Metro ready to move big crowds during the National Cherry Blossom Festival

Published: 03/05/2026

Special wrapped vehicles and Smart Trip cards debut March 20

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Metro is prepared for our busiest time of the year: cherry blossom season!

Metro is the official transit partner of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a celebration that runs from March 20 to April 12 and kicks off the spring and tourist season in the DMV.

Bright blue, pink, fuchsia, and white cherry blossom-themed Metro vehicles will hit the tracks and streets on March 20. One train, three buses, and one Metro Access vehicle will be wrapped for cherry blossom season through the end of April.

Customers can find their location by visiting wmata.com/live and clicking on “special edition” when the vehicles go out later this month.

2026 Cherry Blossom Wrap

Metro’s cherry blossom wrapped vehicles and Smart Trip cards debut March 20.

Metro is also partnering with the National Cherry Blossom Festival on the annual release of a commemorative Smart Trip card that will be available at seven stations by 9 a.m. on March 20.

The artwork is called “America in Bloom” by artist Tim Yanke and features the Washington Monument, abstract cherry blossoms, and butterflies – all a sure sign of spring.

More than 20,000 limited-edition cards will go on sale at L’Enfant Plaza, Metro Center, Navy Yard-Ballpark, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Smithsonian, Union Station, and Washington Dulles International Airport. The cards will be available while supplies last; just look for specially marked signs on top of fare vending machines.

2026 Cherry Blossom Smart Trip Card

Today, the National Park Service predicted peak bloom will be between March 29 and April 1, marking a time when tourism and ridership are also at their peak.

With “all lines lead to bloom,” this year’s theme to promote the cherry blossom partnership, transit is the easiest way to get to the blossoms and avoid the headache of driving and parking in the crowded Tidal Basin area.

Metro is running safe, frequent, and reliable service and has paused all track work during the festival.

Last year, Metro had one of its busiest days with 710,000 rail trips on Saturday, March 29, during peak bloom with great weather. It was the highest ridership day since 2019 and the second-busiest Saturday in Metro’s history.

Metro will participate in several events during the festival this year:

  • The Kite Festival on March 28 from 1-4 p.m. on the National Mall.
  • Petalpalooza on April 4 from 1-9 p.m. at the Capital Riverfront.
  • The Cherry Blossom Parade on April 11 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Constitution Ave. between 7th and 17th streets. Metro employees will walk in the parade alongside a wrapped Metro Bus and Metro Access vehicle.
  • The Cherry Blossom 10 Miler on April 12. Metro will open an hour early at 5 a.m. to get runners and spectators to the starting line.

Travel tips

Cherry blossom season is one of the busiest times for Metro as millions of visitors pour into the region to see the beauty.

To facilitate smooth travel, Metro will not have any major track work during the days or weekends from March 20 to April 18. Metro will perform limited late-night track work with single tracking after 10 p.m. on a few select nights on parts of the Red Line.

  • Metro provides convenient transportation options for visitors with stops at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on the Blue and Yellow lines, and Washington Dulles International Airport on the Silver Line. Metro is also accessible to Amtrak via Union Station and Rockville on the Red Line, New Carrollton on the Orange Line, and King St-Old Town on the Blue and Yellow lines.
  • On weekdays, consider traveling during non-rush hour times and on weekends during the early morning or early evening to avoid crowding. Sundays are also a good option when ridership is generally lower.
  • Smithsonian is the closest station to the Tidal Basin (about a 10-minute walk) and can become extremely busy during peak times. To avoid crowding, consider using L'Enfant Plaza or Federal Triangle instead, which are about a 20-minute walk.
  • Avoid transfers. Except for the Red Line, the Tidal Basin is accessible on all lines without transfers. Take the Blue, Orange, or Silver lines to the Smithsonian, Federal Triangle, or L'Enfant Plaza stations. Take the Green or Yellow lines to L'Enfant Plaza station.
  • Each customer 5 years or older needs his or her own payment method.
  • Metro Bus is free when transferring to/from rail.
  • Parking is free at all Metro-owned parking garages and lots on weekends, providing an affordable way to park and ride downtown.

Plan your trip in advance

Learn more about Metro and the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival: wmata.com/cherryblossoms.

About Metro

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), known as Metro, is the region’s leading public transportation provider, serving a population of approximately four million people across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia within a 2,054-square-mile jurisdiction. With a network of six rail lines, 98 stations, 126 bus routes, and a door-to-door paratransit service, Metro is the second busiest transit system in the United States serving 268.9 million trips in 2025 with a $5 billion operating and capital budget. Since 2022, Metro has completed multiple transit-oriented development projects that have brought $15 million in tax revenue to the region from housing, office, and retail space in our community.  Safety and security are core values at Metro. Over 30,000 cameras monitor the system, and Metro currently has the lowest crime rate in history with fare evasion down 82%. In 2025, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) named Metro the Transit Agency of the Year in recognition of industry-leading ridership growth, record high customer satisfaction, a newly redesigned Bus network, expanded rail service, and improved customer experience.

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