Month guide · New Orleans · United States
New Orleans in March
What March is really like in New Orleans: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
March is one of the best months to visit New Orleans. Expect average highs of 23°C (73°F), lows of 12°C (54°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 11.9 hours of daylight. Warm, bright days and azaleas in bloom; crawfish season is in full swing.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 23°C (73°F) / 12°C (54°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in March
March is the 8th-warmest month in New Orleans: days average 23°C (73°F) against a yearly average high of 26°C (79°F), and nights fall to about 12°C (54°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with February (19°C (66°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 26°C (79°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 07:10
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 19:09
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
Spring (March–May). Warm, bright weather, azaleas and crawfish season, with French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest drawing big crowds in April and early May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 4 for crowds (the peak is February at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in February). Book accommodation early: March is one of the pricier months.
Events in March
- St Joseph's Day altars (around 19 March)
- Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival (usually late March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Museum · Warehouse District
The National WWII Museum
Allow at least five hours, and see the film early in the day before museum fatigue sets in.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · French Quarter
The Cabildo
The Spanish colonial seat of government beside the cathedral, built in the 1790s, is where the Louisiana Purchase transfer took place in 1803.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Garden District
Garden District walk
Start from the Washington Avenue streetcar stop and finish with lunch or shopping on Magazine Street.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Couples
- Photo spot
Historic site · Tremé
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Opened in 1789, the city's oldest surviving cemetery is a maze of whitewashed above-ground tombs, including the one believed to hold Marie Laveau, the 19th-century Voodoo priestess.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 23°C, lows near 12°C and 8 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit New Orleans?
One of the best months to visit New Orleans, with 2 notable events on the calendar. The other best months are February, April and October–November. Compare every month.
New Orleans in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit New Orleans?
It is one of the best months to visit New Orleans. Warm, bright days and azaleas in bloom; crawfish season is in full swing.
+How warm is New Orleans in March?
Average highs are around 23°C (73°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F).
+Does it rain a lot in New Orleans in March?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.