What to expect from DC traffic as peak cherry blossom season approaches

Published March 22, 2026 12:40pm ET



Washington, D.C.’s District Department of Transportation is urging drivers to take caution or alternative travel means as cherry blossom season is underway in the nation’s capital.

The annual bloom of the cherry blossom trees in Washington started on Friday, and peak bloom this year is set to begin on March 29 and conclude on April 1. Ahead of peak bloom, the National Park Service told the Washington Examiner it is expecting a “heavy” increase in downtown traffic amid the tourism.

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