Month guide · Washington, D.C. · United States
Washington, D.C. in March
What March is really like in Washington, D.C.: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
Quick answer
March is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 3°C (37°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 11.8 hours of daylight. Changeable weather that warms through the month; crowds and prices surge as the cherry blossoms approach.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in March
March is the 8th-warmest month in Washington, D.C.: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 3°C (37°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with February (9°C (48°F)), March is warmer; by April highs climb to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 March)
- About 07:20
- Sunset (15 March)
- About 19:15
- Daylight
- About 11.8 hours
Spring (March–May). Cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin, mild weather and the busiest crowds of the year, including school groups; book hotels and timed passes early.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, March rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: March is one of the pricier months.
Events in March
- National Cherry Blossom Festival (usually late March to mid-April)
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.
Gallery · Penn Quarter
National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum
Go up to the third-floor Lunder Conservation Center, where you can watch conservators at work through the glass.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
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Park · National Mall
National Mall
The Mall runs about 3 km from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined by the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery, with the Washington Monument at its centre.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- History
- Kids
Landmark · National Mall
Lincoln Memorial
Come back after dark, when the memorial is floodlit, crowds are thin and the view down the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument is at its best.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Views
Landmark · National Mall
Washington Monument
The 169-metre marble obelisk, finished in 1884, was built in two phases, and a change in the stone's shade about a quarter of the way up shows where work stopped for more than 20 years.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 3°C and 11 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is March a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Washington, D.C. in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is March a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?
It is a shoulder-season month. Changeable weather that warms through the month; crowds and prices surge as the cherry blossoms approach.
+How warm is Washington, D.C. in March?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Washington, D.C. in March?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.