The Cherry Blossom in Washington DC
After winter, spring brings new hope and gorgeous Cherry Blossom. It is every traveler’s bucket list to see the gorgeous cherry blossom trees blooming during Spring. Here in the USA, you can find the trees blooming at many places, but the bloom in Washington DC is unique. You have to take a trip to know the reason. The gorgeous Yoshino Cherry trees burst in pink across the tidal basin and surrounding area to welcome all the tourists from different places to Washington DC.
Here are the things to know before planning for Cherry Blossom in Washington DC.
When to Plan
The expected time of bloom usually varies between mid-March to mid-April. The peak bloom is certainly the best time to see and it is a grand finale. However, the peak bloom is totally weather dependent and could change anytime. We would highly recommend checking CherryBlossomwatch.com or NPS for the latest updates.
Where to see
Tidal basin is no doubt the best spot to admire everything the place has to offer. This place provides great photo opportunities near the Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Most of the blossoms are located in this area and along the shoreline of East Potomac Park, which extends to Hains Point.
With that said, expect a swarm of people for the same reason you are visiting. I would recommend planning your day accordingly for better sight. Other places where the cherry blossom trees can be found – the National Arboretum, Anacostia Park, Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown, Stanton Park, and Oxon Run Park.
We wanted to walk around the place, so we took a long walk from the National mall to Tidal Basin. For more information you can checkout – NPS Map.
When to visit
The best time to explore the area would be early in the morning preferably at sunrise. At that time, crowds are usually lesser. Also, weekdays are better than the weekends if you want to avoid crowds. Please wear a mask, sanitize when required, and keep your distance as much as possible.
We visited on the 1st weekend of April 2018 just after the bloom.
How to reach
If you are coming by car, check parking at Ohio drive since other parking spots are mostly blocked for the season. If you are taking the metro, the closest station is Smithsonian. Uber and lift are also available. We took the metro from our hotel to reach and walked around the place.
Washington DC is gorgeous during spring. The bloom stays for a week or two so it is necessary to keep track for the best timing. Weather in spring can be unpredictable, so dress in layers.
We hope this guide helps you to plan the spring trip to Washington DC for Cherry Blossom. Pin it or Bookmark this post for future reference.
