Editor’s note: This story has been updated with information for 2023.
As a former Washington, D.C., resident, I’ve seen my fair share of cherry blossoms.
While I may be a bit biased, Washington’s famous cherry blossoms are not only impressive to locals: More than 1.5 million people worldwide flock to Washington annually to see its impressive floral display, according to the organizers of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
2023 marks the 111th anniversary of Tokyo gifting 3,000 cherry trees to Washington as a symbol of friendship.
The National Park Service predicts peak bloom this year will be between March 22 and 25, though rest assured you can see blossoms both before and after those dates, depending on the weather. This does fall a bit earlier than the historical peak bloom average date, but it is not a record-setting timeframe if it plays out as expected.
Whether you plan on visiting for the first time or are eager to return to see the blooms again, here’s everything you need to know about checking out Washington’s stunning cherry blossoms.
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When to see the cherry blossoms
Obviously, you can’t control Mother Nature, but you can get some help timing your trip to our nation’s capital to see its world-renowned blossoms.
“This has been the third warmest winter on record, making it tougher to read the trees and determine the peak bloom,” NPS Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, National Park Service Jeff Reinhold said during a March 1, 2023, press conference before announcing the dates of the peak bloom. “We predict the Yoshino cherry trees will reach peak bloom between March 22 and March 25, 2023,” he added.
This window may be tweaked slightly a couple of times leading up to the week of predicted peak bloom based on tracking winter forecasts for March, historical data and observation of the trees.
The NPS and the National Cherry Blossom Festival regularly update their peak bloom forecast projections, so be sure to check both groups’ websites for the latest information.
Washington’s Yoshino cherry blossoms, which are the variety you’ll find around the popular Tidal Basin area, can reach peak bloom in March or April. However, the exact timing often changes yearly.
This year, both the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the NPS predict the blossoms will be in their finest form during those three days.
“Peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions,” says the NPS. “Forecasting peak bloom is almost impossible more than 10 days in advance,” the NPS adds; however, peak bloom typically occurs the last week of March or the first week of April.
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“The best viewing of the cherry blossom trees typically lasts four to seven days after peak bloom begins, but the blossoms can last for up to two weeks under ideal conditions,” per Destination DC, the city’s official tourism organization. “One of the earliest recorded peak blooms occurred on March 15, 1990, while the latest recorded peak bloom occurred on April 18, 1958.”
If you’re lucky enough to time your visit to coincide with peak bloom, make sure you’re strategic about what time of day you try to see the blooms.
“During the spring season, the least busy time to visit the cherry blossoms is in the early morning or evening,” said a Destination DC spokesperson. “You can expect more people on weekends and when the blooms are peaking.”
Since most travelers don’t have the flexibility to wait until the last minute to lock in a trip, the National Cherry Blossom Festival offers a live view of the blossoms should you just miss out on visiting during peak bloom. Pull up the BloomCam on your computer to see the Tidal Basin’s flowers at any time of the day or night.
Best places to view the cherry blossoms
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The Tidal Basin is generally touted as the most sought-after location for seeing the Yoshino variety of cherry blossoms. Still, if you cannot visit during the main peak bloom period, you’re in luck: Another species, Kwanzan, usually blooms two weeks later in other parts of the city.
Regardless of which type of blossom you observe, you’ll find several top spots with cherry trees in Washington. Should you decide that the Tidal Basin is too crowded for your liking, you can check out other D.C., Maryland and Virginia (known locally as the DMV) locations with blooms and more elbow room.
If you need a reprieve from the crowds of the Tidal Basin, head out to Arlington National Cemetery or walk along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Or go just a little north or south of the prime viewing area along the Potomac River, specifically on Ohio Drive toward the Kennedy Center/Lincoln Memorial, where the crowds tend to thin out just a bit. This is even more true if you head south under the 14th Street Bridge toward Hains Point, where you will find cherry trees and much thinner crowds.
Other less-crowded locations with cherry blossom trees include the U.S. National Arboretum in Northeast Washington; Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia; the Dumbarton Oaks Gardens in Georgetown; the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Northeast Washington; and the Hains Point Loop Trail in Southwest Washington’s East Potomac Park.
What to do during the National Cherry Blossom Festival
While you’ll be spending a good chunk of your time viewing Washington’s beautiful blossoms during March or April, there are other cherry blossom-themed activities and events you can add to your vacation itinerary.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual festival that celebrates the 1912 presentation of trees.
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This year, the festival offers a mix of in-person and virtual activities from March 20 to April 16, including:
March 16: The beloved Pink Tie Dinner Party returns to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center this year. The event includes culinary creations by TCMA Executive Chef Houman Gohary, an XR activation by Artechouse DC at the House of Suntory Bar and the beautiful queens of Absolutely Dragulous walking the blossom runway. Tickets are $225 per person.
March 25: The National Cherry Blossom Festival begins with the opening ceremony, featuring performances from various artists, including singer-drummer duo Anna Sato and Toshiyuki Sasaki. Tickets for the opening ceremony are free.
March 25: Grab a kite and head to the Washington Monument grounds for the Blossom Kite Festival, which is free and open to the public. If you’re crafty, consider making your own kite and entering it in the Kitemaker’s Competition, which awards prizes for different categories of homemade kites for both adults and kids.
April 8: For a full day of live music, drinks and family-friendly fun, attend the festival’s Petalpalooza in Washington’s Navy Yard neighborhood. This daylong event features interactive art installations, a beer garden and a fireworks show set to music, among other activities. The event is free and open to all ages.
April 15: If you love parades, make sure you watch the city’s cherry blossom-themed parade. The 10-block-long parade along Constitution Avenue features everything from balloons and elaborate floats to marching bands, celebrity entertainers and performers. You can view the majority of the parade for free, but you also can buy a $25-$40 ticket for reserved grandstand seating in the performance areas of the parade route. Plus, this year, paradegoers can catch TV personality Carson Kressley providing commentary from the street.
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For a full list of blossom-themed activities, check out the festival’s events calendar.
How to get to the cherry blossoms
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If you’re coming from out of town to view the trees, flying into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) will make your life much easier, though you can now take the silver line on the Metro from Dulles International Airport (IAD), for a roughly 1-hour and 15 min ride into the city.
IAD is much farther from downtown and will take about 40 minutes by car, while reaching the city from DCA only requires a 15-minute drive or a 30-minute Metro ride. Flights are readily available to and from both airports.
From East Coast cities like Philadelphia, New York and Boston, you can also easily get to the city by train. Multiple Amtrak routes include stops at Washington’s Union Station, and in some cases, taking the train can take about the same amount of time as it would to fly when you factor in arriving at the airport early for security screenings and lounge visits.
Parking is extremely limited along the Tidal Basin (and really any viewing spot you come across), so plan on taking Metro’s Orange, Silver or Blue line to the Smithsonian stop, which is a 10-15-minute walk from the basin area, says Destination DC. If you do choose to drive, use Spot Hero to locate and pay for parking in advance.
Alternatively, you can take the Circulator bus, which stops directly at the Tidal Basin via its National Mall line. The 32, 34 and 36 Metrobus routes will also drop you near the Washington Monument or about 10 minutes away (on foot) from the Tidal Basin’s cherry blossoms.
If you want to be even more environmentally friendly, hop on a Capital Bikeshare bike. The docking stations closest to the Tidal Basin are near the Jefferson Memorial and at Jefferson Drive and 14th Street Northwest. Just note that nearby bikes may be hard to come by, depending on the time of day.
Where to stay near the cherry blossoms
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Hotels are plentiful in our nation’s capital, and many are offering cherry blossom packages throughout March and April, including:
Hilton National Mall: Along the National Mall, this Hilton offers overnight accommodations in new deluxe rooms with one or two king-size beds, a gift from the property’s chef and a Cherry Blossom Beverage Basket, which includes two sparkling waters and two Boylan black cherry sodas, and locally baked madeleines and dried cherry trail mix. Rates start at $286 per night.
Hyatt Place Washington DC/White House: Located just steps from the White House, this Hyatt Place offers guests a glass of rose and a gift bag of goodies with its Cherry Blossoms package, starting at $384 per night.
AC Hotel Washington DC Capitol Hill Navy Yard: Marriott’s AC Hotel in Navy Yard invites guests to celebrate the arrival of spring with a king room, two signature cherry blossom cocktails upon arrival in the AC Lounge and a $15 food credit for use at Smoke & Mirrors Rooftop. Package rates start at $431 per night.
Kimpton Hotel Monaco: Book your Blooms and Bubbly package at this IHG property in Penn Quarter for a king room, a chilled bottle of prosecco upon arrival, a nine-piece box of locally sourced Arcay Chocolates and cherry-infused bath salts, starting at $308 per night.
Kimpton George Hotel: This second Kimpton property is offering the same Blooms and Bubbly package, starting at $289 per night.
TPG has favorably reviewed the Kimpton Banneker Hotel in Logan Circle and the Thompson Washington D.C. in Navy Yard. Although neither hotel offers a blossoms-specific package, you can book rooms for the first weekend of April starting at $292 (or 56,000 points) or $376 (or 20,000 points), respectively.
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Bottom line
Cherry blossom season is one of the best times of year for Washingtonians and tourists alike, despite the crowds. Your best bet for viewing the blossoms this year is predicted to be sometime between March 22 and March 25.
While you can’t touch or pick these fragile flowers, as it’s against the law in Washington, you can admire them close-up and take as many photos as your heart desires.