Where Can I Find Cherry Blossoms in the Mid-Atlantic Region?

In March the Mid-Atlantic states come alive with delicate sprays of color, the whites and pale pinks of cherry blossoms. Typically peaking in late March to early April, you can enjoy these blooms for a couple of weeks throughout the region. These are some of the best spots to find cherry blossoms in the Mid-Atlantic.

Find Cherry Blossoms in the Tidal Basin and Surrounding Areas

Washington DC

Of course the most famous place in the area to view cherry trees is at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. But you will also find cherry trees throughout much of the area, near the Washington Monument, around the capital, and also around the National Arboretum. If you’re willing to go a few miles north of the national mall area, you can find a quieter place to view cherry blooms at Dumbarton Oaks or Hillwood Estate. And if you’re in the area and interested in other beautiful flowers, you should also check out the free and lovely U.S. Botanic Garden, also on the capital grounds and close to the national mall.

Arlington Cemetery

The Arlington Cemetery in nearby Arlington, VA is another quieter place to view cherry trees. There are about 400 cherry trees there of various varieties. Some areas to check out (both for the trees, and in general) are the JFK Gravesite and the Amphitheater area. The nearby Mount Vernon trail is another great choice to see these spring blooms.

Kenwood

The Kenwood neighborhood of Bethesda, MD is also full of cherry trees and very near to DC. You can avoid the crowds by leisurely driving these tree line streets a few days after the peak in DC. This is a suburban neighborhood without much parking (you cannot park along the streets), but you can certainly enjoy the beauty of over 1000 cherry trees from your car window. The streets to check out are Kenwood Ave, Dorset Ave, and Kennedy Dr.

Cherry Blossoms Festivals/Cities

Newark, NJ

There is an annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Branch Brook Park in Essex County, NJ. The park is in the midst of the city of Newark, and often crowded, but it is very spacious with playgrounds and numerous attractions, in addition to tons of cherry trees. We visited on a week day evening after peak bloom and still found it quite crowded, but our kids had an absolute ball on one of the playgrounds.

Philadelphia

The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia also hosts an annual cherry blossom festival. Tickets are around $15 per person, with children 12 and under free. You can add on entrance to Shofuso for a discounted fee. Normally entrance into this beautiful Japanese Cultural Center is $15 per adult and $10 per child.

The festival is located inside Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, which is itself a wonderful place to see cherry blossoms as well as magnolias. The park is free, and it’s one of the largest urban parks in the world. I visited on a week day morning close to peak bloom, parked for free in a lot near the Horticultural Center, and had the park to myself.

New York City

For cherry blossoms in New York City, you can find plenty of blossoms in NYC in Central Park. The best place to find them are between 72nd and 96th streets. The best spots are said to be the Bridle Path (west of the Reservoir), Cherry Hill, Pilgrim Hill, Cedar Hill, and around the Great Lawn.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is also known as a great spot for viewing the blossoms. Tickets for adults are around $22, but children 12 and under are free. Parking is an additional cost, as is entrance to the museum if those are considerations for your family.

In addition to Central Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, there are numerous other parks in the city where you can find cherry blossoms.

Less Crowded places to find cherry blossoms in the Mid-Atlantic region

Meadowlark Botanical Garden in Vienna, Virginia

For a quieter scene and potentially earlier views, look to the south and visit Meadowlark Botanical Garden in northern Virginia. View the gardens for a small fee ($9 for adults and $5 for kids), take beautiful pictures near the bridge while enjoying the cherry blossoms, and walk a quiet woodland path and look for spring wildflowers. The gardens are open from 10 to 7 from April to October, and 10 to 4 the rest of the year.

Brookside Gardens in Glenmont, Maryland

Brookside Gardens is a 50-acre garden set within Wheaton Park in Montgomery County, MD. Because of its large size, it rarely feels crowded or busy, and it is free to park and enter. It has a few hundred cherry trees, with many of them being clustered in the Gude Garden area, near the pond and pagoda.

Brandywine Park in Wilmington, Delaware

Another lesser known but beautiful park for cherry trees is Brandywine Park in Wilmington, DE. Also known as Josephine Gardens The park is free. I have visited dozens of times and never seen in crowded, even during peak bloom, though you may see a photoshoot or two. If you arrive too late for the cherry blossoms, cross the street to the rose garden – it may already be starting to bloom.

The park is next to the Brandywine River, and the Brandywine Zoo is just across the street. The zoo is small and inexpensive, perfect for young children and families that come to view the cherry trees. Visit nearby Longwood Gardens just over the border in PA to see a plethora and great variety of beautiful blooms in any season.