Best Time to Visit Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

Spring: cherry blossoms and crowds

April is rated Excellent, and it's the month most people want. Days are mild, around 18°C, and nights are cool. The Tidal Basin, the pond by the Jefferson Memorial, fills with people when the cherry trees bloom. That's usually late March or early April, though the exact peak shifts each year. The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs around it, with a parade and kite events.

Expect school groups on the National Mall too. If you hate crowds, go on a weekday morning. May is greener and warmer, but rain falls on 13 days. Most of it comes in short showers, and the Smithsonian museums are free and close by.

Summer: hot, sticky and still busy

June to August is the humid stretch. July and August are tied for hottest, with highs of 31°C, and July has the most rain days at 15. Afternoons feel heavy, and thunderstorms can roll in fast. Walking between monuments at midday gets tiring.

Still, July 4th is a big draw. Fireworks over the Washington Monument and the National Mall concerts bring huge crowds. Travelling with kids? Plan museum time for the afternoon and the monuments for after dark. The Lincoln Memorial looks great lit up at night. June is the easier summer month, with highs of 28°C and fewer people than July.

Autumn: the best all-round choice

September and October are our top months. September stays warm, at 27°C, but the air feels lighter. October is crisp, with highs of 20°C and only 8 rainy days. It's ideal for walking the Mall, crossing into Georgetown for the canal path, or hiking along the Potomac at Great Falls. Leaves turn in late October.

Congress is back in session, so you'll see more suits and fewer tour groups than in spring. November is cooler and quieter, and still rated Good.

Winter: quiet and cold

December to February is low season. Nights drop below freezing, and January is the coldest month, with a high of just 5°C. Skies are grey, with only about four hours of sun a day. Snow is possible but doesn't stay long.

On the plus side, you'll get museums nearly to yourself. The holiday lights and the National Christmas Tree near the White House add some cheer in December. Late January also brings Inauguration Day every four years, which fills hotels fast.