United States - Things to Do in United States in March

Things to Do in United States in March

March weather, activities, events & insider tips

Good time to visit Shoulder Season · Good Value

March Weather in United States

Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance

56°F (13°C) High Temp
38°F (3°C) Low Temp
3.5 inches (89 mm) Rainfall
70% Humidity
⚠ Near-freezing temperatures, pack warm layers

Is March Right for You?

Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking

Advantages
  • + Shoulder-season pricing kicks in. Hotels in most cities drop 20- 30 % from summer highs. You'll still find same-week availability two weeks out. Book then. Save cash.
  • + College-basketball frenzy hits its peak. Even if you skip the games, sports bars from Lawrence, Kansas to Durham, North Carolina turn into communal living rooms. Free popcorn flows. Local craft beer stays on tap.
  • + Maple-sap season in the Northeast means sugar shacks open for boiling demos and fresh syrup tastings. Vermont's Route 108 smells like caramel and wood smoke every weekend. Follow your nose.
  • + Desert Southwest finally sheds winter chill. Daytime highs around 75°F (24°C) in Sedona and Moab let you hike without the 105°F (41°C) scorch that arrives by May. Go now.
Considerations
  • Spring-break crowds swamp Florida beaches and any theme-park within 300 km (190 mi) of Orlando the second half of the month. Hotel parking lots start resembling tailgate parties at 7 a.m. Earplugs help.
  • Tornado alley wakes up. Afternoon super-cells are possible from Texas through Kansas. Outdoor festivals will cancel fast if sirens sound. Seek shelter.
  • Snowmelt turns Rocky-Mountain trails into ankle-deep mud until late April. Many high-elevation hikes remain closed or require micro-spikes. Check status.

Best Activities in March

Top things to do during your visit

March in the United States means layered clothing and adaptable plans. The air carries a damp chill. Yet the sun gains strength. You feel a raw, salty wind off the harbor in Boston. In the desert Southwest, that sun bakes the red rock. The national average high is 56 degrees. That number belies reality. You might shiver in a 45-degree Chicago dawn to see a river dyed an unnatural green. You will need a sweater in the dry, cool shadows of an Utah canyon. Distinct gatherings punctuate the rhythm. In Austin, the scent of charcoal smoke and sizzling brisket fills downtown blocks for South by Southwest. Up north, crowds bundled in emerald fleece line city streets for a St. Patrick's Day parade. They taste the sharp tang of cheap beer. Visiting now means navigating this duality. There is a lingering bite in the air, and a palpable, rising energy.

Vegas: Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lunch/Skywalk Options, WiFi

Vegas: Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lunch/Skywalk Options, WiFi

adventure
4.6 5726 reviews from $99

A full-day expedition from the neon-lit Strip crosses the stark Mojave. You hear the constant whir of traffic on the Hoover Dam before descending into the vast silence of the Grand Canyon. Walk the glass Skywalk. You will feel a slight vibration underfoot while staring down a mile into the sun-bleached depths. Lunch is often simple and satisfying: grilled chicken or salad with views of the Colorado River's muddy green ribbon far below. This tour condenses the monumental scale of the American Southwest into a single, manageable day. It moves from human engineering to raw geologic time.

Full day Moderate Early morning departure
It condenses the monumental scale of the American Southwest into a single, manageable day, moving from human engineering to raw geologic time.
Insider tip: Take the earlier departure. Those groups often reach the canyon overlooks before the midday glare washes out the colors in the stratified rock layers.
This month: March winds on the canyon rim can be biting. They cut through jackets, so layered clothing is essential.
Alcatraz Island & 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Alcatraz Island & 48-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

transport
4.6 2276 reviews from $120

This combination pairs the notorious isolation of Alcatraz with a flexible double-decker bus tour. On the island, you hear the recorded clang of cell doors and the mournful cry of gulls. You smell the damp salt air that once tormented inmates. The hop-on hop-off ticket then lets you feel the cool, misty breeze riding across the Golden Gate Bridge. Get off to taste clam chowder from a sourdough bowl at Fisherman's Wharf. It offers stark history alongside a panoramic overview of San Francisco's well-known hills and waterfront.

Two days Moderate Morning for Alcatraz
It offers stark history alongside a panoramic overview of San Francisco's well-known hills and waterfront.
Insider tip: Book the earliest Alcatraz ferry of the day. You can explore the cellblock when crowds are thin and morning fog still shrouds the bay.
Elvis-Themed Graceland Chapel Wedding or Vow Renewal

Elvis-Themed Graceland Chapel Wedding or Vow Renewal

other
4.9 879 reviews from $355

Held in a Graceland-area chapel, this ceremony plunges you into the sequined glamour of 1970s Vegas. You hear a live rendition of "Can't Help Falling in Love" by an impersonator in a white jumpsuit. See the glitter of rhinestones under neon chapel lighting. Feel the plush velvet of the registrar's chair. The package often includes photos where you hold a replica of Elvis's microphone. This is a uniquely American, over-the-top celebration of pop culture iconography. It turns matrimony into a theatrical performance.

1-2 hours Expensive Afternoon
This is a uniquely American, over-the-top celebration of pop culture iconography. It turns matrimony into a theatrical performance.
Insider tip: Weekday afternoons offer more flexibility. They sometimes provide a more relaxed, personalized atmosphere from the officiant and photographer.
Full-Day Guided Yellowstone Day Tour

Full-Day Guided Yellowstone Day Tour

day_trip
4.9 423 reviews from $269

This guided journey through Yellowstone National Park in March is a study in steaming, frozen contrasts. You see the bison's hot breath plume in the cold air. They trudge through snow. You hear the hiss and belch of Old Faithful erupting against a backdrop of white. Smell the sharp, egg-like scent of sulfur from bubbling mud pots. The tour van windows often fog from the shift between frigid air and geothermal warmth. March provides a rare chance to see Yellowstone's volatile geothermal heart beating within a silent, snow-draped landscape. There are far fewer visitors than in summer.

Full day Expensive Morning departure
March provides a rare chance to see Yellowstone's volatile geothermal heart beating within a silent, snow-draped landscape. There are far fewer visitors than in summer.
Insider tip: Wear insulated, waterproof boots. The boardwalks can be slick with ice and melted snow from thermal runoff.
This month: Many park roads remain closed to regular vehicles in March. This makes a guided tour one of the only ways to access the geyser basins and other key sights.
Bryce and Zion National Parks Tour with Lunch

Bryce and Zion National Parks Tour with Lunch

guided_experience
4.7 1103 reviews from $169

This tour connects two of Utah's most dramatic landscapes. It starts with the silent, crimson wonder of Bryce Canyon's hoodoos, often dusted with late-season snow. You then travel to Zion. Feel the cool shadow of massive sandstone walls. Hear the Virgin River rushing over smooth stones. A provided lunch, perhaps a hearty sandwich and chips, is typically eaten surrounded by these towering cliffs. The day contrasts the intricate, frosty spires of Bryce with the monumental, sun-warmed canyons of Zion.

Full day Moderate Early morning departure
The day contrasts the intricate, frosty spires of Bryce with the monumental, sun-warmed canyons of Zion.
Insider tip: Request a seat on the left side of the tour vehicle. You will get the best views during the descent into Zion Canyon from the east tunnel.
Vegas: Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Skywalk Option, & Two Meals

Vegas: Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Skywalk Option, & Two Meals

adventure
4.8 2918 reviews from $99

This is a similar but more complete version of the Grand Canyon day trip. It includes both breakfast and dinner. Meals often feature classic American fare like scrambled eggs and pancakes in the morning and roast beef or pasta in the evening. The long drive across the desert shows the landscape shift from scrub to ponderosa pine forest. You will feel the temperature drop as you ascend to the canyon's South Rim. The two included meals and the Skywalk option make for an all-inclusive day. You will not need to worry about finding food in remote areas. The second meal stop on the return leg is often at a classic roadside diner. There you can taste a slice of pecan pie while recounting the day's sights.

Full day Moderate Early morning departure
The two included meals and the Skywalk option make for an all-inclusive day. You will not need to worry about finding food in remote areas.
Insider tip: The second meal stop on the return leg is often at a classic roadside diner. There you can taste a slice of pecan pie while recounting the day's sights.

Where to Stay in United States in March

Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.

Trump International Hotel & Tower® New York in United States
★★★★★ Luxury

Trump International Hotel & Tower® New York

8.9 Very good · 108 reviews
From $839 / night
Check Prices on Trip.com →

March Events & Festivals

What's happening during your visit

Early to Mid March
South by Southwest (SXSW)

Austin's downtown converts into a 10-day mix of music shows, tech panels and film premieres. Sixth Street smells of smoked brisket and sounds like 200 overlapping sound-checks after 8 p.m. Free day-stage wristbands are handed out at 11 a.m. Arrive by 9 a.m. to secure one.

March 17 (weekend nearest)
St. Patrick's Day parades

Boston's parade in Southie draws 850,000 spectators who line Broadway in green puffy coats. Wind off the harbor keeps temps around 45°F (7°C) so hot coffee sells faster than beer before noon. Chicago dyes its river an almost neon emerald at 10 a.m. The color lingers for 48 hours.

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Essential Tips

Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid

Insider Knowledge
Book domestic flights for Tuesday or Wednesday. March business travel is light and fare sales drop mid-week. If you're renting a car up north, ask for all-weather tires, not all-season. Some states let fleets keep summer rubber on until April. Theme-park single-day tickets are cheapest the first full week of March. Prices jump the Friday most colleges release for break. In maple country, buy syrup labelled "Grade A: Amber Color & Rich Taste". The late-season grade most sugar-heads prefer for coffee. City breweries release their maibock/Frühlingsbock in March. Ask for it. Most bars list it on a chalkboard but not the printed menu.
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming Florida is swim-ready everywhere. Northern Gulf waters can still be 65°F (18°C) and feel freezing after 20 minutes. Booking mountain cabins at elevation above 2,100 m (6,900 ft) without checking road closures. Many passes stay snow-locked until April. Ignore the daylight saving switch on the second Sunday in March. Flights and tours run on the new clock, not your phone's slow auto-update. Arrive an hour early. Miss nothing.
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