Month guide · Portland · United States
Portland in March
What March is really like in Portland: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cacophony, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
March is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 18 rainy days and roughly 11.8 hours of daylight. Cherry blossoms on the waterfront and showers; the Saturday Market reopens for its season.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 18
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in March
March is the 8th-warmest month in Portland: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 18°C (64°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 18 of its 31 days. Compared with February (11°C (52°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 17°C (63°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 07:24
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 19:17
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
Spring (March–May). Showers, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons and full-flowing waterfalls; it warms and dries out through May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes March one of the better-value months to book.
Events in March
- Cherry blossoms at the Japanese American Historical Plaza (usually late March)
- Portland Saturday Market season opens (usually March)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in March
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Market · Downtown
Portland Saturday Market
Despite the name it runs on Sundays too; check the season dates before planning around it.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Art
Waterfront · Downtown
Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Eastbank Esplanade
A riverside park replaced a freeway along the west bank of the Willamette in the 1970s.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Active
Park · Hawthorne and Belmont
Mount Tabor Park
Go for sunset from the west-facing slopes, then eat on Hawthorne or Belmont.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Garden · Eastmoreland
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
A lakeside woodland garden in Southeast Portland with more than 2,500 rhododendrons, azaleas and other plants around a spring-fed lake visited by ducks, geese and herons.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Couples
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 4°C and 18 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Portland?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Portland in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Portland?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cherry blossoms on the waterfront and showers; the Saturday Market reopens for its season.
+How warm is Portland in March?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Portland in March?
Expect rain on about 18 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.