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Spring is putting on a show. If you’re the kind of person who wants to stand in a tunnel of pink blossoms and feel like you’re in a Studio Ghibli film for a few days, this one’s for you.
Cherry blossom season doesn’t wait around, but the good news is it doesn’t all happen at once. From Georgia to the Pacific Northwest, peak blooms roll through the country from mid-March all the way into late April. Wondering where to see cherry blossoms this spring? Here are six of the best spots in the U.S. — and you can get to all of them without a car.
Cherry Blossoms in Washington, D.C.
Peak bloom: March 29–April 7, 2026 | Festival: March 20–April 12, 2026
The one everyone knows, and for good reason. Over a million people make the trip to the Tidal Basin each spring to see D.C.’s Yoshino cherry trees in full bloom — framing the Jefferson Memorial, reflecting in the water, carpeting the ground in pink petals when the wind picks up. It’s genuinely one of those things that lives up to the hype.
This year carries extra weight: 2026 marks America’s 250th anniversary, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival is leaning into it with special programming throughout the season. Peak bloom is forecast between March 29 and April 7 — book your trip now.
Book Your Trip
| Buses to Washington, D.C. | From $7 | |
| Trains to Washington, D.C. | From $6 |
Cherry Blossoms in Macon, Georgia
Peak bloom: Mid-to-late March | Festival: March 20–29, 2026
Macon doesn’t get nearly enough credit. With over 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees planted throughout the city, it’s earned its title as the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World — and it hosts the International Cherry Blossom Festival every March, a 10-day party that includes live concerts, hot air balloons, wiener dog races, and entire neighborhoods transformed into pink tunnels. Peak bloom typically lands mid-to-late March, right when the festival is in full swing.
Book Your Trip
| Buses to Macon | From $9 |
Cherry Blossoms in Seattle, Washington
Peak bloom: Mid-to-late March
Every spring, the University of Washington’s Quad transforms into one of the most photographed spots in the country. Twenty-nine Yoshino cherry trees arch over the central lawn to form a pink canopy so dense it blocks out the sky — and draws thousands of visitors who show up just to stand in it for a while. Peak bloom at the UW typically falls between mid and late March, making it one of the earliest major displays in the country. Understandable.
Book Your Trip
| Buses to Seattle | From $11 | |
| Trains to Seattle | From $8 |
Cherry Blossoms in Portland, Oregon
Peak bloom: Late March–early April
Portland’s cherry blossom season plays out across the city: Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the Willamette River, the Japanese American Historical Plaza, and the Portland Japanese Garden, which is widely considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Peak bloom runs late March into early April. It’s understated compared to the festival atmosphere of Macon or D.C., but that’s the point.
Book Your Trip
| Buses to Portland | From $5 | |
| Trains to Portland | From $3 |
Cherry Blossoms in Newark, New Jersey
Peak bloom: April 10–19, 2026 | Festival: April 11–19, 2026
Here’s one most people don’t know: Branch Brook Park in Newark has more cherry blossom trees than Washington, D.C. Over 5,300 trees in 18 varieties, spread across a 360-acre park — the nation’s first county park — with peak bloom forecast for April 10–19 this year.
The 2026 Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival marks its 50th anniversary, with Bloomfest headlining on April 19. It’s 20 minutes from Midtown Manhattan via NJ Transit. Easy sell.
Book Your Trip
| Buses to Newark | From $10 | |
| Trains to Newark | From $6 |
Cherry Blossoms in Chicago, Illinois
Peak bloom: Late April
Chicago saves cherry blossom season for last, and does it in style. Jackson Park’s Columbia Basin, in the shadow of the Museum of Science and Industry, hosts a striking bloom each spring along the waterfront, typically peaking in late April. It’s a completely different energy than the festival circuit: peaceful, uncrowded, and best enjoyed with a walk along the lake.
Chicago is one of the most connected bus and train cities in the country, making it a logical add-on if you’re already planning a spring trip through the Midwest.
Book Your Trip
| Buses to Chicago | From $8 | |
| Trains to Chicago | From $6 |
Cherry blossom season waits for no one — but with Wanderu, booking your bus or train is the easy part. Your only job is to show up.
