If there’s one place in the world that’s famed for its cherry blossom season, it’s our Nation’s Capital in the United States. The stunning Yoshino cherry trees are well-known for their luminous, delicate, and transient beauty.
Each Spring, people from all over gather to watch these beautiful cherry blossoms bloom and enjoy their peak beauty. The incredible Yoshinos burst with color and line the entire Tidal Basin and National Mall, making them a crowd favorite and a wonderful welcome to the spring season.
Visiting the beautiful pink cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, was something that got added to my bucket list only recently. So when the next spring season was due to come around, I made plans to visit these beautiful blooms in person.
Peak bloom in Washington, DC, is certainly the best time of year to visit. Want to experience it for yourself? I’ve rounded up the best place to see the cherry blossoms in Washington DC, as well as other best places for viewing pretty pink petals.
Make the most of your visit with my ultimate insider’s guide on the best place to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC.
Best time to see the cherry blossoms in Washington DC
The best time to see the cherry blossoms is around the end of March to the first week of April. This is when the blossoms reach peak bloom. Full bloom is definitely the best time of year to see them as they are at their peak and most vibrant.
Keep in mind that the timing of peak bloom can change suddenly as the blossoms are very weather-dependent. One cold snap can cause the blossoms to die and lose their petals. The 2019 peak bloom was scheduled to be on the 3rd of April, but changed suddenly to the 1st due to nice weather.
The National Park Service has announced the blossom’s peak bloom production for 2025. They have predicted that they will bloom between March 28 – 31. *Please note these dates may change, so be sure to check back for current updates.
Peak bloom is reached when 70% of the cherry tree blossoms are fully open, typically lasting around 10 days under ideal conditions.
I recommend checking out the Bloom Cam and the Cherry Blossom Watch and following them on Instagram for regular updates and date changes. This will give you a better idea of when to plan your perfect weekend getaway.
Hot tip! If you’re wondering when to book, I would try to aim for the first week of early April. This is probably your safest option to see at least a few beautiful trees in bloom.
Where is the best place to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC?
The best place to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC, by far, is at the Tidal Basin located at the Southern end of the National Mall. Keep in mind, this is the most popular place to see them.
The beautiful arrangement of the Yoshinos starts at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and continues around the Tidal Basin loop. The view is incredible, I highly recommend arriving at sunrise for the best photo shots.
If busy crowds aren’t your scene, the good news is that there are many other locations spread throughout the capital city with lots of unique cherry blossom species. See below a few of my favorite spots to view the blooms.
Japanese Lantern
It makes sense to see the pretty blossoms at the Japanese Lantern, seeing as they were a gift to the city from the Japanese. The Japanese Lantern is a stone statue located in West Potomac Park and symbolizes a gesture of everlasting friendship and peace.
Capitol Hill
It wouldn’t be a trip to Washington, DC, without a visit to Capitol Hill. You can find many small clusters of trees near the US Capitol Grounds. It’s no secret that the grounds are one of the most picturesque locations for taking great photos.
Stanton Park
Another great place to see the cherry blossoms is Stanton Park. Enjoy the great views that surround the historic General Nathanael Greene statue. The park is located half a mile from Capitol Hill and just a 10-minute walk from Union Station.
East Potomac Park
The East Potomac Park has both varieties of cherry trees, the vibrant Kwanzan blossoms and the traditional Yoshino. Take a short walk around the park and Potomac River, and scope out the best cherry blossom spots, including secret spots like the trees that line the road at Hains Point.
Dumbarton Oaks
Located in Georgetown, Dumbarton Oaks is another great spot to enjoy the cherry blossoms in the DC area. Spread out at the bottom of the garden, Cherry Hill has a mixture of cherry trees, including Prunus sargentii (Sargent Cherry), Prunus subhirtella (Rosebud Cherry), and the Prunus x yedoensis (Yoshino Cherry).
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
A National Park located in the Northeastern Corner of Washington, DC. Another perfect spot to see the trees in bloom. You can see them as you walk through the entrance of the Aquatic Gardens and around the Visitor Center.
Check the National Parks Map for more information and the best viewing of the cherry blossom trees.
Read More
Washington DC Spring Weekend Guide
Best time of day to see them
The best time of day to see them is definitely at sunrise. We arrived at 7.00 am, which was perfect timing. The basin was a little busy with some photographers and tourists, but once it hit 8.00 am – 9.00 am, people started to clear, and you could walk around quite comfortably.
The famous trees looked so pretty at sunrise, reflecting over the Tidal Basin. It’s certainly worth the early rise to see them. If you plan to visit during the day, a fair warning, it will be swamped with people. I mean, it’s so crowded you can barely walk.
It was like this all day, so I would hate to see what it’s like on the weekend. My best advice if you want to visit on the weekend is to go early, before 8.00 am – 9.00 am, so you can enjoy the blossoms without the heavy crowds.
Hot tip! I recommend visiting on a weekday. We went on a Thursday so we could beat the majority of the weekend crowd, and it was fine. Once 9.00 am hit, people started to head to work, and it wasn’t quite as busy.
How to get to the cherry blossoms in Washington DC
Getting to the cherry blossoms can be a little difficult and stressful if you don’t plan ahead.
I had a few parking spots mapped out for when I arrived, and found that they had blocked them all off due to the crowds. So we ended up parking quite a few blocks away, which I don’t recommend.
Parking
There are three parking lots located on Ohio Drive Southwest. I recommend getting to the parking lot via Ohio Drive and not 14th Street SW, as we found that they had blocked the parking off this way.
There is also street parking around the basin, I suggest getting there really early for one of these spots as they fill up quickly.
Public Transport
As for public transportation, you can take the DC metro on either the blue, orange, or silver lines and exit at the Smithsonian stop. From here, it’s a short 10-15 minute walk to the Tidal Basin.
Taking public transit is a lot more convenient and easier than trying to find parking.
What if I missed peak bloom?
Missing peak bloom can be quite a bummer, as the weather conditions can be so unpredictable. But not to worry, there are plenty of other cherry blossom trees to see.
The Kwanzan blossoms, which generally bloom 10 to 14 days after the Yoshino’s. Their flowers are a lot bigger, more of a deeper pink, and just as stunning.
If you happen to be too early for peak bloom, you can always see the saucer magnolias, which bloom a week or 2 before the Yoshinos.
The best spot to view these pretty blossoms is at Rawlin’s Park and the Enid A. Haupt Garden. It’s located on the south side of the Smithsonian Castle at the National Mall.
Or there’s the Okame Cherry Blossoms, which bloom around late February to early March. You can find them at the National Arboretum and Dumbarton Oaks.
National Cherry Blossom Festival 2025
The National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held from March 20th through April 18th, 2025. The festival is a celebration of the arrival of spring, highlighting the beauty of nature.
Commemorating the gift of the Japanese cherry trees to the city of Washington, DC. The festival is a four-week celebration with several events taking place in between.
Some events, like the Petalpalooza and Blossom Kite Festival, are free as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. However, others require you to purchase a ticket.
Pink Tie Party – Fri, 14th March
Opening Ceremony – Sat, 22nd March
Blossom Kite Festival – Sat, 29th March
Petalpalooza – Sat, 5th April
National Parade – Sat, 12th April
The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is certainly a must-see, featuring marching bands, colorful balloons, decorative floats, live music and entertainers and more.
Ticket prices for the parade start at $25. (check zone seating prices.) Make sure to arrive early for the best viewing.
Washington DC Cherry Blossom History
Each year, thousands gather in Washington, DC, to view the beautiful cherry blossom trees burst into bloom. So, where did all these cherry trees come from?
The history of the cherry trees dates back as far as 1912 when 3,000 cherry trees were gifted to the United States by the Japanese government as a symbol of friendship.
In fact! The United States reciprocated the generous gesture by gifting Japan with flowering dogwood trees. Flowering dogwoods are believed to signify rebirth and hope, as they are one of the first trees to blossom come early spring.
The First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, actually planted the first two cherry trees the following Spring. In the subsequent years, workers continued to plant cherry trees around the Tidal Basin.
It wasn’t until 1935 did the “Cherry Blossom Festival” became an annual event celebrated by many. In 1954, Sadao Iguchi, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States, presented the nation’s capital with a 300-year-old Japanese Stone Lantern as a gesture of everlasting peace and friendship between the US and Japan after World War II.
Today, you can see the stone statue located in West Potomac Park, surrounded by beautiful cherry blossoms.
Dressing for the Spring Weather
Dressing for the spring weather can be tricky. Sometimes it can snow, other times it’s 80 degrees. You will want to dress accordingly in warm clothes and a waterproof coat or jacket. If you plan to see the blossoms at sunrise, expect cooler temperatures.
Oh, and remember to wear comfortable shoes for walking. Strolling around the Tidal Basin and National Mall is a lot and requires comfy shoes that will last you all day.
Now you know the best place to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC. Are you planning on seeing the cherry blossoms this spring? What are your best tips and hacks when visiting the blossoms?
Just a heads up! This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission that helps support this blog.
You will not pay more when you buy through these links. All opinions are my own, and I would never recommend anything I don’t personally love.
Pin this for later!
