There is really no better way to celebrate the beginning of spring than seeing the cherry blossoms in full bloom in Washington D.C. People come from all over the world to witness the blooming of these famous trees. If you are okay with some last minute planning, it truly is worth a visit! Here is everything you need to know when planning a trip to see the D.C. cherry blossoms.
When To See The Cherry Blossoms
Historically, peak bloom (70% of the cherry blossoms open) is around the end of March or early April. This varies year to year depending on the weather. You can find the current forecast on the National Park Service website. As of the date of this post, the 2018 cherry blossoms are forecasted to reach peak bloom between March 27 and 31.
The best viewing of the cherry blossoms is within a few days of peak bloom (2-3 days before and after), which means it is a relatively short viewing window. The forecast is constantly changing due to the weather so it can be very difficult to plan ahead. It’s even possible for the trees to not bloom at all if there is a late frost, which happened in 2017. If you’re coming from out of town, you’ll need to be flexible, watch the forecast and book any necessary accommodations at the last minute (about 10 days before).
No matter when you go, it will be extremely busy, but if you can make it on a weekday, you will definitely experience fewer crowds. And although really any time of day is good to see the cherry blossoms, sunrise and sunset allow for some really great photo ops.
Where To See The Cherry Blossoms
The best place to view the cherry blossoms is the Tidal Basin. This is where a majority of the 3,000+ trees are planted and it offers great views of the Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The Tidal Basin is right next to the National Mall and just a bit farther south of the National Monument and Lincoln Memorial. You can’t miss them! You can even rent a paddle boat and enjoy the 360 views from the water!
How To Get There
No matter how you get there, you should expect to be walking a lot. If you’re driving, parking can be difficult. Some parking areas may be closed during the festival and there’s a very limited amount of free parking in the area. We typically drive since we have our dog with us and find some free street parking north of Constitution Ave, which is about a 1-2 mile walk to the basin.
You can also take the DC Metro to the National Mall and walk from there. The closest station is the Smithsonian on the orange, blue and silver lines. Using the metro is cheap and really easy, which makes it a great option. You can find more information on how to get around here, along with a wealth of other great information such as where to stay, visitors guides, etc.
What Else To Do During Your Visit
There’s of course, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which goes on for about 1 month offering cultural performances and daily events. You can learn more about the festival and events here. Cherry Picks restaurants, which are listed under the Visitors menu of the festival’s website, are select restaurants that participate in the festival by offering special menus.
You might also consider a visit to Georgetown, a charming, historic area that offers great shopping, restaurant and views. If you need a little nature during your visit, check out Rock Creek Park or Great Falls Park. Spring is also a great time to visit the Smithsonian National Zoo.
My favorite thing to do when seeing the cherry blossoms is to simply walk around the National Mall and Memorial Parks to see and explore the monuments, memorials, and museums. It’s difficult to describe in words what it feels like to walk along the National Mall. This is something everyone should see at least once in their life. If you’re going for sunset, seeing the memorials and monuments at night is just as special, if not even more so!
Heading to D.C. to see the cherry blossoms? Pin this article to save it for later!
