Spring is one of the best times to be in Seattle. The days are longer and everything is in bloom, most notorious of all, the UW Cherry Blossoms.
Where Will You Find the UW Cherry Blossoms?
The University of Washington, or locally known as UW, is one of the best places to see the cherry blossoms in Seattle. There are 29 Japanese Yoshino Cherry trees located around the Quad, which also houses many of the oldest buildings on campus.
Be sure to walk down to Drumheller fountain to see additional UW cherry blossoms near the fountain, aka Frosh Pond. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a view of Mt Rainier while visiting campus.
What is the UW Cherry Blossoms History?
The trees were originally purchased by the university nearly 90 years ago. Originally the trees were planted nearby in the Arboretum. However, in the early 1960s the trees were relocated to their current location, the Quad, where they still stand today. For 60 years the UW cherry blossoms have been a longstanding spring tradition not only on campus, but also in Seattle.
When is Peak Bloom for the UW Cherry Blossoms?
Peak bloom varies from year to year based on the weather. It can range any time from mid-March into early April, although they are most often in bloom the third week of March. In particularly cold winters, like in 2021, the UW cherry blossom season can last well into mid-April.
In 2024 the peak bloom was March 19th, however in 2023 the UW cherry blossoms did not reach peak bloom until March 31st.
What is Peak Bloom?
Peak Bloom is when about 70% of their blossoms are open on the cherry trees. While the peak bloom only lasts a few days, the petals can remain on the trees for two to three weeks before dropping.
You can find information on the bloom progression from the University of Washington.
Getting to Campus
Parking in and around campus can be very difficult, especially when there are over 70,000 students, facility and university staff on campus every day. The University of Washington spring break is the third week of March, which typically aligns with peak bloom most years. This means fewer people on campus, but there will be no shortage of people visiting the Quad for photos.
If you plan on driving, there is underground parking available that will take you directly to Red Square adjacent to the Quad’s southwest entry. There is limited street parking on the Ave and Brooklyn Avenue. Both street parking and parking on campus is free on Sundays.
There are numerous buses that route through UW for easy access to campus. From downtown, the best way to visit the sakura blossoms is to take the light rail to the U District station. From there it is about a 10 minute walk to the Quad.
What to do After You’ve Visited the UW Cherry Blossoms
Unless you plan to hang out on the lawn of the quad, you likely won’t spend more than 30 minutes walking around the Quad. Here are a few other things to do on campus or around the U District.
- Walk the campus. Make sure to walk through Red Square over to Rainier vista. On clear days you’ll get a full view of Mt Rainier
- Visit one or both museums on campus. The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture or the Henry Art Gallery.
- Walk the Ave. The Ave is the heart of the U District. You’ll find any and every type of cuisine, and budget friendly for students. Student favorites include Aladdin’s Gyrocery (incredible fries) and Thai Tom. Typically ranked one of the best Thai restaurants in Seattle, it’s also one of the busiest due to its size.
- Head further south to the Montlake Cut for dinner or lunch at Agua Verde right on the water.
How to enjoy the UW cherry blossoms from home
If you can’t make it to see the cherry blossom in Seattle, you can enjoy the bloom watch from home. There are cherry blossom cams livestreaming the sakura trees from around the university. View cherry blossom webcam here
Where Else Can You Find Seattle Cherry Blossoms?
Seattle is fortunate to have cherry trees scattered throughout the city so if the crowds at the UW cherry blossoms are too much for you, there are plenty of other places to go.
- Washington Park Arboretum. The original home to the UW cherry blossoms, and hundreds of other cherry trees
- Seward Park and north along Lake Washington Blvd
- Greenlake, perfect for a spring walk
- Capitol Hill along 21st Ave and East Aloha
- Queen Anne is heavily populated, but especially along Bigelow Ave
- Seike Japanese Garden, further south in the city of SeaTac
UW Cherry Blossom FAQs
When can you see cherry blossoms at UW?
Typically, the UW cherry blossoms peak around the third week of March. The UW cherry blossoms 2025 peak is likely after March 21st and into the last week of March.
What month is cherry blossom in Seattle?
There are different types of cherry blossom trees in Seattle. Most start blooming in mid-late March, and may bloom into early or mid-April depending on the bloom season.
Where is the best place to park to see the cherry blossoms in UW?
Parking is limited on and around campus. The best place to park is on campus in the paid lot underneath Odegaard and Red Square.
How old are uw cherry blossoms?
The trees in the quad are approximately 90 years old and have been in the quad since the 1960s after being relocated from the Arboretum.
Additional posts on Washington Spring Festivals
Additional posts on Cherry Blossoms
