Month guide · Seattle · United States
Seattle in March
What March is really like in Seattle: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sage Ross, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
March is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 18 rainy days and roughly 11.8 hours of daylight. Cherry blossoms appear on the University of Washington Quad, usually mid-to-late March, between showers.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 18
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 8°C (46°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in March
March is the 8th-warmest month in Seattle: days average 12°C (54°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 18 of its 31 days. Compared with February (10°C (50°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 15°C (59°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 07:23
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 19:15
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Sea
- 8°C (46°F)
Spring (March–May). Showery and cool with cherry blossoms, tulip fields in the Skagit Valley and gardens in bloom; it dries out by late 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 University of Washington Quad (usually mid-to-late 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.
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Waterfront · Downtown and Pike Place
Waterfront and Pier 62
Walk from Pike Place down to the water, then south to Colman Dock for a ferry ride at sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
Park · Belltown
Olympic Sculpture Park
The Seattle Art Museum's free outdoor park zigzags down from Belltown to the shoreline, with large works by Alexander Calder, Richard Serra and Louise Bourgeois framed by views across Elliott Bay to the Olympics.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Views
- Outdoors
Landmark · Ballard
Ballard Locks
Visit in summer to see salmon in the fish ladder, then stroll the botanical garden beside the locks.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Park · Magnolia
Discovery Park
Seattle's largest park covers about 216 hectares of forest, meadows and sea cliffs on a former army post in Magnolia.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Views
- Active
What to pack
For highs near 12°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 Seattle?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Seattle in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Seattle?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cherry blossoms appear on the University of Washington Quad, usually mid-to-late March, between showers.
+How warm is Seattle in March?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Seattle in March?
Expect rain on about 18 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.