15 Places to See Cherry Blossoms Across the United States

Japan isn’t the only place to see cherry blossoms each spring. From the iconic blooms of Washington, D.C. to lesser-known groves like those in Traverse City, Michigan, there are plenty of places in the USA to see those pale pink blooms.

It’s difficult to predict exactly when peak blooms will occur, but most areas will see them starting in mid-late March or early April this year. Cherry blossoms can appear as early as February in some places such as Los Angeles, or as late as May in Traverse City, depending on the weather.

Once in bloom, these iconic flowers don’t stick around for long—that’s part of their allure. In Japan, where the flowers and the world’s infatuation with them originated, the cherry blossom (sakura in Japanese) symbolizes the fleeting nature of life. But Japanese culture counteracts this notion of imminent decay with hanami, a long-standing tradition of gathering beneath the blossoms with food, music, and friends to celebrate rather than mourn the blooms’ beauty.

Here are 15 of the best places to see cherry blossoms in the United States; several have discounted or free tickets for locals and, through the Museums for All Program, SNAP card holders.

Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri

Head straight to the Missouri Botanical Garden‘s 14-acre Japanese Garden for a front seat to the floral show. Japanese apricots bloom at the end of February, followed by the blooming of different varieties of the garden’s 230-plus cherry trees from March through early April.

There are 40 Higan cherry trees, 40 Yoshino cherry trees, and 20 Centennial cherry trees at the Missouri Botanical Garden, so there will be plenty of pink shade to sit under with a snack and a friend or two.

Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, Georgia

Macon’s International Cherry Blossom Festival bills itself as the “pinkest party on Earth” in honor of the astounding 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees that bloom throughout the city. The festival takes place at Carolyn Crayton Park each year.

In 2026, it will be held March 20–29. Flower fans can enjoy concerts, rides, games, and a 5K race. Cherry blossom enthusiasts who can’t make it to the celebration in person can check out the BloomCam, which captures the pink bursts in real time.

Nashville Public Square Park in Nashville, Tennessee

On Saturday, April 11, the city of Nashville gathers at Nashville Public Square Park to celebrate cherry blossom season. In addition to the main event—the flowers, of course—visitors can participate in a cosplay contest (dress as any character from a Japanese series), kid-focused crafts, a cherry blossom–themed dog parade, cultural lectures, martial arts demonstrations, live music, and much more. Dozens of local vendors regularly set up shop at the event, selling art and other handmade wares as well as food.

Avoid the crowds by visiting other days during peak bloom, which generally happens between late March and mid-April, according to the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps. The park offers the perfect scene for a springtime picnic or alfresco reading session.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Portland Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon, has two wonderful places to view cherry blossoms each spring: Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Portland Japanese Garden.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park sits on the edge of the Japanese American Historical Plaza. It was built in 1990 to honor those whose lives were uprooted during the era of Japanese American internment camps. There are 100 cherry trees planted in and around the park, and visitors are encouraged to explore the rest of the plaza, dotted with poems that explore the Japanese American experience.

At the Portland Japanese Garden, visitors can stroll alongside a handful of cherry trees, each artfully arranged throughout the space to create carefully considered views—a key characteristic of traditional Japanese gardens. Leave time for tea and mochi at the garden’s Umami Café or for one of the many cultural offerings, such as koto (Japanese harp) performances or ikebana (flower arrangement) demonstrations.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Dallas, Texas

Come springtime in Dallas, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden bursts into vivid color, as cherry trees bloom alongside tulips. The arboretum’s Dallas Blooms event, which their site states is the “largest annual floral festival in the Southwest,” runs from February 21 to April 12, 2026, coinciding with cherry blossom season.

There’s a robust roster of activities and events, and visitors can look forward to live concerts, tours of the historic DeGolyer House, and art and fitness classes.

The Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California

Although you can find cherry trees throughout Golden Gate Park, head to its Japanese Tea Garden to see the trees alongside picturesque bridges, pagodas, and a teahouse. The peak season for San Francisco’s cherry blossoms is typically mid-March to mid-April.

To celebrate the blossoms in grand fashion, visit San Francisco’s Japantown to attend the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which will take place on April 11, 12, 18, and 19 in 2026. Expect events such as a tea ceremony, Japanese folk dance and taiko drumming performances, and the chance to try Okinawa karate.

Related: 4 Days in San Francisco: Floating Parks, Parrot Spotting, and a Revitalized Hippie Neighborhood

The University of Washington Quad in Seattle, Washington

Since 1962, Seattle locals have known that spring at the University of Washington is synonymous with one thing: cherry blossoms. The dozens of trees that line UW’s central quad look so ethereal that stressed-out students, harried professors, and those simply passing by can’t help but stop and stare when the trees are in bloom. The highly anticipated cherry blossoms even have their own Instagram and Bluesky accounts.

The National Mall in Washington, D.C.

No list of the best places to see cherry blossoms in the USA would be complete without a mention of Washington, D.C. In 1912, the mayor of Tokyo gifted 3,000 trees to the District as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the U.S. and they’re planted all around the Tidal Basin. Japan has once again shown its generosity, donating an additional 250 trees to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday (these are also being planted along the Tidal Basin).

The locals’ secret is to visit in the evening after the daytime crowds have gone, or stroll through Dumbarton Oaks, a beautiful (and relatively tourist-free) historic estate in D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood. Official forecasts for D.C.’s cherry blossoms say the flowers will be in peak bloom March 29–April 1, 2026.

Related: 3 Locals on Why Washington, D.C. Is the City to Visit This Year, No Politics Required

Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philly turns into a magnificently pink city come springtime, when thousands upon thousands of cherry trees snap into full bloom. Among these, 1,600 were a gift from Japan, and 1,000 were planted between 1998 and 2007 by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia.

The beautiful Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center in Fairmount Park is the pinnacle of the sakura display, but many other viewing spots in the city don’t require an entrance fee. For example, we love the rows of pink trees behind the Please Touch Museum in West Fairmount Park and the stretch along Kelly Drive behind Boathouse Row.

Related: 4 Days in Philadelphia: Cobblestones, Calder Sculptures, and a 24/7 Cheese Vending Machine

Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Brooklyn, New York

A proper spring in Brooklyn is properly spent with a visit to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Advance tickets are recommended, though some are available same-day at the Gardens’ admission booths. Keep an eye on the Cherrywatch page so you know exactly which trees are in bloom when.

Once in the gardens, visitors can stroll among rows of more than 200 blossoming trees at the enclosed Japanese Hill-and-Pond garden or the aptly named Cherry Walk, a meandering path lined with Prunus “Kanzan” cherry trees, a spectacular variety with fuller than normal flowers.

Charles River Esplanade in Boston, Massachusetts

There aren’t many places in Boston to see cherry blossoms, but bloom season along the Charles River Esplanade in Back Bay is spectacular. If the weather is warm enough, onlookers can float down the river in a kayak or paddle up close for a view from the water.

Related: 4 Days in Boston: Century-Old Bookshops, Cocktails Decided by Dice, and, of Course, Lobster

Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey

With a whopping 5,300 cherry blossom trees, Branch Brook Park in Newark has the most of any park in the country. Since 1927, the remarkable number of blooms at this Essex County park has been a primary draw for visitors. This year, New Jersey’s “pinkest park” will host a free cherry blossom celebration from April 4 to 19 that culminates in Bloomfest! on Sunday, April 19, a celebration of Japanese culture featuring demonstrations, live music, and a craft market. You can check in on the blooms anytime with the park’s Bloomcam.

Ohio University in Athens, Ohio

The 200 cherry trees that line Ohio University’s campus are a 1979 gift from its Japanese sister campus, Chubu University, as a symbol of friendship between the two institutions. The pink blossoms that decorate the banks of Athens’s Hocking River typically bloom from late March through April and have become a spring symbol for students and faculty.

Highway M-37 in Traverse City, Michigan

Michigan is the U.S. capital of all things “cherry,” so of course it’s a cherry blossom destination. Flowers typically start to appear around mid-May each year, and there are some iconic scenic drives, like Highway M-37 by Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, which takes visitors past roughly 2 million cherry trees.

Although you can’t walk in the orchards, the bikeable, 17-mile Leelanau Trail, which includes several sections that go by cherry trees, is perfect for those who prefer to view the blooms on two wheels.

Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, California

Located about 15 minutes from Pasadena, Descanso Gardens is known for its seasonal horticultural displays and is considered something of a museum of living collections. Around March and April, the cherry trees here burst into color; enjoy them during events such as thrice weekly yoga.

The Gardens also have one of the largest collections of camellias in the Western Hemisphere. To keep track of what flowers you might spot on your visit, check out its What’s in Bloom resource page, which allows visitors to see which flowers are budding, blooming, or past their peak. While you can’t picnic in the garden, there are picnic tables near the entrance.

This article was originally published in 2017 and most recently updated on March 11, 2026, with current information. Jessie Beck and Erika Owen contributed to the reporting of this story.