This first weekend in April will be one of the biggest for D.C.’s National Cherry Blossom Festival, with thousands of runners expected to hit the streets around the National Mall to see the flower-filled trees and participate in the races.
The Credit Union Cherry Blossom includes a 5K and Kids Run on Saturday and a 10-mile race on Sunday — and it’s a big year for the race, celebrating its 50th year in D.C.
The annual 5K run and half-mile Kids Run both take place at 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., respectively on Saturday, while the 10-mile run kicks off at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
The Kids Run starts at the National Building Museum on the corner of F and 5th streets and loops around G Street. The 5K run starts near Freedom Plaza and loops down Pennsylvania Avenue and around for 3.1 miles.
The 10-mile race on Sunday takes runners on the National Mall, Hains Point and part of Rock Creek Parkway.
Driving to the Tidal Basin on the weekends isn’t recommended, but you can still get to the area by Metro at the Gallery Place-Chinatown, Federal Triangle and Smithsonian stations.
Here are the street closures that will be in effect for each race:
Cherry Blossom 5K (Saturday, April 1)
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from approximately 2 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
- Pennsylvania Avenue from 9th Street to 14th Street, NW
- 13th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 12th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 11th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 10th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. to noon:
- 1200 block of Maine Avenue, SW
- Maine Avenue from I-395 Westbound to Independence Avenue, SW
- 9th Street Tunnel ramp to Maine Avenue, SW
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from approximately 8:15 a.m. to 11 a.m.:
- Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 9th Street, NW
- 9th Street from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- D Street from 8th Street to 9th Street, NW
- 7th Street from Indiana Avenue to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 6th Street from C Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- Constitution Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street, NW
- 3rd Street from C Street, NW, to Virginia Avenue, SW
- Independence Avenue from Washington Avenue to 7th Street, SW
- 4th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, to Virginia Avenue, SW
- D Street from 3rd Street to 4th Street, SW
- 6th Street from Independence Avenue to Maryland Avenue, SW
The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking from 2 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
- Pennsylvania Avenue from 9th Street to 14th Street, NW
- 13th Street from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking from 2 a.m. to 11 a.m.:
- Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street to 9th Street, NW
- 3rd Street from C Street, NW, to D Street, SW
- Independence Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street, SW
- 4th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, to D Street, SW
- D Street from 3rd Street to 4th Street, SW
Cherry Blossom Kids Run (Saturday, April 1)
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from approximately 5:45 a.m. to noon:
- 5th Street from F Street to H Street, NW
- G Street from 6th Street to 4th Street, NW
The following streets will posted as Emergency No Parking from 5 a.m. to noon:
- 5th Street from F Street to H Street, NW
- G Street from 5th Street to 4th Street, NW
Cherry Blossom 10-Miler (Sunday, April 2)
Elite athletes compete in the 10-mile run for $90,000 in prize money, followed by 15,000 other runners trying to make personal best times.
The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic on Sunday starting around 6 a.m. to noon, D.C. police said:
- 1200 block of Maine Avenue, SW
- Maine Avenue from I-395 Westbound to Independence Avenue, SW
- 9th Street Tunnel ramp to Maine Avenue, SW
The National Park Service also posted its street closures related to the event. They start from 6 a.m. to noon and include:
- Memorial Bridge
- Memorial Circle
- Rock Creek Parkway South of Virginia Avenue
- Ohio Drive from 23rd Street to Inlet Bridge
- West Basin Drive
- East Basin Drive
- East Potomac Park
- West Potomac Park
- Hains Point
- 15th Street from Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue
- 17th Street from Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue
- Independence Ave from 14th Street to 23rd Street
- Jefferson Drive from 14th to 15th Street
- Madison Drive from 14th to 15th Street
- Raoul Wallenberg Place
- Maine Avenue from 395/695 to East Basin Drive
Access to Arlington National Cemetery will remain available from Route 110.
Festival organizers have also announced closures, which can be seen here.
Emergency no-parking streets for the 10-miler have yet to be announced by D.C. police.
