If you’re thinking about a spring trip to a US national park, this list will help you out! Spring is a lovely time to visit many of the national parks. You’ll have mild weather in the desert, flowers popping up in some areas and springtime temperatures in much of the south.
I’m an avid national park traveler who has almost been to all 63 US national parks, and these picks are based on my experiences in the parks. Use this list to come up with ideas for a spring national park trip, and guide your planning process.
P.S. I tried to keep this list short so that I would really focus on the best parks for March, but it was hard to narrow them down. For more ideas, check out my longer list of the national parks to visit in the spring.
No matter which national park you visit, please make sure to leave no trace! That includes packing out all of your trash, following all park rules, never feeding wildlife and staying on durable surfaces. Please make an effort to respect our public lands.
12 of the Best National Parks to Visit in March
1. Zion National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in March: 55° F / 30° F
Zion is one of the most visited US national parks for good reason. The park is home to a massive canyon, waterfalls, jaw-dropping hikes and stunning rock formations.
March can be a beautiful time in Zion National Park. The month starts out chilly, but gets a lot warmer throughout March. Hiking temperatures can be quite nice in March. Even if it’s a little cold, it’s better than the sweltering heat of the summer months.
Zion continues to get more crowded throughout the month of March, especially at the end of the month when some people are on Spring Break. However, it’s not nearly as crowded as you would experience in the summer.
The biggest downside of visiting Zion in the spring is that the Narrows might not be open. Water levels can be high after melting snowfall, and they often close the trail for safety reasons. If it is open, the water will be quite cold, and you might want to wear a wet suit.
Unless the Narrows are your top priority, I think that March is one of the best times of the year to explore Zion National Park.
Read my itinerary for Zion National Park
2. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Average temperatures in March: 79° F / 68° F
Dry Tortugas is a unique island park located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida. The island is home to a historic army fort, and is rich in birdlife, aquatic life and unique vegetation.
Spring brings lovely weather to South Florida, and March is a great time to visit before the heat becomes more uncomfortable. March is the perfect time for exploring the island on foot, and for water activities such as snorkeling.
March is one of the busiest times in Dry Tortugas, so you’ll need to plan ahead. The park can only be reached by ferry or seaplane. In the spring, the ferry typically sells out at least 2 months in advance, and the seaplane sells out at least 1 month in advance. That is a loose approximation that I’ve observed, but I recommend booking even earlier if you can.
As long as you can book far enough ahead to get your spot, Dry Tortugas is a beautiful and unique park that is perfect for a spring vacation.
Read my guide to visiting Dry Tortugas National Park
3. Virgin Islands National Park
Average temperatures in March: 82° F / 75° F
Virgin Islands National Park is a slice of paradise. The park has gorgeous white sand beaches, fantastic snorkeling opportunities, and hiking trails that lead to epic viewpoints. Whether you’re a beach lover or a hiker, there is something for everyone here.
March offers some of the best weather in the Virgin Islands. The weather tends to be dry and mild. While it’s quite warm and humid year round for hiking, this is one of the better months to do it. I recommend following up each hike with a dip in the ocean!
Tip: Hurricane season in the Virgin Islands is between June and November. So even if you don’t visit in March, you might want to avoid those months.
March also tends to be one the busiest times in Virgin Islands National Park, especially during spring break times. Expect high prices, book your lodging early and get to the beaches early to snag a parking spot. I loved staying at the Cinnamon Bay Campground!
4. Arches National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in March: 61° F / 35° F
Arches is an iconic national park for good reason. As you can probably guess, there are a ton of different arch formations throughout the park. You can hike to the stunning Delicate Arch (seen on Utah license plates), see double arches and admire all sorts of shapes and sizes of these cool formations.
This park is great for hiking and a good variety of trails that range from easy to difficult. March is a great time to visit due to more mild weather and fewer crowds than summer.
5. Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Average temperatures in March: 65° F / 44° F
Saguaro National Park protects the largest cacti in the world! This desert park has saguaros of all ages and sizes, plus other types of cacti and beautiful desert plants. The park also has mountains, waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife.
March is a great time to explore the desert of Arizona. You should have mild weather, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see the beginning of some desert blooms.
Saguaro National Park has two separate units on opposite sides of Tucson. Both units offer beautiful hiking trails and scenic drives. I recommend visiting both halves of the park, and enjoying the incredible food scene in Tucson while you’re there!
Read my itinerary for Saguaro National Park
6. Pinnacles National Park, California
Average temperatures in March: 64° F / 35° F
Pinnacles is a California park known for its rock formations, caves and California condors. It’s a relatively small park, but great for hikers.
One of the coolest parts of Pinnacles is the Talus Caves, but they are closed for large portions of the year to protect the bats during pupping season, and for other reasons.
March tends to be the only time of year when you can find both parts of the cave open. They tend to both be open for the last week of March, and sometimes for the whole month of March. Plus, March brings mild weather in this desert park.
7. Everglades National Park, Florida
Average temperatures in March: 80° F / 61° F
The Florida Everglades offer more than meets the eye. The park protects about 1.5 million acres of land, making it the third largest park in the lower 48. They protect wetland, forest, marine habitats, and more.
During a visit to Everglades National Park, you can hike, bike, take a scenic drive, kayak, take an airboat tour, and more. No matter how you explore, there’s a good chance you’ll see a lot of alligators and a variety of birds. One of my personal favorite activities is to take a ranger-led wet walk, which will really immerse you in nature.
Everglades has two distinct seasons - a wet and a dry season. The dry season occurs from November and May and is the best time to visit. You’ll enjoy less humidity and rain, cooler temperatures and this tends to be the best time for most activities.
Read my itinerary for Everglades National Park
8. Death Valley National Park, California
Average temperatures in March: 65° F / 43° F
Death Valley is an incredibly unique park. It’s home to the lowest, hottest and driest land in the US. The park has a beautiful variety of sceneries, including sand dunes, salt flats, mountains, craters, and more.
Spring in Death Valley can be hot, but it can also bring incredible displays of spring blooms. I recommend visiting in March for cooler weather and a chance to see the flowers. Keep in mind that the amount of wildflowers can vary each year.
If you’re lucky and visit after a lot of rainfall, you might get a chance to see Lake Manly, a lake that appears in Badwater Basin. This is rare, but it occurred in March in 2024 and 2026.
Death Valley makes for a great day trip from Las Vegas, but there is also a lot to explore if you spend a few days.
Read my itinerary for Death Valley National Park
9. Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in March: 59° F / 30° F
Canyonlands can be overlooked, but it’s a stunning park that is not far from Arches. The park is made up of a few distinct units, and the most visited is the Islands of the Sky district. This part of the park has amazing canyon views, and opportunities for both short and long hikes.
If you’re up for more of an adventure, head out to the Needles or Maze District. These are backcountry parts of the park where you’ll want to come prepared and be self-sufficient. You’ll need to be especially well prepared for the Maze District, which is the least accessible part of the park.
March is a great time for mild weather in the Utah desert. You’ll likely experience mild weather that is nice for hiking, and fewer crowds than summer.
10. Biscayne National Park, Florida
Average temperatures in March: 72° F / 66° F
This Florida national park is 95% underwater! Biscayne protects coral reefs, islands and sea life. Plus, the park is home to a lot of history in the way of shipwrecks, pineapple farmers, prehistoric tribes, and more.
During a visit here, you should get out on the water. I recommend booking a tour with the Biscayne National Park Institute. They offer snorkeling, paddle boarding, history tours, and more.
March is a great time to visit because it’s not nearly as hot as the summer months, but it’s still warm enough to enjoy activities such as snorkeling. This park is great to pair with the Everglades, and you’ll want to visit during the dry season, which runs from November to May.
Read my guide to Biscayne National Park
11. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Average temperatures in March: 62° F / 31° F
This unique Arizona park is famous for its petrified logs and is a neat park for anyone who loves geology. You’ll see colorful badlands, crystalized logs, and beautiful views throughout the park.
Like many of the desert parks on this list, March is a great time for mild weather and cool hiking temperatures. Snow can occur in March, especially at the beginning of the month, but a dusting of snow also brings a unique beauty to the park. Plus, it will probably melt quickly if that were to happen during your trip.
Read my guide to visiting Petrified Forest National Park
12. Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Average temperatures in March: 52° F / 36° F
Capitol Reef is another Utah national park that is beautiful in the spring. This park protects a geologic phenomenon known as the Waterpocket Fold, which is literally like a giant wrinkle in the earth. The park is home to natural bridges, canyons, cliffs and other neat rock formations.
As is the case with most of these desert parks, March brings cool hiking temperatures to Capitol Reef. Spring is a good time to visit to avoid the high heats of summer, and enjoy fewer crowds.
One of the best things to do in Capitol Reef is to get pie from Gifford House, and they begin their season on Pi Day, which is March 14th. I recommend visiting for this special occasion, or planning your visit for after March 14th, so that you can partake in this wonderful treat. Make sure to go early in the day, as the pies can sell out.
Capitol Reef tends to be overlooked, but I highly recommend spending some time here on a Utah Mighty Five road trip.
Honorable Mentions
I tried to keep this list short, but here are some other national parks that can also be nice to visit in March.
- Joshua Tree
- Hot Springs
- Big Bend
- Guadalupe Mountains
- White Sands
- Channel Islands
- Grand Canyon (South Rim)
- Haleakala
- Hawaii Volcanoes
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide gives you some great ideas for which national parks to visit in March! From Southern Florida to the Utah desert, spring is an amazing time to travel to some of the most beautiful places in the United States.
For more US National Park Guides, check out these blogs:
- The Best National Park to Visit in the Spring
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Summer
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Fall
- The Best National Parks to Visit in the Winter
- How to Avoid Crowds in National Parks
- A Guide to Which National Parks Require Reservations
- Exactly How to Plan a National Park Road Trip
Thanks for Reading!
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