Best Hotels for 2024 Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival

Written by Katie Howard – Updated November 16, 2023
Where To Stay in Washington, D.C. > Cherry Blossoms

My wife and I are always being asked for advice on finding a hotel for the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. First consider how important it is to be able to walk from your hotel or to the Tidal Basin. If that is important your options for a hotel are limited, or you’ll need to stay downtown and walk about 45 minutes to the Tidal Basin everyday. For travelers coming to D.C. for the Cherry Blossoms that want to prioritize finding a cheap and reliable hotel we suggest utilizing the Metro system to avoid the high cost of downtown hotels and parking fees. The Metro opens up possibilities for staying in one of  D.C. suburbs, or satellite cities in Maryland and Virginia.

What are the best hotels for Cherry Blossoms in DC?

What hotels are within walking distance to the Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin?

There are only a handful of hotels south of the National Mall close to the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial where a majority of people spend their time looking at the Cherry Blossoms. Each of the hotels listed below will likely have high rates for the weeks of peak bloom. However, with cost comes convenience and all of these hotels will also place you with a short walk to the National Mall.

Are there cheap hotels near the DC Cherry Blossom Festival?

If you want to find a cheap and reliable hotel near the Metro with a short commute to the Cherry Blossoms below are our top suggestions. Each of the hotels listed below is within a short walk to the Metro. Most of the hotels listed below are situated in a pleasant neighborhood with restaurants nearby. All of the hotels below offer free parking.

Choosing where to stay for the Cherry Blossom festival can be broken down into four primary places. Those are Arlington, Alexandria, Downtown, and in the Suburbs of Maryland and Virginia. Staying deeper in suburbs brings savings on hotels and a free place to park the car. The drawback is a longer commute. For a good balance between location and saving we suggest looking at Arlington, VA or Alexandria just across the Potomac River.

Staying In Arlington, VA

There are 4 primary Arlington, VA Metro stations that have hotels within walking distance. The stations we suggest considering first are Ballston and Rosslyn. Each station has a handful of hotels nearby that will cater to all Washington, D.C. travelers including families, romantic getaways, and economy driven travelers. My wife and I lived in Ballston for 3 years and it is a charming urban pocket with many restaurants nearby. Runners up to these options include the Crystal City Metro station and Courthouse Metro station. Lots of people will consider Crystal City adjacent to Reagan National Airport. Crystal City will lack charm, but will offer up a large variety of hotel options and that can bring about cheaper rates.

Staying In Downtown D.C.

Downtown Washington, D.C. spans from Georgetown to Union Station. We suggest prioritizing DuPont Circle as your first choice because it is sits among brownstone residential homes and embassies. DuPont Night life has something for everyone as well with many restaurant nearby. A runner up area to consider would be Chinatown, or Metro Center which are the heart of downtown Washington, D.C. After this look into Foggy Bottom near GWU University. The perks to staying downtown are that you can in fact walk to the National Mall, and Tidal Basin, although this will take about 45 minutes. We suggest avoiding the area around the Nationals Baseball Stadium.

Staying In the Suburbs of Maryland & Virginia

The best way to find a deal on a hotel in Washington, D.C. is look at the end stations of the Metro in Maryland and Virginia. We often suggest the three hotels at Branch Ave. in the suburbs of Maryland off I-95 as one the best locations to save on a hotel and be within walking distance to a Metro station. In Virginia the Dunn Loring station or Falls Church station are popular locations to find value minded hotels with a modest commute into the Tidal Basin to view the Cherry Blossoms.

Staying In Alexandria, VA

Staying in Alexandria for the Cherry Blossom Festival is an excellent choice. Between a short Metro ride on the Yellow line and a modest walk you can expect to be at the Tidal Basin from your hotel in Alexandria in under about 40 minutes. Alexandria’s Old Town has many restaurants and main street style shops. Old Town has a lot charm and character relative to nearby neighborhoods like Crystal City, or Springfield. It is also close to Mt. Vernon, and the along the Mt. Vernon trail for accessing DC by bike. There are three Metro stations that connect Alexandria with Washington, D.C. which are listed below.

There are four hotels near the Tidal Basin. The Holiday Inn, Residence Inn and Hyatt Place will all suit families who need large rooms. The Holiday Inn has a roof top pool and is the closest hotel to the Tidal Basin. Travelers seeking a romantic hotel for the Cherry Blossom Festival will like the Capitol South Hotel near Capitol Hill.

Parking is difficult near the Tidal Basin and we highly suggest avoiding driving to the Tidal Basin during morning or afternoon rush hour. There is metered street parking along the Tidal Basin along the Ohio Street highlighted below. These spaces often fill up fast with tour buses. If driving down to the Tidal Basin is a must prepaying for a parking space ahead of time is an easy way to save time and frustration. Keep in mind, using the Metro or riding a bike are the best alternatives for accessing the Tidal Basin.

National Arboretum for Cherry Blossoms

One of the best places to see Cherry Blossoms in Washington, D.C. is the National Arboretum. This is a good place to avoid the crowds and escape the mayhem around peak bloom. Photographers will enjoy the flexibility to photograph the blossoms while not having to compete with so many people.

Mt. Vernon Trail for Cherry Blossoms

The Mt. Vernon trail along the Potomac River is littered with Cherry Blossoms trees and is one of the best places to see the Cherry Blossoms in Washington, D.C. Riding a bike along the trail between Arlington and Alexandria also provides an excellent view of the National Mall and Monuments.