You know it’s officially Spring in DC, when the Cherry Blossoms bloom! The Tidal Basin glows pink as the trees surround the water and gleam off the reflections. Trying to see the cherry blossoms in DC can be overwhelming. 😫While hundreds of thousands of people come from all over the country and abroad to see this magnificent sight!
I have lived in the DC area my whole life, and I go to see the blooms most years. I want to share everything I have learned about seeing these gorgeous trees, so that you are set for your visit to the DC cherry blossom blooms. 🌸
You have to be strategic when you visit them, in order to get the best photos and see the pink flowers. Read below to get insider tips to see the Cherry Blossoms in DC! This guide includes where to see the cherry blossoms, what time to go, and the best places for photos. I hope you have an amazing trip!
🌸 Peak bloom this year (2024) is predicted between March 23-26! 🌸
Table of Contents
Guide to See the Cherry Blossoms in DC
What is the National Cherry Blossom Festival?
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual celebration held in the spring in Washington to express gratitude for the cherry blossoms. In 1912, the Japanese mayor of Tokyo gifted the cherry blossom trees to the US.
So, now Washington, DC holds this event, which represents both the US and Japanese cultures. You can view the trees, watch live acts, and explore the National Mall. It’s one of the busiest times of year in DC as people come to see these blooms in person!
Where are the Cherry Blossoms?
Most of the Cherry Blossoms in DC are located on the Tidal Basin. The Tidal Basin is an inlet near the Potomac River and the National Mall. Here, you will find the trees surrounding the water creating beautiful reflections of pink hues.
More than 1.5 million visitors 🤯 come to DC every year to see the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin. It’s truly an incredible sight to behold if you’ve never seen it!
You can also find important sites like the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR Memorial, and the MLK Memorial. One of the fun ways to explore this area is to rent a paddle boat and view the magnificent trees from the water.
If you want to get off the beaten path and avoid crowds, then you can read about other spots to see them here!
How do you get there?
Luckily, the Tidal Basin is accessible by public transportation and I recommend using it, because parking areas and streets usually close during peak bloom. There are a few ways to get to the Tidal Basin including walking, biking, and taking the Metro.
Walking
If you walk the National Mall, you will head West on the Mall towards the Lincoln Memorial. Once you get to the Washington Monument, you’ll want to start walking South, left if coming from the Capitol. The Tidal Basin is just across Independence Ave from the National Mall.
Biking
There are plenty of Capital Bikeshare stations around DC, where you can rent a bike and ride along the Mall. It’s a really fun way to access the National Mall and get to places quickly. Plus, the bikes are only $8 for an entire day! There are scooters usually around the mall, but the bikes are safer in my opinion.
Metro
If you take the metro, then you will need to get on the Blue or Orange Line and get off at the Smithsonian Station, which is half a mile from the Tidal Basin. So, the walk from the metro should only take about 10 minutes!
Do I need tickets to see the Cherry Blossoms?
No, you do not need tickets to see the Cherry Blossoms or to attend the festival. You can access all of the trees completely free. There may be a few extra events at the festival that you may want to buy tickets for, but otherwise it’s a wonderful activity for anyone to go.
When do the Cherry Blossoms in DC bloom?
This is the biggest question every year! Even as a DC resident, I am constantly puzzled at when the bloom will happen. Experts spend months trying to predict when peak bloom will occur. Sometimes late snow or frost will even change the peak time at the last minute.
Most of the time the trees bloom in the very end of March or at the beginning of April, but this is all dependent on the weather. Even if they aren’t at their peak, you’ll probably get to see them if you go to DC around those times. They may just be more white or less trees will have blossoms on them!
🌸 Peak bloom this year (2024) is predicted between March 23-26! 🌸
What time should I go see the cherry blossoms?
If you want to avoid crowds and get great photos, then you’ll want to go early on weekdays. For example, last year I went at 6 am on a Wednesday and there were still a number of other visitors around the Tidal Basin. But, I was able to get a bunch of shots alone. 📸
Weekends are extremely crowded as tourists pack into the area to see the blooms. You’ll have a much better chance of getting amazing photos without people in them by going during these off-peak times.
How do I get good pictures with the blossoms?
Before you go, you should come up with a strategy for your photos, so you know what you want the framing to be. There are often other people around the area, so you’ll have to find a spot that is less crowded.
You may want to look at other photos people have taken there in the past on Pinterest or Instagram for inspiration. Again, if you want the best photos, you will need to go early in the day. I recommend going for a sunrise photo shoot! 🌅
Where Should I Stay?
Honestly, you can stay in a lot of neighborhoods to access the Cherry Blossoms, but if you want to be close then you’ll want to book a hotel near the National Mall. You can either stay in DC or choose a spot nearby in Virginia that is off the orange or blue metro line.
I recommend the Foggy Bottom neighborhood or the Wharf as good jumping off points for the blooms. Below, I’ve listed some hotels that are great options to see the blooms.
DC Hotels Near the Blooms:
Final Tips to See the Cherry Blossoms in DC
I hope that this guide was helpful for you to visit my favorite time of year in DC. The best thing you can do is have a flexible schedule, go early in the morning, and visit a few different spots to see the blooms. You’ll realize why seeing the cherry blossoms in DC should be on everyone’s bucket list!
Let me know in the comments if you found this guide helpful!
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YESSSSS!! This is actually when exactly I would want to visit DC! Probably won’t make it this year, but hopefully in the future years! Thanks for a bit of insight, I would love to see the cherry blossoms!
Yes, you have to go! It’s definitely the most popular time to go.
Cherry blossoms are SO beautiful! We have them every spring here in Toronto, but I didn’t realize they have them in DC as well. I would love to visit DC during cherry blossom season, and rowing a boat nearby the MLK memorial sounds amazing – adding that to my DC bucket list. Thanks for this informative post.
It’s such a fun place to visit. There’s so much to see and do. I love Toronto!
Your photos from here are so gorgeous! I had no idea that the cherry blossoms were as prolific in Washington – they are a rival for Japan’s season!
Yeah they’re truly astounding! They take over that part of the city.
This is such a great post! I loved all the cherry blossoms when I went to Japan, would love see them if I ever visited DC.
yes they’re amazing, you should!
DC for cherry blossoms is stunning.