Magnolias at Rawlins Park in Washington DC (Photo Guide)

One of the most stunning places to see saucer magnolia flowers in DC is Rawlins Park. In addition to the Smithsonian Gardens, I love stopping by Rawlins Park in Foggy Bottom at the start of spring for photos full of pink magnolias. Best of all Rawlins Park rarely has a crowd since it’s a hidden gem for magnolia trees.

2026 update: Rawlins Park is currently closed for an $11 million NPS renovation and is expected to reopen on May 15, 2026. The project is part of a $54 million initiative to restore fountains across DC ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.

About 20 saucer magnolia trees line the central flagstone plaza of this 1.5-acre park, planted close enough that their flowering canopies blend into one long pink tunnel at peak bloom. The park sits below street level across three terraces connected by staircases, with the bronze statue of General John A. Rawlins anchoring the east end. It’s just two blocks west of the White House and two blocks north of the National Mall, so it’s easy to work into any DC walk.

The saucer magnolias typically peak in mid-March, about one to two weeks before the Tidal Basin cherry blossoms. The bloom lasts roughly two weeks, but a late frost can end it overnight. For the best photos, visit on an overcast weekday morning when the diffused light is kindest to the pink petals and the crowds are thinnest. The park is small enough to explore in about 20 minutes.

The closest Metro stop is Farragut West (Blue/Orange/Silver lines), about a five-minute walk south on 18th Street. You can also walk from Foggy Bottom-GWU in about 10 minutes. If you drive, street parking is usually available on the surrounding blocks during the middle of the day.

The octagonal marble fountain at the park’s center has been dry for years, along with the two 116-foot-long reflecting pools that flank it on either side. The 2026 NPS renovation is restoring all three water features with modernized plumbing and conserving the historic stonework. Once the park reopens, the reflecting pools should mirror the magnolia canopies overhead for the first time in years, making it an even better spot to photograph in Washington DC.

Rawlins Park on Google Maps

History of John Aaron Rawlins

John Aaron Rawlins was a US Army general who served in the Civil War. His bronze statue, cast from captured Confederate cannons, has been the park’s focal point since 1874. Rawlins earned the honor as the closest advisor to Ulysses S. Grant during the war, and he later served as Secretary of War after Grant became president. The statue was actually moved four times around DC before returning to this park in 1931. The current park layout with its terraces and magnolia grove dates to a 1930s WPA redesign.

Photos of Rawlins Park in Washington DC

Here are more photos from my visits to Rawlins Park. Some of my favorite angles are capturing the Rawlins statue with magnolias surrounding it, filling the frame with magnolias, and an overview shot of the park with the benches.

Recommended Photography Gear: The park isn’t too large so I recommend bringing a wide angle lens to capture trees surrounding the Rawlins statue. You can also bring a macro to capture magnolia details or a zoom lens to photograph birds landing on the trees.