Haleakalā
Shoulder season with fewer crowds and generally clear skies.
16 prime · 12 good · March
Best National Parks to Visit in March
March is when the Southwest wakes up. Desert wildflowers peak in wet years, Utah's canyon parks warm up and spring break crowds arrive. It's the last great month for the Everglades and Big Bend before the heat.
Top picks for March: Haleakalā, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Joshua Tree, Gateway Arch, Dry Tortugas. Spring break makes mid-March one of the busiest times in Big Bend, Zion and Arches. Book lodging early.
Prime in March (16)
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
Shoulder season, and a great time to visit.
Joshua Tree
Peak season.
Gateway Arch
Pleasant weather on the riverfront grounds.
Dry Tortugas
Excellent.
Hot Springs
Dogwoods and redbuds bloom on the mountain trails.
Death Valley
Pleasant through March, with wildflowers in wet years.
Virgin Islands
Excellent and less crowded, with calm seas.
Biscayne
Still pleasant.
Everglades
Still good through April.
Pinnacles
The best season.
White Sands
Pleasant, but often very windy, with blowing sand.
Big Bend
March brings spring breakers and crowds.
Mammoth Cave
Wildflowers bloom on the surface trails and the Green River runs high.
Saguaro
Wildflowers in March and April.
Congaree
Excellent for paddling.
Season opens in March
White Sands Opens
Dry Tortugas Opens
Congaree Opens
Gateway Arch Opens
Hot Springs Opens
Mammoth Cave Opens
Last chance in March
Death Valley Last call
Everglades Last call
Also good in March (12)
Redwood
Rhododendrons bloom under the redwoods in May and June, and the coast turns green.
Bryce Canyon
Snow lingers into April.
Capitol Reef
Fruit trees in the historic Fruita orchards bloom in April.
Channel Islands
The islands turn green, and giant coreopsis blooms bright yellow.
Petrified Forest
Mild, but often windy.
Canyonlands
Great hiking weather in the Needles district.
Carlsbad Caverns
The bats return to the cave in April and May, and the evening bat flight programs start.
Grand Canyon
Excellent rim weather and good inner-canyon conditions.
Great Smoky Mountains
Wildflowers peak in April and May; the Smokies are known as the 'Wildflower National Park.' Synchronous fireflies appear in late May and June.
Guadalupe Mountains
Good hiking weather between windy spells.
Arches
Ideal temperatures and the busiest time of year.
Zion
Waterfalls and green cottonwoods, but crowds build fast, and snowmelt often closes the Narrows.
March by region
| Region | Good or prime in March |
|---|---|
| Pacific Northwest | Nothing rated good |
| California | Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Pinnacles, Redwood, Channel Islands |
| Southwest | White Sands, Big Bend, Saguaro, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Petrified Forest, Canyonlands, Carlsbad Caverns, Grand Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains, Arches, Zion |
| Rocky Mountains & Plains | Nothing rated good |
| Great Lakes & Northeast | Nothing rated good |
| Southeast | Congaree, Mammoth Cave, Gateway Arch, Hot Springs, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, Everglades, Great Smoky Mountains |
| Alaska | Nothing rated good |
| Hawaiʻi & Islands | Haleakalā, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Virgin Islands |
Skip these in March
North Cascades, Glacier, Isle Royale, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, Wrangell–St. Elias. These parks are largely closed, snowbound or dangerously hot in March.
March questions
What are the best national parks to visit in March?
The top-rated national parks for March are Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Gateway Arch National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park. In total, 16 parks are rated prime and 12 more are rated good this month.
Which national parks are least crowded in March?
Mammoth Cave, Congaree are at their best in March without big crowds.
Which national parks should I avoid in March?
North Cascades, Glacier, Isle Royale, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, Wrangell–St. Elias are rated poor in March, usually because of closures, snow or extreme heat.
Is March a good time to visit national parks?
March is when the Southwest wakes up. Spring break makes mid-March one of the busiest times in Big Bend, Zion and Arches. Book lodging early.
← FebruaryApril →All of spring
Last reviewed October 4, 2026. Ratings are editorial. Rules and road openings change each year, so confirm on the official NPS site before you go.