Tourists descend on D.C. as cherry blossoms make their annual appearance
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Cherry blossoms take center stage at the Tidal Basin in Washington.
What are the best days to see the cherry blossoms?
The National Park Service expects the cherry blossoms to hit peak bloom around March 23 and remain in bloom for four to 10 days. Peak bloom refers to the point when 70 percent of the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin are in bloom. The average peak bloom date is April 4, so this year’s peak is expected to be ahead of the historical average.
The best time to see the cherry blossoms are, of course, when they are in full bloom. But, fair warning: These will also likely be the busiest days to see them.
What is the best mode of transportation to reach the cherry blossoms?
Not cars. Finding a parking spot will be a difficult feat. Public transit and biking are your best options.
If I do have to drive though, what’s my best bet for finding parking?
There’s free parking around Hains Point, and a $1 shuttle operating between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. that can take you to the Tidal Basin. Street parking around the Mall will be hard to come by, but if you are willing to dish out some cash and walk part of the way to the cherry blossoms, you can find a spot in a downtown D.C. parking garage.
You can also try reserving a parking spot through the ParkNow app, which is partnering with the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
If I opt to take the Metro, what are the closest stations?
The Smithsonian station — on the Orange, Silver and Blue lines — is the closest. L’Enfant Plaza on the Yellow and Green lines is also a doable walk. On a nice day, those stations will likely be packed, particularly during rush-hour times. If you want to avoid some of the crowds, try getting off at the Foggy Bottom station on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines and walk south to the Tidal Basin.
What about biking?
Biking to the cherry blossoms is a great way to zoom past the inevitable traffic gridlock around the tidal basin. Bike parking will be in demand and, in anticipation of this, supplemental bike parking will be available at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
If you don’t have a bike of your own in town, rent a Capital Bikeshare bike in D.C., Maryland or Virginia and drop off the bike at the Mall. During the three weekends of the Cherry Blossom Festival, Capital Bikeshare will provide corralling stations, where you can drop off your bike at a designated place just in case all of the traditional Bikeshare stations are full. A list of the corral stations can be found here.
Biking is an efficient way to get to the Mall, but it will be way too crowded along the narrow paths to actually ride along the Tidal Basin. So park it or dock it, and then walk around.
What’s all the fanfare about? Is this all for the cherry blossoms?
It’s far more than just the cherry blossoms! The National Cherry Blossom Festival and other organizations have events planned for more than three weeks between March 20 and April 17. The event’s flagship parade is scheduled for April 16, and there’s a kite festival, a fireworks festival, Japanese culture festival and more. Click here for the schedule of events.
Can I use a drone to take aerial photos of the cherry blossoms?
No, nope, no drones. Drones are banned in all national parks which includes, yes, the Mall.
If I don’t want to venture to the National Mall to see the cherry blossoms, is there any where else I can see them?
Cherry Blossoms are sprinkled in neighborhoods throughout the District. A new app, D.C. Cherry Picker, can help you locate cherry blossoms outside the Mall.
What times are the cherry blossoms open to the public?
You can go and see the cherry blossoms whenever you’d like. A nighttime bike ride or car ride around the Tidal Basin are great ways to see the cherry blossoms and avoid the crowds.
So how does a regular commuter navigate around this?
Our Dr. Gridlock had this to say: “Commuters on the 14th Street bridge will have extra time to watch the cherry blossoms develop as traffic slows along 14th Street NW.”
He’s got many other tips to help you navigate the blooming mess here.
Have any more questions? Drop them in the comments, or send me an email, and I’ll try to find the answers.
