Washington DC · Month comparison
March vs October
October ranks #1 overall vs March at #3. Fall foliage on the Mall, Marine Corps Marathon, crisp air — October rivals April for DC's best.
March
#3 of 12 months
Best match
Cherry blossoms arrive — the Tidal Basin transforms; crowds build as the blooms appear.
- ↑National Cherry Blossom Festival (late March–April): 3,000 trees around the Tidal Basin at peak bloom — one of the great spring events in the USA
- ↑St. Patrick's Day parade on Constitution Avenue; the city awakens after winter
October
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Fall foliage on the Mall, Marine Corps Marathon, crisp air — October rivals April for DC's best.
- ↑Fall foliage across the National Mall, Rock Creek Park, and Georgetown: red and gold that genuinely rivals New England
- ↑Marine Corps Marathon (late October): 30,000 runners through Washington's most scenic monuments — spectacular spectator event
| Factor | March | October |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 7 | 9 |
| Value score | 6 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 5 | 5 |
| Events score | 8 | 7 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 13°C | 19°C |
| Monthly rain | 85mm | 80mm |
| Daily sunshine | 6.5hrs | 6.5hrs |
March trade-offs
- ↓Cherry blossom timing is notoriously variable — peak week can shift by 2–3 weeks depending on the winter
- ↓85mm of March rain: umbrella essential; blossom viewing can be soggy
- ↓Crowds begin building rapidly once blossoms peak — accommodation needs booking in advance
October trade-offs
- ↓Moderate tourism continues through October; not the quiet shoulder it once was
- ↓Marine Corps Marathon weekend significantly affects transport and accommodation around the Mall
- ↓Foliage peaks vary year to year — late October to early November is the typical window
Scores compare months within Washington DC. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →