The DC Traveler

If you are heading to see the famous Washington, DC blooming cherry tree blossoms tomorrow, expect major delays around the National Mall, especially in the morning and early afternoon.

The limited free parking along the Tidal Basin (at the paddle boat docks) will be closed to parking for the next week, so Metro is your best weekend choice. 

With weather over the next week forecasted to include rain or possible showers every day except tomorrow and Wednesday, traffic will be even heavier tomorrow.

Additionally, not only is Saturday the first major weekend of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, with the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin in full bloom, but other events will impact traffic, including:

• The National Marathon (not the Marine Corps Marathon) will be run from 7:00 a.m until around 1:30. Rolling street closures, including on Constitution Ave. around The White House and The Capitol Building (between 7:30 and noon), will seriously impact traffic. 
• The Smithsonian Kite Festival at the Washington Monument, starts at 10:00 a.m. and will reduce already limited Mall area parking.
• In the early evening on Saturday, the first and only preseason baseball game at the new Washington Nationals Park, against the Baltimore Orioles, starts at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday evening (8:05), the Nat’s home opener will add to early evening car and Metro traffic.  But since the game day traffic flows and Metro plans have only tested on paper, traffic heading to the new ballpark and to designated parking around the city could result in additional driving and parking challenges.

Also on Saturday, due to the marathon and kite festival, parking on Constitution Ave. should be virtually nonexistent.

If you do visit the Mall on Saturday, expect long delays, impossible parking, rerouted traffic and no parking along the Tidal Basin.

Bottom line, take Metro and bring along a big cooler of patience. Or if possible, plan for a Sunday or midweek visit when crowds are lighter.

Just don’t miss one of DC’s most impressive sites – the annual cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Images – from personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti

__________________________________________________

Comments Off