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District of Columbia

When to catch Washington, DCat its best

Washington, DC through the year: cherry blossoms (usually between the last week of March and the first week of April) and tulips (at one spot: emerging sometime in early to mid April). Each has its own page with spots, sources and the latest reports.

RIGHT NOW · SEP 30

  • Latest reportNo dated report this season; the posters below show each usual window.
  • This weekend (NWS)Sat slight chance rain showers, 70°F · Sun chance rain showers, 67°F
  • Park alertsNo current NPS alerts

When are you going?

Where to go at Washington, DC

Spots, visitor points and places nearby
  • Spring
  • Fall
  • Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Best spots

Where each event's source says to go

Cherry blossoms

Tulips

  • Floral Library92 beds of tulip varieties by the Tidal Basin, designed in 1968National Park Service ↗
  • First Division Monument flower bedA bed shaped like the First Division's patch, beside the monument at 17th Street and State Place; the Park Service says recent spring plantings have included red tulips (not promised every year)National Park Service ↗

Next 7 days at Washington, DC

Forecast: National Weather Service
  • TodayPartly Sunny81° / 64°–
  • ThuMostly Sunny85° / 65°–
  • FriMostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers88° / 62°38% rain
  • SatSlight Chance Rain Showers70° / 57°37% rain
  • SunChance Rain Showers67° / 56°54% rain
  • MonSlight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny67° / 46°15% rain
  • TueSunny61° / 45°–

Today: sunrise 7:04 a.m., sunset 6:54 p.m., light until 7:21 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)

Nearby, and when they peak

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Towns nearby

Straight-line miles; each town page has frost dates and its nature year

Washington, DC in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
Close-up of white cherry blossoms and pink buds on dark branches
Cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C.. Photo: Annie Scott / USGS · public domain
Rows of tulip beds in many colors behind a sign reading Floral Library, trees and water beyond
Tulip beds at the Floral Library on the National Mall, by its sign. Photo: NPS / Lucia Lubanovich · public domain · resized
Red, orange and white tulips seen from below against a blue sky
Tulips at the Floral Library on the National Mall. Photo: NPS / Lucia Lubanovich · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

What does peak bloom mean?

The National Park Service calls it peak bloom on the day 70% of the Yoshino cherry blossoms are open.Source: National Park Service, Bloom Watch: bloom stage dates by year ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How long does peak bloom last?

Usually several days, says the National Park Service. Cool, calm weather can stretch it; a rainy, windy day can end it suddenly, and a late frost can stop the bloom altogether.Source: National Park Service, Bloom Watch: bloom stage dates by year ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How early or late can peak bloom be?

Peak has come as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958). The National Park Service says forecasting it is almost impossible more than 10 days ahead.Source: National Park Service, Bloom Watch: bloom stage dates by year ↗ (opens in a new tab)

When are the tulips planted?

In November. They come up sometime in early to mid-April.Source: National Park Service, Tidal Basin Loop Trail ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

Every timing above, from these pages; checked Sep 26