Explore Cherry Blossoms in D.C. And Let Archer Be Your Host

Catching the Yoshino cherry blooms at peak — when 70% of the blossoms are in full, eye-popping pink glory — varies every year due to temperature and weather conditions. The National Park Service just announced their peak bloom prediction for March 28 - 31, 2026. Follow the bloom watch on Facebook and Instagram and a live-feed Bloom Cam.

While peak blooms will only last a handful of days, the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival stretches from March 20 - April 21, 2026 — giving you several weeks to enjoy the flowers. The festival celebrates spring with floats, balloons, marching bands and other events. This festival's kickoff, showcased at Warner Theatre, begins the one-of-a-kind celebration of the two countries’ friendship. The opening ceremony is also live-streamed on the Festival YouTube channel for those unable to attend.

D.C. is home to 3,770 cherry blossom trees and has multiple spots that offer stunning views. We've mapped it to help you plan your stops:

• Tidal Basin — A favorite vantage point with most of the cherry blossom trees in sight along the banks.
• The marble steps of the Jefferson Memorial — Look out to the Tidal Basin lined with pink blossoms and the Washington Monument in the distance.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial — The 30-foot statue is surrounded by pink cherry blossoms.
• The Japanese Lantern — This 17th century stone lantern sits alongside the basin and lights up during the festival.
• Hains Point Loop Trail — Rent a bike or walk the Hains Point Loop Trail with its 4.4 miles of cherry blossom trees.
• The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — Take in 150+ blooming trees on-site of the 10th-largest Roman Catholic church in the world.
• National Arboretum — A hidden gem, where the bloom time differs slightly from the Tidal Basin.

Our local hosts highly recommend taking the metro instead of driving. Choose from three D.C. area Archer Hotels — and follow these tips for taking the train.

Archer Hotel Alexandria

Archer Hotel Alexandria is located along the charming Street Mile in Old Town Alexandria — a beautifully-preserved, nationally-designated historic district along the Potomac River, with brick sidewalks, centuries-old architecture and a vibrant mix of 200+ eateries, shops and treasures. The King St-Old town Metrorail station is a 2-block walk from the hotel, providing easy access to Washington, D.C., Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport.

Or for a view of D.C. that's like no other — rent a bike and ride the Potomac Yard and Mt. Vernon trails (along the Potomac) as you make your way to Tidal Basin.

Archer Hotel Falls Church

Archer Hotel Falls Church is in the walkable Mosaic district with 80+ shops and restaurants — and a 3/4 mile walk, Uber/Lyft or bike ride to the Dunn Loring Metro station. Bike rentals are located across the street in the parking garage. Choose the $8 daily package for unlimited 45-minute rides on classic bikes. You can ride from the hotel to the metro and then take one from the metro in the city for sightseeing.

From the Dunn Loring Metro station you have two options:

1. If it's a nice day for a walk or bike ride, board the Orange Line towards New Carrollton and exit at the Foggy Bottom Metro station. Walk down to Constitution Ave. to enjoy the Mall, past the Lincoln Memorial, Korean Memorial and White House on your way to the Tidal Basin.
2. For a shorter walk, you can exit the train at the Smithsonian Metro station and take a 5-10 minute walk to the Tidal Basin seeing the Washington Monument along the way.

Archer Hotel Tysons

Archer Hotel Tysons, is a short walk to the Capital One Center with bars, restaurants and a state-of-the-art performance hall — and steps to the McLean Metro station. Take the Silver Line towards Largo and choose from the same stops — the Foggy Bottom Metro station or the Smithsonian Metro station.

We'd love to host you for this year's festivities.