Your nature year
Washington, District of Columbiathrough the year
Also for Alexandria, VA, Gaithersburg, MD, Rockville, MD, Bowie, MD, College Park, MD, Laurel, MD, Fairfax, VA, Herndon, VA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Washington?
Within 150 miles we follow 18 places, out to Black Moshannon State Park 148 miles to the north. For a day trip, Washington, DC is 2 miles off; its cherry blossoms is usually at its best Mar 25–Apr 7. For tulips, the nearest is Washington, DC (2 mi, Apr 1–20 (local timing)). Washington usually sees its last spring frost around Mar 29 and its first fall frost around Nov 8, a frost-free stretch of about 224 days at NOAA's Natl Arboretum Dc station, 2.6 miles away. Leaves usually come out around Mar 8 and the first flowers around Apr 12. Washington sits close to sea level, at about 55 feet.
Updated Sep 27. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Washington's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 29 to ~Nov 8
- First leaf ~Mar 8
- First bloom ~Apr 12
- Today
Near Washington right now
- First fall frost usually around Nov 8 · last spring frost around Mar 29NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Natl Arboretum Dc (2.6 mi, 50% dates)~6 weeks
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 4 mi · Local timing: May 21–Sep 30Wildflowers · in its window now
- Fall foliage · Patuxent Research Refuge · 15 miusually Oct 21–31~3 weeks
Washington's nature year
- Cherry blossoms · Washington, DCMar–Apr
- Spring green-upMar
- Last spring frostMar
- Tulips · Washington, DCApr
- Wildflowers · Kenilworth Aquatic GardensNowMay–Sep
- Fall foliage · Patuxent Research RefugeOct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Washington, DC · 2 miusually Mar 25–Apr 7~6 months
- US National Arboretum · 2 miusually Mar 1–Apr 30~5 months
- Baltimore (Fort McHenry) · 34 miusually Mar 24–Apr 7~6 months
Fall foliage
- Patuxent Research Refuge · 15 miusually Oct 21–31~3 weeks
- Occoquan Bay Refuge · 23 miLocal timing: Oct 21–31~3 weeks
- Gambrill State Park · 46 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
Tulips
- Washington, DC · 2 miLocal timing: Apr 1–20~6 months
Wildflowers
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 4 miLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
- Catoctin Mountain · 54 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
- Shenandoah · 81 miLocal timing: Mar 21–Jun 30~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 29
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 8
About 224 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 8
First bloom around Apr 12
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Natl Arboretum Dc (2.6 mi from Washington), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Washington?
On average around Nov 8, and the last spring frost around Mar 29: about 224 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Natl Arboretum Dc, 2.6 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Washington?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 8 and first bloom around Apr 12, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Washington?
Washington, DC, 2 miles (usually Mar 25–Apr 7); US National Arboretum, 2 miles (usually Mar 1–Apr 30); Baltimore (Fort McHenry), 34 miles (usually Mar 24–Apr 7). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Washington?
Patuxent Research Refuge, 15 miles (usually Oct 21–31); Occoquan Bay Refuge, 23 miles (local timing: Oct 21–31); Gambrill State Park, 46 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October). Distances are straight-line.
How we know
US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27)