An Insider’s Guide to Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC

The annual Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival gets over a million tourists each year. This insider’s guide by a former local DC resident covers tips on how to experience the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC without the crowds, where to see the cherry trees in Washington DC, where to stay in DC during the cherry blossom festival, and the history behind the cherry blossom trees in Washington, DC. 

One of my favorites parts about life in Washington, D.C. has been observing the seasons. It’s something that occurs quite beautifully on East Coast cities, and what I loved experiencing when living there.

The only joy about winter on the East Coast is the arrival of spring, and in Washington, DC, the arrival of spring means one thing…one popular thing…the start of the Washington, DC cherry blossom season!

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When is the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC

A common question that’s asked when planning a visit in Washington, DC during Spring time is

When do the cherry blossoms bloom in Washington, DC?

And each year is different and dependent on a number of factors the major one being weather. If the preceding winter was harsh and there are freak cold-fronts (it’s happened before) that occur in the spring, then there’s a chance of a freeze affecting the Washington, DC blossoms. But generally the cherry blossom trees in Washington, DC reach peak bloom between the months of March and April.

According to the National Park Service, peak bloom for the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC in 2018 is between March 27-31, which is earlier than past years.

Where to Stay in Washington, DC During the Cherry Blossom Festival

If you’re visiting DC, during the cherry blossom season such as this year, 2018 Cherry Blossom Festival, know that there are few hotels close to the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial where majority of the cherry blossom trees in Washington, DC are planted. The closer the hotel is to the Tidal Basin, the more expensive the rates are, especially during peak bloom.

Hotel Name	Cost	Walking Distance to Tidal Basin	Check Availability
Mandarin Oriental	$$$$	10 minutes	Check the latest rates for Mandarin Oriental
InterContinental at The Wharf	$$$	16 minutes	Check the latest rates for InterContinental at the Wharf
Hyatt House	$$$	17 minutes	Check the latest rates at Hyatt House at the Wharf
Canopy by Hilton	$$$	19 minutes	Check the rates at Canopy by Hilton at the Wharf

If you’re planning to stay in an AirBnb, the closest neighborhood to find an apartment would be the Southwest Waterfront, followed by Capitol Hill.

Click here to check the latest rates of hotels in Washington, DC

History of the Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC

The meaning behind the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC extends back over 100 years and signifies a bond between the United States and Japan. In 1912 the mayor of Tokyo gifted 3,000 cherry trees to the city of Washington, D.C. to commemorate friendship. Then First Lady Helen Herron Taft held a ceremony with the wife of the Japanese ambassador and planted the first two cherry trees on the north shore of the Tidal Basin.

It is now tradition for the first lady to take part in the Festival – including current First Lady Michelle Obama, who planted a tree in West Potomac Park in 2012.

5 Places to see the Cherry Trees and Sakura Blossoms in Washington, DC

Tidal Basin

The Tidal Basin is everyone’s favorite spot for viewing the cherry blossoms during peak bloom. Why? Simply because that’s where majority of the cherry blossom trees are planted in the district. There is no avoiding the crowds if this is where you choose to go to see the sakura blossoms – even after waiting until the end of the festival before heading down, you will still encountered a ginormous crowd throughout the National Mall and Tidal Basin.[genesis_column size=”one-half” position=”first”][/genesis_column][genesis_column size=”one-half”][/genesis_column]
The view, however, makes up for all the hassle. Cherry Blossoms line the banks of the entire Tidal Basin, creating an enchanting backdrop against the D.C. monuments. The white and pink trees cast a spectacular view that is unrivaled to anything that you’ll ever experience. Read Shaine’s experience of viewing the cherry trees at the Tidal Basin during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival Washington, DC.

An alternative to walking the Tidal Basin is signing up to take this Segway Tour.

Pro Tip –> To get a great shot, head to the Tidal Basin just before sunrise. You’ll find a lot fewer people out there, mainly photographers, waiting to capture the blossoms in peak bloom as the sun rises over the waters of the Tidal Basin. 

The Jefferson Memorial

My favorite monument in Washington, DC is the Jefferson Memorial. I especially love biking over at night and sitting on the steps overlooking the Tidal Basin. For Cherry Blossom season, the steps of the Jefferson Monument are an ideal location to view the cherry blossom trees that line the Tidal Basin.

You’ll also be able to look out over the water and see the Washington Monument peeking over a canopy of cherry blossom trees.

National Arboretum

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The U.S. National Arboretum covers 446 acres and during the Spring its also home to a collection of cherry trees, which include some hybrid species that have been specifically bred by the National Arboretum scientists. During the cherry blossom festival, the arboretum creates a self-guide tour of the flowering cherry trees and indicates the differences in the trees in bloom.

Best of all? It’s more than likely not to be crowded. And, when you’re there, don’t forget to check out the original US Capitol columns. 

Hains Point Loop Trail

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Washington, DC was rated the second fittest city in the USA in 2017, and when you visit it’s easy to see why. The city has a high number of residents that use its public transportation system, as well as a high number that walk and bike to work. There are biking trails all over the city, and one trail you need to cycle down during cherry blossom season in DC is the Hains Point Loop Trail. In addition to viewing a variety of cherry trees away from the crowds on the National Mall, you also get to see the point where the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, and the Washington Channel meet.

US Capitol & Supreme Court

If you’re on the hunt for cherry trees, don’t forget to stop by the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Not many people know that there are cherry blossom trees in front of the US Capitol Building, as well as on the grounds of the Supreme Court.

While you’re there, why not consider taking the following tours:

Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown

Dumbarton Oaks is an historic estate located in Georgetown, which in 1944 was the site of an international conference responsible for the creation of the United Nations. Currently the estate houses a Byzantine and pre-Columbian art collection, and regularly hosts a music concert series, but what makes it important during cherry blossom season is the terraced gardens which have a collection of cherry trees on Cherry Hill. Admission to the garden costs $10 which is money well spent if you want to avoid the crowds.

Washington, D.C.’s Annual Cherry Blossom Festival

Spring in D.C. is a special time of the year; drawing in over one million tourists from around the world to witness the Cherry Blossoms bloom and attend the yearly festival. It is a very particular process because the Cherry Blossoms will bloom and disappear within a matter of days.

Once you’ve seen the cherry trees in peak bloom on the Tidal Basin (or the less crowded Washington DC cherry blossom locations), there are still a few more things to do:

• The Cherry Blossom Festival opening ceremony (this year at Warner Theatre)
• Attend the Blossom Kite Festival on the National Mall
• Petalpalooza at the Wharf features art installations, fireworks, live music & games for the lil ones
• The Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival parade on the mall
• Get a sakura-themed drink at the Cherry Blossom pop-up pub in Shaw

For dates, times & tickets to events, check out the National Cherry Blossom Festival website.

Other Things to do in Washington, DC

Here are a few other things I recommend doing while in town for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival!

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Recommended Reading for Planning Your Trip to Washington, DC

• Here’s 45 Offbeat things to do in Washington, DC. If you’ve ever wondered what Washingtonians do for fun in their free time, this is it!
• For my fellow foodies, you should know that brunching is a serious thing in the district. Some could say it’s a weekend sport. Here are my top 5 Washington, D.C. brunches!
• While we’re on the subject of food, read all about this incredible Washington DC food tour I took and wrote about. Then, go book your own here.
• And, if art is your thing, here are the Best Museums in Washington, D.C.
• Prefer hard copy travel guides? Check out Frommer’s Easy Guide to Washington, DC, National Geographic Walking Washington, DC, and Lonely Planet’s Washington, DC guide.

For any of you who enjoy the changing of seasons, and don’t mind a crowd once in a while, I highly recommend for you to travel to Washington, D.C. in late March or early April for the Cherry Blossom Festival. It is an amazing site that is definitely worth the while!