I have never toured Washington DC before and am looking at what the best time of year to visit would be. I have heard Spring and Autumn but wondering which would be better and why. All of your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Springtime is because everything is coming to life. Washington is filled with flowers and budding trees and is absolutely beautiful!!

Otherwise you can see all the magnificent museums. galleries, and sights at any time of the year.

For all the years I have lived and worked here - I always tour the city in the spring - especially when the Cherry blossoms are actually out.

But avoid the Cherry Blossom Festival weekends as traffic is truly a stand-still. Often the trees blossom BEFORE the festival. http://www.nationalcherryblossomfest...ent_category=A

When I lived there (10 years total), we usually avoided the mall area during the summer for several reasons. Washington can be very hot and humid, and the museums in the summer are often full of people.

We found that winter was the best time to visit the museums along the mall because there were fewer people. But often the temperatures were chilly.

I think late September or early to mid October would be a good compromise time, unless you want to see the famous cherry blossoms. The flowers are pretty, no doubt about it.

I agree with Polly. You might luck out with the cherry blossoms. The traffic will still be a little crazy but it is just so wonderful and fresh.

Hi, I think that anytime you go would be great, but I would definitely pick Autumn above all else. This way, if you venture into the "countryside", like going to view the Shanendoah Valley, you would get to see how beautiful it gets up here. Don't know if you plan on doing any side trips, but it would definitely be worth it! The museums and monuments are good any time during the year.

Temperature-wise, late April/early May is the best timeframe for a spring visit. Spring can be crowded, but the worst crowds come earlier in the season (late March/early April) to see the cherry blossoms. You may miss the cherry blossoms but most people don't realize how many other flowers and trees bloom later on. May (particularly the first part) is really my favorite month in DC. The downside is higher humidity and a greater likelihood of rain than in the fall.

Late September/early October is also lovely. It offers a better chance for sunny, dry weather, and should be less crowded than anytime during the spring months. The leaves don't start really turning till mid- to late October, but as someone else mentioned, you can head west to the Shenandoahs, where color appears much earlier than in the city.

Avoid the spring break period. Every jr high and high school student on the eastern seaboard is here then. And they're all in the Air & Space Museum. At the same time.

I live in central va and our school always has a day trip up to Washington. They like the fall because it is less crowded and the weather is usually good. The spring brings the crowds, the summer too hot, and the winter too cold...for all the walking involved. I find Virginia has the nicest and longest fall seasons. Being from NJ, you tend to to not have fall very long. We have lived here 7 years and every Halloween, we have trick or treated at night with light or no jackets! I would say late Oct, early November, the weather will be perfect and no crowds!

Thank you all for your replies. Since I just came back from Florida, Spring is out for this year. But, it sounds like the fall may be a good time for a trip. Thanks again.