Graduation traffic could delay access to Upper Marlboro circuit court hearings

Hearings and filings at the Prince George’s County Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro are likely to face added delays as graduation traffic builds around Show Place Arena, where Prince George’s County Public Schools will hold ceremonies from May 15 through June 2.

The Maryland State Bar Association warned that people with matters at the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County in May or June should add extra buffer time to travel. Administrative Judge DaNeeka Varner Cotton issued a special alert saying graduation season at Show Place Arena is expected to create significant congestion in and around Upper Marlboro, a warning with direct consequences for jurors, lawyers, courthouse staff and residents trying to get in and out of downtown.

The courthouse sits at 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, and operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except legal holidays. County court directions route drivers through MD Route 4 and Pennsylvania Avenue, the same approach that can clog when large arena events are underway. The court’s parking guidance also points visitors to free satellite lots and shuttle buses, underscoring how much access depends on traffic-sensitive roads and transfers before anyone even reaches the building.

PGCPS has scheduled multiple graduations at Show Place Arena during the same stretch. Ceremonies listed for 2026 include Academy of Health Sciences on May 15, Bladensburg High on May 19, Charles Herbert Flowers High and Crossland High on May 20, Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High on May 21, DuVal High on May 26, and Eleanor Roosevelt High on June 2. Fairmont Heights High, Gwynn Park High and Bowie High are also among the schools set to use the arena. The school system’s 2025-2026 calendar shows the last day for high school seniors is May 8 and the last day for all students is June 18, keeping the county in the middle of an end-of-year travel crush well after the first ceremonies begin.

Drivers looking for a way around the congestion can use Prince George’s County TheBus Route 51X, which circulates around Upper Marlboro between the County Administration Building, the County Courthouse and the Equestrian Center Park and Ride. But even with that option, the message from courthouse and bar officials is clear: anyone headed to a hearing, a filing window or a parking lot near Main Street should leave early, because graduation traffic is likely to ripple through the rest of the court day.