons of toxic and harmful air pollution reduces the cost of health care and property
  damage.
• Increasing the supply of clean fuels lowers fuel prices and creates new jobs that generate tax revenues needed to
  reduce the deficit and prevent tax increases.
• Accelerating technologies that produce cleaner, renewable, domestically produced fuels can help support
  geopolitical stability and save lives.

Join us in a race where the finish line is a healthier, more sustainable world for the human race. Let’s make every day,
#EarthActionDay!

Antoine Thompson, Executive Director,
Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition.

What should I know, and where can I go?
Question: How can I purchase tickets?
Answer: Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite at this link.
Question: Can I register our organization or group to walk as a team?
Answer: Yes! On Eventbrite, select “Get Tickets” and enter the number of general admission tickets you need, and “Check Out”. On the Check out form you can enter your Org/Team name.
Question: How do I sign-up to be an Exhibitor or Display my alternative vehicle?
Answer: On Eventbrite, select “Get Tickets” and from there you can select exhibitor or to display your vehicle.

Industry FAQ’s
Question: How many makes and models of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles are there to choose from?
Answer: Over 200. Look at the collection on the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center or go to your local Washington Area New Automobile Dealer.

Question: How many places are there to fill-up my alternative fuel vehicle in the DMV or when traveling?
Answer: There are 340 locations in Washington, D.C., 1,895 locations in Virginia, 1,585 in Maryland, and 81,442 locations nationwide that sell alternative fuels. There are 86,447 EV charging stations in the US, 1,829 in Virginia, 1,534 in Maryland, and 340 in Washington, D.C. Look for one near you using the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Station Locator.

Question: Can I use an alternative fuel if I don’t have an alternative fuel vehicle?
Answer: Yes. There are 26 stations in Maryland and 32 in Virginia that sell blends of 15% ethanol (E15/88-Octane) that the EPA approves for use in any passenger vehicle made after 2001. We are still looking for the first station in Washington, D.C. Please call us if you have any ideas. Use DOE’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator to find one of the 4,461 stations in the U.S. that sell E85 for FlexFuel Vehicles and 1,453 that now offer E15.

Where is the stage, the starting line, and the finish line?
The stage will be on 3rd Street SW, between Madison Dr. NW and Jefferson Dr. SW, between the U.S. Capitol Building and the Washington Monument.

Safety Protocols?
The Metropolitan Police Department, the National Park Police, and several other security teams always monitor the National Mall. All Washington, D.C., road safety laws, regulations, and procedures apply. Follow the directions from the police, extend extra courtesies, and be patient with other participants and those visiting the Mall who are not part of the GWRCCC event. Streets will not be blocked off for the event. Volunteers will support walkers if needed as they proceed through intersections and streets.

Tentative schedule subject to change

Where are the alternative fuel vehicle displays and green expo exhibits?

On the Mall between 3rd St. SW and 7th St. SW. The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Display areas are in the yellow sections, the Green Expo exhibits are in the green sections, and section 4 is a hybrid.

Are There Resources for Planning a Trip to the National Mall?

• The National Mall Coalition provides a free map that includes monuments, museums, public transit, and places to eat and use the restroom.
• The Smithsonian Institution provides a map of Smithsonian museums located around the National Mall, as well as an accessibility map.

What Should I Bring?

If you are walking or exhibiting, please bring your personal ID and other documentation. Water and nutritious snacks will be available for walkers. As a precaution, please bring enough personal self-sustaining supplies of water, food, foul weather gear, and other necessities.

Health & Safety Tips?

Trained emergency medical personnel will be on-site. Volunteers will have T-shirts or name tags. The event team coordinators can be reached via walkie-talkie or cell phone. Police and first responders are on hand or close by. In an emergency, call 911 and notify event volunteers or others who can assist until help arrives.

Restrooms?

Event organizers are providing port-a-potties for the event. They are located at the corners of 3rd Street SW, Madison Dr. NW on the north, and Jefferson Dr. SW on the south.  Several nearby museums, facilities maintained by the National Park Service, and food and beverage establishments also have restrooms.

How can I help with the public education campaign? 
Event Communication Coordinator: Jade Bynum:  jadebynum@gwrccc.org
Media Contact: Antoine Thompson:  antoinethompson@gwrccc.org
Media Contact: Burl Haigwood:  burlhaigwood@gwrccc.org

• Event Press release-link under construction
• Event Social Media Kit- link under construction
• Please support GWRCCC’s public education and awareness campaign by connecting with us and our sponsors on social media.

GWRCCC Social Media Links

• Instagram
• Twitter/X 
• TikTok:
• YouTube:
• Facebook:
• LinkedIn

What are my options for transportation?

In the spirit of Earth Day, please use public transportation. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority website has a trip-planning app.

Are there Metro stations near the National Mall?

• Smithsonian/National Mall: 12th Street on the Mall
• Federal Center SW: 3rd and D Streets, SW
• L’Enfant Plaza: Maryland Avenue and 7th Street, SW
• Archives-Navy Memorial: Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street, NW
• Federal Triangle: Along 12th Street between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues, NW.

Public Parking?
If you need to drive, there are several parking options provided below. Apps like Spot Hero can be helpful. Parking at a shopping center or other public area and taking an Uber/Lyft into the Mall area is also an option.

Free Parking? 

• Hains Point: Located in East Potomac Park, this lot has about 400 free parking spaces
• Accessible parking: Located near the Washington Monument, the Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Korean War Veterans, and Vietnam Veterans Memorials

Public Garages? 

• L’Enfant Plaza East Garage: Located at 840 D St. SW
• District Wharf Garage: Located at Sutton Square SW
• The Wharf Garage 3: Located at 602 Water St. SW
• Federal Center Plaza Ph 1 Garage: Located at 398 6th St. SW

Hotels with Valet Parking?

• Mandarin Oriental Hotel: Located at 1330 Maryland Ave. SW
• Intercontinental Hotel: Located at 801 Wharf St. SW
• Hilton DC National Mall Hotel: Located at 480 L’Enfant Plaza SW
• Hyatt House: Located at 725 Wharf St. SW

Other Parking Options?

• Crystal Parking Lot: Located at 300A 12th St. SW
• Ronald Reagan Building Garage: Located at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW