Peak bloom date introduced: Greatest time to see DC’s cherry blossoms in 2024

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, D.C., annually to see its impressive floral display, according to the organizers of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

This year marks the 112th anniversary of Tokyo gifting 3,000 cherry trees to D.C. as a symbol of friendship. It also marks 70 years since the 2-ton Japanese Stone Lantern, located north of the Tidal Basin, was presented to the city on March 30, 1954.

“It symbolizes the enduring cultural partnership that re-emerged between Japan and the United States after World War II,” per Destination DC, the city’s destination marketing organization.

The National Park Service predicts peak bloom this year will be between March 23 and 26, though rest assured you can see blossoms both before and after those dates, depending on the weather.

Peak bloom is when 70% of the trees surrounding the Tidal Basin have opened their buds, though they can bloom both before and after.

While March 23 to 26 is the window in which the trees are expected to first reach peak bloom, it can last for up to 10 days, per Jeff Reingold, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks of the National Park Service.

“Determining the dates for peak blooms is one of the great puzzles of the nation’s capital,” Reingold said in a press conference announcing the peak dates on Feb. 29. He said predicting peak bloom this year was “particularly puzzling” thanks to the warmest January in D.C. on record in which the trees never reached dormancy.

This forecast aligns with that of The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang, which predicted an earlier peak this year, citing “abnormally mild weather…fueled by human-caused climate change.”

“We predict the cherry blossoms will reach peak bloom between March 19 and 23,” The Washington Post reported on Feb. 27. “That’s about 10 days earlier than normal and would represent one of the earliest peak blooms on record.”

The Capital Weather Gang’s forecast called for peak blooms prior to the start of the National Cherry Blossom Festival on March 20, the events of which are detailed below.

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, D.C.’s stunning cherry blossoms.

Relying on the NPS’ peak prediction page, the National Cherry Blossom Festival thinks the blossoms will be in their finest form during those four days.

“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. “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 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

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, D.C. Should you decide that the Tidal Basin is too crowded for your liking, you can check out other Washington, 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 and 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 the 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.

This year, the festival offers a range of activities from March 20 to April 14, including:

• March 15: The beloved Pink Tie Party will be hosted this year at Union Station, with international culinary delights and cocktails from local restaurants and caterer Design Cuisine. Tickets are $250.
• March 23: The National Cherry Blossom Festival begins with the opening ceremony, featuring performances from various artists, including composer and instrumentalist Kaoru Watanabe, choreographer and dancer Jo Kanamori and dancers from The Washington Ballet Company. Tickets are free, including for a day of multicultural performances at the Warner Theatre.
• March 30: 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; it awards prizes for different categories of homemade kites for both adults and kids.
• April 6: For a full day of live music, drinks and family-friendly fun, attend the festival’s Petalpalooza in the 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 13: 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 to $40 ticket for reserved grandstand seating in the performance areas of the parade route.
• April 13 to 14: Attend the Sakura Matsuri — Japanese Street Festival, featuring cultural groups, art vendors, food booths, contests and live programming. The event is free for all.

For a full list of blossom-themed activities, check out the festival’s events calendar.

How to get to the cherry blossoms

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. However, you can now take the Silver line on the Metro from Dulles International Airport (IAD) for a roughly one-hour-and-15-minute 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 the city’s Union Station. In some cases, a train ride can take about the same amount of time as a flight 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). Plan on taking Metro’s Orange, Silver or Blue line to the Smithsonian stop, which is a 10- to 15-minute walk from the basin area, says Destination DC. If you do choose to drive, you can use SpotHero 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

Hilton is the official hotel partner for this year’s festival. Here are some hotels offering cherry blossom packages throughout March and April:

• Canopy by Hilton Washington, DC Embassy Row: Get two complimentary drink coupons, 50% off valet parking and free bike rentals for reservations from 20 to April 15.
• Conrad Washington, DC: Treat yourself to its extravagant Concierge experience. It includes a Sakura Club room with daily gourmet breakfast, dinner and Japanese whiskey tasting; a four-course cherry blossom-inspired dinner with wine pairing at Estuary; a one-hour photography session at the blossoms; David Yurman his and hers rose gold jewelry; private shopping experience with a $1,000 gift card at CityCenter; personalized picnic basket; a lapel pin collection; and an official festival fleece. Applicable for reservations March 14-April 30.
• Hilton Washington, DC National Mall The Wharf: Book a cherry blossom-themed deluxe room.
• Homewood Suites Washington, DC Convention Center: Get $10 credit in Sweet Shop, complimentary breakfast and nightly parking.
• Hotel Zena: In addition to half-off parking, this Viceroy hotel will plant one tree for every reservation booked in partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
• InterContinental Washington, D.C. – The Wharf: With a two-night stay, guests can receive daily breakfast, a Kodak camera, a one-hour bike rental, a cherry blossom map, welcome amenity and drink for two, for reservations March 17-April 14.
• Kimpton Hotel Monaco and Kimpton George: Both Kimpton properties are offering a 90-minute DIY “Parfums & Blooms” floral fragrance class for two. It offers two custom fragrance bottles, a bottle of Rose bubbly, cherry-blossom scented bath salts and a travel candle for reservations booked March 1-April 30.
• Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection: Guests can use the promo code “ARN” to receive a custom Mayflower kite, plus a downloadable map of the best places to watch and fly kites this spring for reservations from March 14 to April 28.
• The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: Offer includes a blossom-themed arrival amenity, complimentary valet parking, complimentary bicycle rentals, hotel credit, daily breakfast credits for two and luxury accommodations for reservations March 14 to April 14.
• Sofitel Washington, DC Lafayette Square: Their Cherry Blossom includes a welcome amenity, daily breakfast and nightly cherry blossom cocktails, along with a signed print of the Cherry Blossoms painting by local artist Maggie O’Neill.
• Waldorf Astoria Washington, DC: Guests can enjoy an exclusive cherry blossom tea experience at Peacock Alley with a two-night stay. Don’t miss the 19-foot tree replica and local art installation in the property’s lobby.
• Washington Hilton: Guese can enjoy two themed cocktails, themed cupcakes, 50% off an appetizer at one of the hotel’s restaurants and a commemorative festival kite for reservations from March 20 to April 14.
• Westin Washington, D.C. City Center: Guests can enjoy two complimentary drink tickets to its Cherry Blossom Speakeasy, two continental breakfast vouchers, complimentary car service to and from the Tidal Basin, and cherry blossom honey prepared by the food and beverage team for reservations March 20 to April 14.

TPG has favorably reviewed several Washington, D.C. hotels, including the below that were priced as marked as of Feb. 22 for April 5-7, 2024:

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 23 and March 26, though rest assured you can see the blossoms both before and after that period.

While you can’t touch or pick these fragile flowers, as it’s against the city’s law, you can admire them close-up and take as many photos as your heart desires.

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