Kenwood Cherry Blossoms 2026
The cherry blossoms in the Kenwood neighborhood of Maryland offer a great alternative to the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC. For 2026 the Kenwood cherry blossoms have not bloomed yet.
This beautiful, hidden gem in Bethesda, Maryland, offers one of the best places to see cherry blossoms without the crowds.
Where is Kenwood Maryland
Kenwood is a little neighborhood near the Washington, DC boarder, tucked in Bethesda, MD, where the streets are lined with 1,200 Yoshino cherry blossom trees. There is a dispute as to whether this neighborhood is in Bethesda or in Chevy Chase!
I learned of this idyllic neighborhood, practically down the street from my house, from a neighbor.
I’d wanted to check it out but never had a chance.
Well, the one year I finally made it down to DC at sunrise just a week after peak bloom, it turned out to be the day of the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. The event clogged all the streets with runners and blocked all the streets.
With no parking, we sadly headed back. Luckily, on the way home, I remembered we would pass by Kenwood in Maryland. So a little detour we took!
And am I glad we took that detour!
The Kenwood neighborhood is charming, to say the least. Cherry blossom trees line the streets, and there’s a little stream to boot! I thought a hobbit was going to jump out somewhere, it was that adorable.
And the streets aren’t marred with cars because you are not allowed to park there!
The Google Maps location for Kenwood is here. But keep reading if you want to find the best place to park!
About Kenwood
So how did Kenwood end up with so many cherry blossom trees? During the 1930s and 1940s, a local developer planted cherry trees to attract home buyers to the area. Today, the neighborhood is home to over 1,200 cherry trees, which burst into bloom each spring, covering the area in delicate white flowers.
When Do Kenwood Cherry Blossoms Bloom?
Kenwood cherry blossoms peak bloom a few days after the Tidal Basin cherry blossoms hit peak bloom.
But again, peak bloom times are also weather dependent. Last year they bloomed beautifully just 3 days after the first day of peak bloom in Washington DC.
Peak bloom for the Washington DC Tidal Basin is predicted to be between March 28th and 31st by the National Park Service for 2025.
As obsessed with stunning cherry blossoms as I am? Check out these other articles on gorgeous gardens and blooms in the DC Area:
Crowds in Kenwood During Cherry Blossom Season
Is Kenwood crowded during cherry blossom season?
I would say it’s not crowded because there’s plenty of room to walk around and plenty of parking.
We’ve gone to Kenwood during cherry blossom peak bloom twice on a Sunday and on a Saturday. Saturday afternoon was more crowded but definitely, nothing compared to the Tidal Basin.
On Sunday morning it wasn’t crowded at all. There were no other people there.
We arrived on Sunday morning around 9 or 10am, while on Saturday we had gone in the afternoon.
If you want to have all the Kenwood cherry blossoms to yourself go on a Sunday morning.
Kenwood MD Cherry Blossoms vs. DC Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms
So which should you go see, the Kenwood cherry blossoms or the Tidal Basin Cherry blossoms?
Go see both!
Kenwood and the Tidal Basin cherry blossoms bloom at different times, so you have the opportunity to visit both.
Kenwood is also a great alternative if you happen to miss peak bloom in DC.
The cherry blossoms in Kenwood bloom up to a week later than the Tidal Basin.
The Tidal Basin cherry blossoms offer a unique and iconic experience in DC, even though it’s so crowded. The cherry blossoms along the water make such a pretty sight.
Kenwood also offers a unique and more intimate experience because the cherry blossoms line the streets of the cutest neighborhood.
Kenwood is also a lot easier to get to if you happen to live in Maryland.
Parking & Driving in the Kenwood Neighborhood During Cherry Blossom Season
Unfortunately, you can no longer park at the Landy Lane Parking, it’s now a private parking lot requiring a permit! There’s no great public transportation to Kenwood so you will have to drive. There are no parking signs because the roads are narrow, and you can only park on one side of the street so you don’t block traffic. When entering the neighborhood, I would avoid Brookside Dr. as this is a main thoroughfare with lots of pedestrian and car traffic. You also cannot park here. Instead, take Hiland Drive, and you should be able to find parking. Basically, the further you get away from the “Circle” (intersection of Kenwood Ave. and Brookside Dr.), the more likely you are to find parking. If you are entering via Kennedy Dr. you can take a right onto Woodlawn Ave and there’s usually parking. This is where are parked last time on a weekday during peak bloom. Again, on a weekend, you might want to see the alternate parking below.
Alternatively, you can park at the Park & Ride Lot for the Capital Crescent Trail if you don’t want to deal with the traffic within the neighborhood, this is especially true if you go on a weekend. You can then take the Capital Crescent Trail into the Kenwood neighborhood, it’s about a 0.7-mile walk, around 17 minutes.
Another option is to take the Metro and get off at the Bethesda Metro stop, but this walk is quite a bit further at 1.5 miles, about 35 to 40 minutes. This is probably the least ideal option especially if you want to picnic under the trees.
Kenwood Cherry Blossom in Maryland Peak Bloom Photos from April 7, 2019
The cherry blossoms in Kenwood Maryland have reached peak bloom and are starting to fall from all the beautifully warm weather we have had lately.
I don’t expect them to last much longer so go see them before they are all gone! Below are some pictures from today!
Such a gorgeous street! I love cherry blossoms. Great video!
xo,
Jillian
http://www.trendinginthesun.com/
Isn’t it! I would never have thought to come here if it wasn’t for my neighbor!
This is awesome! It’s such a great alternative to where you originally wanted to go and without the hassle of the crowds! Great idea! I hope I can visit this location one day!
Thank you! It really turned out great! I didn’t have high hopes either.
This is brilliant. I am always looking for beautiful spots to take pictures without people in them. Haha. I hope I can go to D.C. one day at the right time to get the same pics. Yours are gorgeous!
I’m the same! Always looking for tourist free spots…which usually means getting up super early!
So gorgeous and crowd free! We used to live in DC and I miss it!
OH wow you lived in DC? Cherry blossoms are the highlight of my spring, then quickly followed by tulips and sunflowers LOL…I’m a sucker for flower fields.
I love the cherry blossoms this time of year! It’s so nice of you to share your secret… I love finding those tourist-free places!
– Katie
http://www.brewingupstyle.com
I know right I hate crowds!
So pretty! I remember seeing the cherry blossom trees when I went to DC on a field trip. That was years ago too! I’d love to go back sometime in the spring!
xx Jennifer
I remember my parents taking me when I was little! Now I get to take my little one =)
I will definetly keep in mind this secret address for next year1
xoxo,
Emma
http://petitemaisonoffashion.blogspot.com/ ♥
Come visit me and we can go together!! I can only imagine how beautiful Paris is during spring!
wow such a great video, congrats.
great day
http://lessismoreblog.es/color-rosa/
Ana I’m so glad you liked the video! Have a great day!
Beautiful! I love your stunning photos! =)
– Cielo
Mermaid in Heels
Thank you so much Cielo!!!
These trees are so pretty!
Love, Tiffany Lea
https://zimmylifestyle.com
Aww that is such a lovely video! Well done!
LA VEINE
I’m so happy it’s blooming season! I love cherry blossoms and was so sad that I couldn’t make it to DC to see them. I might just have to check out this spot in MD. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Check out my blog if you get a chance girl!
http://gypsysundayblog.com/
Thanks for stopping by Britt, just checked out your blog! I love your outfits!!
Great video and this colours so beautiful.
We lived in Rockville, MD and always went into DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival walk around the Tidal Basin. I had no idea there was an alternative closer to home!
I went to DC this last spring to check out the cherry blossom festival and it was absolutely mesmerizing!
Wait, what? There are cherry blossoms in DC? I gotta see it this year!