When you think about famous flower displays, The Netherlands’ tulips or Japan’s cherry blossoms probably come to mind. But you don’t have to go that far for some incredible flower festivals.

Top Spring Destinations in The U.S.

The United States has some incredible flower displays in the Spring and Summer, from cherry blossoms and tulips to bluebonnets and sunflowers.

Here are the best flower festivals in the United States!

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Washington, D.C.

End of March – Mid-April

This is one of the most popular flower festivals in the world. So to keep your photos from being crowded with tourists, head to D.C.’s Tidal Basin early in the morning. The peak bloom is usually from late March to early April, but these cherry blossoms can peak earlier than predicted.

So I’d plan your trip earlier on in the peak window and keep track of the blooms’ progress here.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the March 27, 1912, gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo City. Washington, D.C. goes all-out for this festival – parades, art installations, sake tasting, kite flying, pet-friendly events, and more!

Because this is such a popular festival in one of Washington D.C.’s peak travel seasons, you’ll want to book your accommodation and any excursions or activities in advance to ensure availability.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Skagit Valley, Washington State

April

Held every year during the whole month of April, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a driving tour of the valley’s tulip fields. You can hop in and out of your car along the routes to take pictures and walk around. You can also bike or walk the tulip trails.

There are usually two garden routes, RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town, and you should do them both. There are restaurants and food vendors in the valley, but I highly recommend bringing a picnic to eat lunch in a tulip field.

Skagit Valley is just an hour’s drive from North Cascades National Park, which has some of the country’s best wildflower blooms during April. So I recommend spending some time at both of these flower destinations.

Eastern Texas

Mid-April

Wild bluebonnets are found everywhere in Eastern Texas in April; you’ll see them just driving down the interstate or highways. But to really experience the beauty of Texas’s state flower, you need to visit one of the state’s bluebonnet festivals.

The towns of Chappell Hill (near Houston), Burnet (near Austin), and Ennis (near Dallas) have some of the best concentrations of bluebonnets in the area. These towns have driving routes and sign markers to keep you on public property as you take pics and wander through the beautiful blooms.

Each of these towns also has a weekend in mid-April (when the bluebonnets peak) with outdoor concerts, food and wine tastings, parades, and other local fanfare to celebrate the bluebonnets.

Lancaster, California

Late April

The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is just two hours from Los Angeles, so this is a perfect weekend getaway. Towards the end of April, Antelope Valley is covered in bright orange, yellow, and red poppies.

This is a wildflower display, so there aren’t manicured fields or gardens. It’s easy to find poppies everywhere you go in the valley, but the best way to see and photograph the blooms up close is to hike or bike the Antelope Loop Trail.

During the last weekend in April, there’s a festival with live music, art displays, and food vendors to celebrate the poppy fields.

Tulip Time Festival

Holland, Michigan

Early May

Holland is a small western Michigan town that goes all-out with its tulip festival. Millions of tulips cover the city and the surrounding Veldheer Tulip Gardens during the annual Tulip Time Festival the first week in May.

There are parades, crafts, food, concerts, dances, and a 250-year-old windmill.

I highly recommend spending at least one night in Holland because it’s a super cute town with lots of fantastic shops and restaurants. Make sure you reserve your accommodation early to save some money and ensure availability!

Mackinac Island Lilac Festival

Mackinac Island, Michigan

Early June

Mackinac Island is a stunning destination any time of year, but it’s especially beautiful in June when the island is covered in lilacs. The Lilac Festival is a 10-day event in early June that includes a 10K run/walk, horse-drawn carriage tours, wine tastings, and a dog and pony show.

You should definitely plan an entire vacation around the Lilac Festival. Spend a few days on the island, enjoying its scenery, great food, historic charm, and water activities.

Crested Butte, Colorado

Mid-July

Crested Butte is the wildflower capital of Colorado. The area’s unique collection of pink, orange and gold alpine wildflowers are set against the dramatic West Elk Mountains, culminating in one of the best wildflower displays in the country.

You’ll want to spend your days here hiking the alpine trails, enjoying the picturesque town of Crested Butte, and picnicking in flower fields. You can also find some of the small, rare alpine sunflowers at the higher elevations.

Sunflower House and Gardens

Woodstock, Vermont

Early August – Mid-September

In August and September, the famous Woodstock Inn & Resort partners with the nearby Billings Farm & Museum to create a sunflower house. Thousands of sunflowers from more than 100 different varieties are used to form the rooms and hallways in a maze-like structure.

You can explore the flower-made structure, which is also a food source for birds, bees, and butterflies. The rest of the farm has trails and gardens with more flower displays.

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