Japan gifted Washington, DC cherry trees in 1912 as a symbol of friendship between the two nations. In 2024 over 1.6 million people attended the National Cherry Blossom festival, and 56% of the attendees were visitors from outside of DC. With the large crowds drawn to the beautiful trees, getting a pristine photo with the cherry blossoms requires a little luck and some planning. These tips will help you secure your perfect shot.
Follow the National Park Service for Updates on the Progress of the Cherry Blossom Blooms
Nature follows its own schedule and the timing of the cherry blossoms reaching peak bloom has been as early as March 14 and as late as April 18. The National Park Service (NPS) releases its prediction for peak bloom, with the 2026 prediction being between March 29 and April 1. NPS shares updates for the Bloom Watch following the progression of the 6 distinct phases of the cherry blossom bloom development. Bloom Watch can be tracked on the NPS.gov website (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm) as well as the the NPS social media accounts.
Peak bloom is defined as when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) blossoms are open, and it typically lasts several days. Peak bloom can best be predicted within 7-10 days of it happening. Peak bloom is the best time to see the most impressive display of the cherry blossoms along the tidal basin, but it also brings large crowds.
Cherry Blossoms Are Still Blooming Even if it’s Not Peak Bloom
If you are traveling to DC to see the Cherry Blossoms, you may not have the luxury of waiting until NPS declares peak bloom is happening in the next 7-10 days. Fret not, with a little luck and the right resources you can still see Cherry Blossoms and get a picture of the iconic trees.
While the Tidal Basin may be the most popular (and crowded!) place to see the cherry blossoms, the trees can be found all over the district. The nonprofit Casey Trees makes an interactive map to be able to locate cherry trees though out the city. I’ve used the map to try to locate cherry trees in off-the-beaten-path locations and was able to find blooming trees almost a week before peak bloom had occurred.
Arrive Early To Beat the Crowds
As a DC resident I’m spoiled to be able to see the cherry blossoms at a moment’s notice. The following pictures from 2022 and 2023 were taken within a day of peak bloom, which happened to fall midweek. If you are within driving distance of Washington, DC and have your heart set on seeing the cherry blossoms without the crowds be ready to drop everything to plan to get to the city early morning and in the middle of the week.
DC Offers May Ways to Enjoy Springtime
The cherry blossoms only last a few days and are delicate to cold weather snaps and strong winds. Alas, I missed seeing the cherry blossoms in 2021. I didn’t act quickly enough and by the time I made it down to see the blooms the wind had blown most of the petals away. Riding my bike through East Potomac Park under a grey sky, the wind ripped the petals off the trees and the petals rained down. I didn’t even take a picture that year, I was so disappointed.
To set the scene, March 2021 was only a year into the pandemic and still felt very much locked down in the city. The COVID vaccine was still not widely available and wearing face mask was an expectation. For me, missing the cherry blossoms in 2021 was a punch in the gut to all the other things that were restricted during the pandemic. If the stars don’t align for you to see the cherry blossoms, believe me that I understand the disappointment.
Even if you aren’t able to see the cherry blossoms, DC has pockets of beauty throughout the city. I regularly turn a corner and unexpectedly find joy and feel compelled to take a picture. Take a stroll through the different neighborhoods of the city and you’re sure to stumble upon a tree or flower that will make you smile.
For some surefire bets of seeing flora in DC you can visit:
Happy Spring!
Renate 'Renny' Flanagan -- Freelance Writer for Travel and Washington, DC Local Insider Tips 
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