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Metro is preparing for a surge of riders during the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival, pausing major track work and adding early service as peak bloom approaches.
The National Park Service forecasts peak bloom between March 29 and April 1, when tourism and transit ridership are also expected to soar. Metro is promoting rail and bus service as an alternative to driving and searching for parking near the crowded Tidal Basin.
The transit system recorded 710,000 rail trips on Saturday, March 29, during last year’s peak bloom and favorable weather. It was Metro’s busiest day since 2019 and the second-busiest Saturday in the system’s history.
Metro will suspend major track work from March 20 through April 18. Limited late-night work requiring single tracking may occur on parts of the Red Line after 10 p.m. on a few selected nights.
Festival events and extended service
Metro plans to participate in several festival events:
- The Kite Festival, from 1 to 4 p.m. March 28 on the National Mall.
- Petalpalooza, from 1 to 9 p.m. April 4 at the Capital Riverfront.
- The Cherry Blossom Parade, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 11 along Constitution Avenue between Seventh and 17th streets. Metro employees will join the parade with specially wrapped Metrobus and MetroAccess vehicles.
- The Cherry Blossom 10 Miler on April 12. Metro will open one hour early, at 5 a.m., for runners and spectators.
Commemorative SmarTrip cards will also be available during the festival.
How to avoid the biggest crowds
Smithsonian is the closest station to the Tidal Basin, about a 10-minute walk away, but it can become extremely crowded. Federal Triangle and L’Enfant Plaza are alternatives about a 20-minute walk from the blossoms.
Riders on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines can use Smithsonian, Federal Triangle or L’Enfant Plaza. Green and Yellow Line riders can travel to L’Enfant Plaza. Except for Red Line passengers, visitors can reach the Tidal Basin area from every line without transferring.
Metro recommends traveling outside weekday rush hours. On weekends, early morning or early evening trips may be less crowded, while Sundays generally have lower ridership.
Visitors arriving from outside the region can connect to Metro at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on the Blue and Yellow lines or Washington Dulles International Airport on the Silver Line. Amtrak connections are available at Union Station and Rockville on the Red Line, New Carrollton on the Orange Line, and King Street–Old Town on the Blue and Yellow lines.
Passengers who do not want a commemorative card can bypass fare machines and tap a physical or mobile credit or debit card at faregates and bus fareboxes. Every rider age 5 or older needs a separate payment method.
One-day, three-day and seven-day passes offer unlimited rail and bus travel. Metrobus rides are free when transferring to or from rail, and parking at Metro-owned garages and lots is free on weekends.
Riders can check real-time information through the MetroPulse app or Metro’s website and register for text or email service alerts. Customer assistance is available at 202-466-3876, with TTY service at 202-962-2033, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends. Automated information is available around the clock.