Washington, D.C.’s iconic cherry blossoms draw massive crowds every year as they bloom — and if you’re one of many (many, many, many) people planning on seeing them along the Tidal Basin and the National Mall, that means you need to have a game plan for just how you’re going to get there.
First, decide whether you want to start at the Tidal Basin, Potomac Park or the National Mall — all have plenty of cherry trees. That will also have an effect on, say, which Metro station or bus stop you’d like to use, or whether you’d like to opt for a less-common form of transportation (kayaks, we’re looking at you).
Zoom & click/tap on the interactive map below for details on each of the marked locations.
The National Park Service (NPS) always encourages blossom fans to take the Metro, warning that driving is … not pleasant.
We concur. ⬇️
Which Metrorail stops to use for cherry blossoms
Metro line: 🔵🟠⚪
This station lets you out right at the National Mall, and it’s also the closest stop to the Tidal Basin — but because of this, it can get crowded. It has two exits: one on the mall itself (at 12th Street SW and Jefferson Drive SW) and another about a block south (at 12th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW).
Metro lines: 🔵🟠⚪🟢🟡
This is another great option and serves five of Metro’s six lines. However, the station’s multiple exits can sometimes be confusing. While L’Enfant’s 9th and D exit is physically closest to the Tidal Basin, it’s probably the most confusing for visitors. (For starters, it lets out in a food court.)
A Metro spokesperson told us the exit at 7th and Maryland will be the easiest to navigate. When you get out of the station, walk one block north along 7th Street SW, and then turn left and head west on Independence Avenue SW.
Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter
Metro lines: 🟢🟡
Cross Pennsylvania Avenue NW and then Constitution Avenue NW. On the south side of Constitution, you can stroll through the Sculpture Garden outside the National Gallery of Art at the start of your journey to the blossoms.
Metro lines: 🔵🟠⚪
This station will let you out on the north side of the National Mall. Pass the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and the Washington Monument on your way. Note: If you want to pay a visit to the NMAAHC, you’ll need free timed tickets; ditto if you want to ride to the top of the Washington Monument.
Metro lines: 🔵🟠⚪
Coming from Virginia? The first Metro station once you’ve crossed the Potomac River into D.C. will let you out on the northwest side of The George Washington University’s urban campus. Take an easy downhill walk south on 23rd Street NW, and you won’t be able to miss the Lincoln Memorial.
Metro lines: 🔴
While it’s definitely not the closest station to the blossoms, this would be your best bet if you’re a Red Line rider aiming to avoid a transfer (as long as you don’t mind a lengthy walk). Use the 13th & G or 12th & F exits. You can take a stroll through President’s Park on your way there and check out the neighborhood’s plentiful dining options on your way back.
Metro line: 🔵
Yes, this station is on the other side of the river. But if you’re up for a walk over the Arlington Memorial Bridge, you’ll be treated to a stunning view of the Lincoln Memorial and a blossom-studded shoreline as you cross into the District.
Interlude: COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN?
We hope you enjoy your time in D.C.! Here’s a quick primer on Metro (you also might see it referred to as WMATA — for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority).
What to know about Metro fare:
- If you’ve been to D.C. before, you probably used a SmarTrip card. While they’re still around, you now can tap to pay for your ride on Metrorail or Metrobus, with no need for a SmarTrip.
- Metro fare cards (known as SmarTrip cards) can still be used for both Metrorail and Metrobus. You can use either a physical SmarTrip card (there’s actually a commemorative cherry blossom special edition!) or a digital version in the wallet of your phone.
- Weekend fares on Metro cost $2.25-$2.50.
- Weekday fares cost $2.25-$6.75 until 9:30 p.m., when they drop to the same cost as weekends.
- In addition, one-day, three-day and seven-day passes are available for unlimited travel on rail or bus.
- Plan to load enough value on your card to pay for all trips you plan to take. You’ll need to swipe your card both when entering and exiting the system, so make sure you have enough on your card for your destination. You can calculate your fare by using Metro’s Trip Planner.
- Each rider age 5 or older needs their own SmarTrip card.
- Riding Metrobus is free with a transfer discount if you’re transferring to or from a Metrorail line.
Parking at Metro stations:
Metro’s guide:
Metro has a guide for new riders available here.
Track trains and buses:
You can see real-time info and service alerts on Metropulse for Metrorail here and for Metrobus here; there’s also a Metropulse app for Apple and Android. Also, many wayfinding apps, such as Google Maps and Apple Maps, will show bus directions.
Which Metrobus stops to use for cherry blossoms
Several routes serve the National Mall and Tidal Basin area. If you haven’t been on a Metrobus since last cherry blossom season, take note that WMATA has renamed its bus lines; see the updated line names and routes here.
In addition to several other bus options, you can take the D10 Metrobus route to any of these stops:
- Eastbound:
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 13th Street NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 10th Street NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 7th Street NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 6th Street NW
- 4th Street NW and Madison Drive NW
- Westbound:
- 4th Street NW and Madison Drive NW
- Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 7th Street NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 10th Street NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 12th Street NW
- New Hampshire and Virginia Avenues NW
- Kennedy Center
See timetables and other routes here, plus real-time info and service alerts on Metropulse. (And in case you skipped our Metro primer above — we’ll reiterate here that many wayfinding apps, such as Google Maps and Apple Maps, will show bus directions.)
Riding Metrobus is free with a transfer discount if you’re transferring to or from a Metrorail line.
Where to park when seeing cherry blossoms
Be warned that parking will be very hard to find around the National Mall and Tidal Basin during cherry blossom season. The NPS warns: “If you choose to drive, prepare for severe traffic congestion, extremely scarce parking, and altered traffic patterns including road closures and temporary one-way roads.
However, if you absolutely must look for parking, the NPS says it may be available in these areas:
- Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive NW along the National Mall
- Constitution Avenue NW
- East and West Potomac Park (south of the Lincoln Memorial):
- along Ohio Drive SW
- in Parking Lot A on Ohio Drive SW
- in Parking Lot D on Buckeye Drive
- the Tidal Basin parking lot on Maine Avenue (northeast of the Jefferson Memorial, just south of Independence Avenue SW)
Limited handicapped parking is available near the memorials, but these spaces fill up quickly, the NPS warns.
Parking garage info and how to pay for metered spaces:
Paid parking garages are available north of Constitution Avenue NW and at the Wharf. If you’re looking for one of those, consider trying a parking locator app, such as SpotHero.
You also might want to make sure you have the ParkMobile app downloaded to your phone ahead of time, as you can pay for street parking in D.C., including in Potomac Park, through that app.
Remember that all Metro-owned parking garages and lots have free parking on weekends. See the list of stations with parking here.
Partial Ohio Drive SW closure:
A portion of Ohio Drive SW remains shut down due to a long-term D.C. Water construction project. A well-marked detour is available via West Potomac Drive SW, and GPS apps appear to have picked up on the project and show the detour. See more info here.
DC Water
DC Water
Where to ride or park a bike when seeing cherry blossoms
Hains Point Loop Trail:
This 4.1-mile loop offers cyclists the chance to see multiple species of cherry blossoms, as well as views of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers and the Washington Channel.
“Please watch your step as the path may contain some uneven pavement,” the NPS cautions.
You can see the loop on this easy-to-read bike trail map, which also shows points of interest.
Capital Bikeshare cherry blossom parking:
There are plenty of docking stations in the area, including these:
- Henry Bacon Drive and Lincoln Memorial Circle NW: docking station just northeast of the memorial
- Lincoln Memorial: docking station just southeast of the memorial
- 22nd Street and Constitution Avenue NW
- 19th Street and Constitution Avenue NW
- 17th Street and Independence Avenue SW
- Jefferson Drive and 14th Street SW
- Ohio Drive and West Basin Drive SW (MLK & FDR Memorials)
- Hains Point: Buckeye Drive and Ohio Drive SW
You can use Capital Bikeshare’s docking station map to see locations and check bike availability.
If you’re riding your own bike:
Bike parking is available near each of the major memorials and along the National Mall. However, remember that you can’t ride your bike within the memorials themselves, the NPS warns.
How to use Potomac Water Taxi to get to the cherry blossoms
You can board the Potomac Water Taxi from Georgetown (3100 K St. NW), National Harbor (145 National Plaza, National Harbor, Maryland) or Old Town (0 Cameron Street, Alexandria, Virginia) and take it to the dock at The Wharf (950 Wharf St. SW).
Then walk northwest along the waterfront and Maine Avenue SW to get to the Tidal Basin; it’s about 0.8 miles away.
Paddle boat and kayak rentals
While paddle boats and kayaks (most likely) won’t get you from your doorstep to the blossoms, it can be an amazing experience to view the blossoms from the water.
Adventures Unbound (formerly Boating in DC) rents out kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, rowboats and more, which you can reserve online. There are multiple locations, including at the Wharf (710 Wharf St. SW), which — starting March 28 — will be open on weekends. Several of the boathouses have not yet announced their spring hours, though, so call before you go.
Paddle boats are also available to rent right at the Tidal Basin daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the pavilion at 1501 Maine Ave. SW. However, only walk-up rentals are available for the next few weeks; advance bookings will be available starting April 12.
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