MARC Train is the best way to travel to Washington, DC to see the beauty of the cherry blossom trees -- both for the forecasted peak bloom weekend and the 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on Saturday, April 12.
Here are a couple of important things to know:
- Purchase your ticket prior to travel at a MARC ticket vending machine (located at all weekend service stations except New Carrollton) or use the MTA CharmPass to buy and use your ticket on your mobile device. Tickets purchased on board the train from a Conductor are subject to a $5 surcharge and cash is the only form of payment accepted on the train.
- Penn Line weekend service operates 18 trains on Saturday and 12 trains on Sunday. We encourage passengers to arrive at the station 20-30 minutes before your train is scheduled to depart in order to have enough time to park, purchase your tickets, and walk to the platform. Passengers should note that while we will operate additional railcars, our weekend service capacity is less than weekday service and trains will be crowded. We thank you in advance for your patience.
- Full-size bikes are accepted on all MARC trains and all weekend trains include a MARC Bike Car. Please visit our Bikes on MARC webpage for full information. We also encourage passengers with strollers and large luggage to ride in the MARC Bike Car - these cars have ample additional storage space.
- All MARC Trains arrive and depart from Washington Union Station. To reach the Tidal Basin and the cherry blossom trees, customers can walk or ride a bicycle (approximately 2.5 miles) or ride Washington Metrorail to the Smithsonian station then walk from there (approximately 1 mile), The parade takes place on Constitution Avenue between 9th and 15th Streets and the trees themselves are located at the Tidal Basin.
- Full information the 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival can be found on the event's website.
If you're combining a visit to the Cherry Blossoms with a Washington National's game (March 29-30 and April 8-9) you can ride Washington Metrorail from Union Station to Gallery Place-Chinatown station (two stops on the Red Line), then transfer to the Green Line and ride to Navy Yard-Ballpark station.