Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C. During Peak Bloom

Spring in D.C. is all about one thing: cherry blossoms. The district’s iconic trees were first planted back in 1912 when the Mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, gifted 3,000 yoshino cherry trees to the city. While over a dozen tree varieties now grow throughout the DMV, the most commonly found is still the OG yoshino—which is also what devoted fans fastidiously monitor through the 24/7 Bloom Cam.

As synonymous with the district as the White House and tourists on the National Mall, cherry blossom viewing drew in more than 1.5 million visitors last year and is set to break its record in 2025—the D.C. metro had its busiest day since 2019 last month, on March 29. Here’s what you need to know about cherry blossom season and the best places to spot the ethereal trees.

According to the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s website, Tidal Basin, D.C.’s main cherry blossom attraction, is in peak bloom. The trees usually last anywhere from a few days up to two weeks, and the festival ends April 13. Other spots in the DMV area have different blooming times, and most have trackers specific to their locations.

The two most popular species of cherry blossoms in D.C. are the yoshino and kwanzan variety. Tidal Basin is mainly populated by yoshino trees, known for their pale color, while the pink kwanzan trees are most prevalent in East Potomac Park. Overall, D.C. has 11 types of cherry trees.

National Mall
Nowhere in the DMV region is more closely associated with cherry blossoms than the Tidal Basin. And it’s for good reason: The Tidal Basin was the site of the district’s first cherry tree, planted more than a century ago. Today, the area is home to nearly 4,000 cherry trees that line the Basin’s path. A stroll from the National Mall to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is an obligatory D.C. spring walk, but keep going and extend your roam to pass the Japanese Pagoda, Japanese Lantern, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. A walk here at the height of the season is nothing short of iconic.

Northeast
Located on the far eastern edge of D.C., the U.S. Arboretum boasts 446 sprawling acres and over nine miles of roadways (both cars and bikes are allowed here). The Arboretum is home to several varieties of cherry trees, including three different hybrids that were developed on site. Cherries aren’t the only flowering trees at the Arboretum; visitors this spring will be treated to varieties of dogwoods, magnolias, and crab apple trees. Find your way among the blooms with the Arboretum’s free app which offers flowering tree guides and maps.

Capitol Hill
A far more understated place to see the cherries in their prime is Stanton Park in Capitol Hill. The compact, four-acre park may be small, but its walkways, lined with blossoming cherry trees, pack a punch. The park is named for Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, and has been a public park since the 1870s. Today, it’s popular with locals for walks and picnics. While it draws more people when the trees are in full bloom, it’s a good place to admire the blooms (or stop for an impromptu photoshoot) while avoiding crowds.

Georgetown
Dumbarton Oaks is an oasis in the city filled with blooms. The 53-acre property and Harvard University research institute is located at the highest point in Georgetown and boasts grounds worthy of a day’s wander. Meticulously cultivated to feature flowering trees and plants throughout the year, there are several spots not to be missed, perhaps most notably, Cherry Hill, located on a remote slope of the gardens and awash in cherry trees. Don’t miss the Prunus Walk (for flowering plum trees) and Forsythia Dell, as well. Purchase a $15 day pass in advance to reserve your stroll.

The Wharf
If you want to avoid tourists altogether, Hains Point Loop, the area at the southernmost end of East Potomac Park, is the perfect destination. Just over four miles long, the loop is lined with cherry trees and offers views of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, as well as the Wharf. The park is accessible by foot or bike from the 14th Street Bridge and by car via Ohio Drive.

Capitol Hill
The cherry trees at D.C.’s Congressional Cemetery are on a schedule of their own thanks to their unique varieties. The cemetery is home to both okame cherry trees, which tend to bloom up to two weeks before the yoshino cherries elsewhere in the district, and well as kwanzan cherry trees which can bloom up to two weeks after the yoshinos. The Congressional Cemetery is one the city’s best kept secrets—stroll through to catch a first or last glimpse of the city’s riot of spring color.

Anacostia
This sweeping park and aquatic garden is one of the most unique spaces within D.C.. A walk along the pathways through the water gardens will bring you past 500-year-old lotus flowers, tropical lilies, turtles, beavers, nearly 250 species of birds, and the city’s renowned cherry trees. A bit off the beaten path in southeast D.C., Kenilworth offers one of the city’s most peaceful places for a springtime stroll.

Cathedral Heights
This walled garden, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., is tucked away just outside of the National Cathedral. Olmsted drew inspiration for the garden from European medieval walled gardens, and it was originally intended as a private space accessible only from the bishop’s house on the grounds of the Cathedral. Years after it was constructed, the garden opened to the public but continues to be one of the city's best kept secrets and a peaceful place to take in cherry blossoms,historical and native plants, and plants mentioned in the Bible and in Christian legends.

Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington
With over 600 acres, Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 400,000 service members and their families, and is one of the most beautiful and peaceful spots in the DMV. In springtime, the cemetery’s blooming trees stand as a stunning natural tribute to America’s service members. There are over 400 spring-blooming cherry trees throughout the grounds and the cemetery’s website provides a helpful guide to landscape’s flowering trees

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Vienna
The Meadowlark Botanical Gardens offers walking paths through 95 acres of gardens, woodlands, and a lake. The gardens (there are 30 of them!) are home to approximately 100 cherry trees. The trees here tend to reach peak bloom a few days after those at the Tidal Basin. Take them in while enjoying views of Fairfax County’s Piedmont Hills. Make sure to walk by the Gardens’ Korean Bell Garden and visit the restored 18th century log cabin.

Mount Vernon & the Mount Vernon Trail
Old Town Alexandria
The 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail is an accessible biking and walking trail that runs from Washington, D.C. to Virginia. The scenic path leads you through waterfront and woods, past Old Town Alexandria, and eventually to George Washington’s Mount Vernon. You’ll find blooming cherries, and early spring flowers, intermittently along the path.

Carlyle House Garden
Old Town Alexandria
Any stroll through Alexandria’s Old Town during cherry blossom season will inevitably lead you past dozens of trees in bloom, but make sure to step into the historic Carlyle House Garden. This private house museum and gardens in Alexandria is popular for weddings and engagement photos, and for good reason: it’s flush with cherry trees.

Glenstone
Potomac
While a good distance from D.C., Glenstone is well-worth the hour drive. The park/museum offers 300 acres of art, architecture, and gardens. Snagging a free, timed ticket here is nearly equivalent to an Olympic sport, but don’t fear, if you arrive by bus you are welcome to claim a ticket at the gate. In addition to its indoor museum, Glenstone offers walking paths that swerve artfully past contemporary sculptures, open meadows, and mossy forests.

Brookside Gardens
Wheaton
Located in Maryland’s Montgomery Country, Brookside Gardens spans 50 acres of public gardens including an azalea garden (in bloom shortly after the cherry blossoms), rose garden, and a Japanese-style garden. Brookside is home to 26 cherry trees, a mix of Yoshino and the rarer weeping cherry. What’s more, admission to Brookside Gardens is entirely free.

Want more Thrillist? Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.