Washington DC · Month comparison
October vs April
October ranks #1 overall vs April at #2. Fall foliage on the Mall, Marine Corps Marathon, crisp air — October rivals April for DC's best.
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
April
#2 of 12 months
Best match
DC's finest month — cherry blossoms and perfect 19°C weather, free museums at their busiest.
- ↑Cherry blossoms at peak (typically first two weeks of April): the Tidal Basin pink and extraordinary at dawn before crowds arrive
- ↑Perfect 19°C days for walking the entire National Mall — Lincoln to Capitol in one unbroken loop
| Factor | October | April |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 9 | 9 |
| Value score | 5 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 5 | 4 |
| Events score | 7 | 8 |
| Atmosphere | 9 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 19°C | 19°C |
| Monthly rain | 80mm | 80mm |
| Daily sunshine | 6.5hrs | 7hrs |
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
April trade-offs
- ↓The most visited month of the year — all major monuments and the popular Smithsonians are crowded
- ↓Hotels at their highest spring rates: book months in advance for any central property
- ↓Cherry blossoms last only 10–14 days at peak; timing a visit around them requires flexibility
Scores compare months within Washington DC. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →