Where to view cherry blossoms in and around Washington, DC with families

Rediscover Spring throughout Washington, DC and be a part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival from March 18 – April 16, for four weeks of celebration filled with food, fun, and culture! Stay at partner hotels, dine at Cherry Picks restaurants, and check out Petal Porches and Art in Bloom installations across the city and surrounding areas.

• Opening ceremony: March 25, 2023
• Live performances at the Tidal Basin: March 18-April 2, 2023
• Blossom Kite Festival: March 25, 2023
• Petalpalooza: April 8, 2023
• The National Cherry Blossom Parade: April 15, 2023

A few tips to remember when you visit the National Mall:

• Don’t drive! If you do, be sure to find parking before heading down on a parking app such as Spot Hero. The closest Metro is the Smithsonian.
• Weekends are the busiest. If you can go after school during the week do it or go at sunrise.
• Public restrooms can be found at the Martin Luther King Memorial as well as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and at the Washington National Monument.

If you want to avoid the crowds at the National Mall but still go to that area, a few fun options include DC Blossoms Bike Tour, Big Bus Tour & Boomerang Boat Tour.

Places to view cherry blossoms that are not on the National Mall:

• The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception has over 150 trees.
• Dumbarton Oaks has a mixture of cherry species as well as other gorgeous spring blooms.
• US Arboretum has the trees but are spread out, but that’s the best part about heading here; room to roam!
• Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens Cherry trees surround the parking area and Visitor Center at Kenilworth Park where you can also enjoy birding along the boardwalk.
• Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland has about 30 cherry trees and other spring blooms at their garden.
• The neighborhood of Kenwood, Maryland has impressive tree-lined streets. However, this does get very crowded, so if dodging crowds ifs the goal, read on or go very early in the day.
• Van Gogh Bridge at Lake Anne in Reston has been on our list to visit. There are not many trees however the location on the bridge provides that most scenic and charming photos we see year after year.
• Rockville Civic Center Park and Glenview Mansion both have trees lining the drive to Glenview Mansion and around the Civic Center Park. You will also find a nature center, playground, and wooded nature walk if you want to extend the trip and stay longer.
• Did you know the 2nd largest collection of cherry blossom trees in DC are at Oxon Run Park?
• Stanton Park in Capitol Hill allows you to sit back, have a picnic and lay underneath a small collection of cherry trees.
• Of course you can walk along the Tidal Basin with the crowds or sit on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial and admire the blossoms from there. Grab sanitizing wipes and rent a paddle boat on the Tidal Basin.