Metro Celebrates Cherry Blossom Season, March 20 – April 12, 2026
Metro is ready to move big crowds during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s one of the busiest times of the year and we’ll help you plan and navigate your travel to all of the Festival events by delivering fast, reliable, and safe service.
Check out this page to get the latest details on Metro service, the Festival, and how to catch us at the Festival events.
At a Glance | Millions of Visitors
- Extra trains are positioned throughout the system to optimize efficiency.
- More buses on key routes to provide extra service if needed.
- Increased police and staff presence at key stations.
- No major track work from March 20 to April 18.
Maps
Metro’s latest maps now include single-letter service discs (e.g., "B" for Blue Line) to assist color-blind riders and simplify digital navigation.
Cherry Blossom Service Information | Rail and Bus
- Smithsonian is the closest station to the Tidal Basin. It’s about a 10-minute walk.
- To avoid crowding, consider L'Enfant Plaza, Archives, or Federal Triangle. All three stations are about a 20-minute walk to the Tidal Basin.
- Travel during non-rush hours on weekdays. On weekends, go early in the morning or early in the evening. This will help you avoid crowds.
- Cost to ride
- How to pay
- Use our online Trip Planner
- Info hubs: rail | bus
- New riders | Rules and manners
- Metro’s safety initiatives
- Pass options: 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day passes offer unlimited travel on Metro Rail and Metro Bus.
- Metro Bus is free when transferring to/from Metro Rail with an automatic transfer discount (to receive the discount, customers must use the same contactless credit or debit card, or the same Smart Trip card for the duration of the trip).
- Parking is free at most Metro garages and lots on weekends. This makes it cheaper to park and ride downtown. View parking details by station.
- For your safety:
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- Use station elevators when traveling with luggage, strollers, or wheelchairs.
- Spread out on the train platform to help reduce crowding.
- Always stand back from the platform edge.
- When boarding trains, move into the middle of the car to allow others to board.
- At station stops, move away from the doors to allow others to exit.
- Do not hold or block train doors at any time – they are not like elevator doors.
- To report suspicious activity or unattended items on Metro, call 202-962-2121 or text "MyMTPD" (696873).
- Learn more about the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD).
- Flights: Metro connects to two different airports.
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- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on the Blue and Yellow lines
- Washington Dulles International Airport on the Silver Line
- Amtrak: Metro connects w/ Amtrak at several points.
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- Union Station and Rockville on the Red Line
- New Carrollton on the Orange Line
- King St-Old Town on the Blue and Yellow lines
Fares | How to Pay
- Cost to Ride
- How to pay
- Parking - details by station
- Children: Two kids aged 4 and younger can ride free with a fare-paying adult. Kids aged 5 and older must pay the regular fare.
Special Edition Cherry Blossom Smart Trip Card
- Metro teamed up with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Together, we offered a special keepsake Smart Trip card.
- Special Smart Trip cards are available at: Navy Yard-Ballpark, L’Enfant Plaza, Smithsonian, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Metro Center (while supplies last).
- The official artwork of the 2026 Festival “America in Bloom” is by Tim Yanke.
Metro's Wrapped Vehicles | Track Their Location
- Our wrapped trains, buses, and access vehicles are now running! Check where they are located at wmata.com/live (click on the "Special Edition" tab).
- One train, three buses, and one Metro Access vehicle are wrapped.
Metro Blooms Pop-Up Shop
The Metro Blooms Pop-Up Shop is now open! It features a range of fresh Metro merch for spring.
You’ll find everything from t-shirts to hoodies to unique Metro merch you can only get in store. We’ll even have some classic gear that you won’t want to miss.
- March 20-April 12, 2026
- 300 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20024 | Across from L’Enfant Plaza station
Metro’s Social Media | Stay Connected and Informed
- X: @wmata, @metrorailinfo, and @metrobusinfo
- Bluesky: @wmata.com, @metrorailinfo.bsky.social, and @metrobusinfo.bsky.social
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MetroForward/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroForward
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MetroForward
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wmata
Receive Service Alerts | View Real-Time Service Information
- Download our MetroPulse app to track real-time bus and train status, trip plan, live chat, and more.
- Receive free service alerts via text and email; sign up and customize your MetroAlerts.
Customer Service | Chat
- Contact our Customer Care team via text or phone at 202-GO-METRO (202-466-3876, TTY 202-962-2033), Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Saturday - Sunday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Automated information is available 24/7.
- Visit wmata.com/contact for more details.
- Chat live with us using the icon to the bottom right of your screen.
Events | Metro Participation
Petalpalooza® at Navy Yard | April 4
Enjoy this day-long celebration of Spring. This free event features live music, art, roving entertainment and it culminates in the official National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks show starting at 8:30 p.m.
Join the Metro team at our booth to play games, take photos, and get free gifts (while supplies last).
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® | April 11
The Nation's Springtime Parade is an amazing sight, with colorful balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands, celebrity entertainers, and more.
Performers burst down the Parade route in a grand spectacle of music and showmanship seen only once a year during the Festival. Make sure you watch for our cherry-blossom themed Metro Bus and Metro Access vehicle in the parade.
Purchase and reserve tickets here.
Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run I April 12
Metro is proud to partner with the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, which is known as “The Runner’s Rite of Spring®” in the Nation’s Capital. The staging area for the run is on the Washington Monument Grounds and the course passes in sight of all of the major Washington, D.C. Memorials.
Metro is running early service, starting at 5:00 a.m. to ensure runners arrive on time for the race.