Things to Do in Orlando in March

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March in Orlando is Spring Break. That single fact shapes everything about the month, from what you'll pay for a hotel room near International Drive to how long you'll wait in line at any theme park gate. Expect daytime highs around 27°C (80°F) with lows near 15°C (60°F), which is genuinely pleasant. The brutal summer humidity hasn't arrived yet, and the afternoon thunderstorm cycle that defines June through September is still months away. You might get a few rainy days, but nothing that wrecks a trip.

That said, Orlando in March is not cheap, and it is not quiet. Families from across the country descend on the parks in rotating waves from late February through mid-April. The staggered school calendars mean there's no single "Spring Break week" anymore. Instead, the crowds stay elevated for the entire month. Hotel rates around Walt Disney World and Universal reflect this, often running 30-50% above the annual average. If you're coming for the parks, you'll compete with every other family who had the same idea.

To be fair, there are real reasons March works. The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival opens in early March and transforms the park with elaborate garden displays and outdoor kitchens. The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, typically held the third weekend of March, draws over 350,000 visitors across 3 days to Park Avenue. And the weather sits in that narrow window between "too cool for the pool" and "too hot to stand in line." If you're willing to pay the Spring Break premium and plan around the crowds, March is still one of the better months to visit Orlando.

Why visit in March

Weather sits in a sweet spot at 27°C (80°F) with 69% humidity, warm enough for pools and outdoor parks but well below the 32°C summer heat that makes theme park days miserable.
The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival launches in early March, adding dozens of outdoor food-and-drink kitchens and garden installations that are included with park admission.
The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, one of the top-rated outdoor art festivals in the country, takes over Park Avenue for a full weekend in mid-to-late March with free admission.
Manatee season at Blue Spring State Park is still active in early March, with water temperatures cool enough to draw large groups of West Indian manatees into the spring run, about 45 minutes north of Orlando.
Orlando City SC opens its MLS home schedule at Exploria Stadium in March, and the atmosphere in the supporters' section is loud and worth experiencing if you've never been to a U.S. soccer match.

Worth knowing

Spring Break crowds push theme park wait times to some of the longest of the year, regularly 90+ minutes for headline attractions at Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios.
Hotel rates near Walt Disney World, Universal, and along International Drive run 30-50% above the annual average throughout March, with the steepest prices during the second and third weeks.
Pollen counts spike in March across Central Florida, particularly from oak trees, which can be rough for anyone with seasonal allergies. You'll notice a fine yellow-green film on parked cars by mid-month.
The staggered Spring Break calendar means there's no reliably "quiet" week in March. Unlike January, you can't time your trip around a predictable lull.

Best for

Think twice if

Weather measured 27° / 15°C 73mm rain · 8 rainy days · 69% humidity rains perceptibly ~0.9h/day · 90% of mornings dry

Crowds high

Pack Bring lightweight, breathable clothes for warm days, a light jacket or hoodie for cooler mornings and evenings, and a compact rain poncho for the afternoon showers that pop up without much warning. Sunscreen is non-negotiable. SPF 50 for full days outside.

March in Orlando tends to feel like the first real taste of warm weather after the cooler winter months. Afternoons typically reach 27°C (80°F), which is warm in the sun but manageable in the shade. Mornings and evenings still cool down to around 15°C (60°F), so you'll want a light layer if you're heading to a park at rope drop. Humidity sits around 69%, noticeable but not the oppressive wall you'll hit from June onward. Rainfall averages 73mm spread across roughly 8 days, usually as short afternoon showers rather than all-day downpours. The occasional cold front can still push through in early March, dropping temperatures to around 10°C (50°F) for a day or two, though that's increasingly rare as the month progresses.

Seasonal caution

UV index reaches 7-8 (high to very high) in March, even on partly cloudy days. Sunburn is a real risk during full-day outdoor park visits, especially for visitors arriving from northern climates where they haven't had significant sun exposure since October.

Year-round climate

Averages from the last 5 years.

Monthly climate averages for Orlando
Month	Avg high (°C)	Avg low (°C)	Rainfall (mm)
Jan	20	10	52
Feb	24	13	60
Mar	27	15	73
Apr	28	17	91
May	31	21	128
Jun	32	23	240
Jul	32	24	225
Aug	32	24	263
Sep	30	23	338
Oct	28	19	108
Nov	25	16	83
Dec	23	13	59

Headline events

Citywide

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Early March through early July (opening weeks in March)

Disney's longest-running festival transforms Epcot with elaborate topiary displays, themed garden installations, and over 15 outdoor kitchens serving seasonal small plates and cocktails. The festival runs from early March through early July, but the opening weeks in March tend to have shorter lines at the outdoor kitchens before summer crowds arrive.

#EpcotFlowerAndGarden

Regional Free

Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

Third weekend of March (Friday through Sunday)

One of the highest-rated juried outdoor art festivals in the United States, drawing over 350,000 visitors across 3 days along Park Avenue in Winter Park. More than 200 artists display and sell original work in categories from ceramics to digital art. The festival has run since 1960 and regularly appears in top-10 national art festival rankings.

#WPArtFest

Best things to do in March

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival grazing tour

food_and_drink

Work your way around Epcot's World Showcase, stopping at each of the 15+ outdoor kitchens for small plates and drinks. The festival gardens and topiaries line the walkways between stops. A full loop of the World Showcase lagoon covers about 1.9 km and takes 3-4 hours if you're stopping to eat and drink at most kitchens.

The opening weeks in March have notably shorter lines at the outdoor kitchens compared to April and May, when the festival overlaps with heavier crowds.

Booking tipEpcot admission is required. Outdoor kitchen items are pay-as-you-go, no reservations needed.

Manatee viewing at Blue Spring State Park

nature

Blue Spring's crystal-clear spring run holds a constant 22°C (72°F) year-round, which draws West Indian manatees from the cooler St. Johns River during winter months. The park's boardwalk runs along the spring run, and on peak mornings you might see dozens of manatees clustered in the warm water. The park is in Orange City, about 45 minutes north of downtown Orlando.

Early March is the last reliable window for large manatee gatherings. As river temperatures rise later in the month, the manatees begin dispersing back into the St. Johns River system.

Booking tipThe park often fills to vehicle capacity by 9-10am on weekends in March. Arrive before 8am or reserve a parking spot online if the park offers advance booking.

Winter Park scenic boat tour

sightseeing

The 1-hour pontoon boat tour winds through 3 of Winter Park's chain of lakes and 2 narrow canals lined with cypress trees and Spanish moss. The narrated tour points out Rollins College, lakefront estates, and local wildlife. Water temperatures in March are comfortable but not yet warm enough for the algae blooms that can cloud the lakes later in summer.

March temperatures make the open-air boat ride comfortable rather than sweltering. The lakes tend to be clearer in spring before summer rains raise water levels and stir sediment.

Booking tipTours depart from the dock at the east end of Morse Boulevard in Winter Park. Weekday departures are less crowded than weekend runs.

Orlando City SC match at Exploria Stadium

sports

Orlando City's 25,500-seat soccer-specific stadium sits south of downtown Orlando near the interchange of I-4 and State Road 408. The supporters' section behind the north goal is standing-room, and the Wall, Orlando City's organized supporters' group, keeps up a continuous drumbeat and chant sheet throughout the 90 minutes. The atmosphere is closer to a South American football match than a typical American sporting event.

March is the opening stretch of the MLS regular season, and early-season home matches tend to draw near-capacity crowds with high energy after the offseason break.

Booking tipSupporters' section tickets are the most affordable option and sell out fastest. Check the MLS schedule for confirmed March home dates.

Wekiwa Springs State Park swimming and paddling

nature

Wekiwa Springs maintains a year-round temperature of about 22°C (72°F), fed by the Florida aquifer. The spring head is large enough for swimming, and kayak and canoe rentals are available for paddling down Wekiwa River through a shaded corridor of cypress and palm. The park sits about 30 minutes northwest of downtown Orlando near Apopka.

March air temperatures are warm enough to make the 22°C spring water feel refreshing rather than cold. The park is less crowded than it will be once local schools let out for summer.

Booking tipLike Blue Spring, Wekiwa fills to capacity on sunny weekends. Arrive early or go on a weekday.

Park Avenue shopping and dining in Winter Park

culture

Winter Park's Park Avenue stretches about 10 blocks with a mix of independent boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, home to the world's most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany glass, sits at the north end. The avenue runs parallel to Central Park, a narrow green strip with live oaks and benches.

If you're in town for the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in mid-March, Park Avenue is the festival venue itself. Even outside festival weekend, March weather makes the outdoor dining patios along the avenue comfortable for long lunches.

Airboat ride on the St. Johns River or Lake Tohopekaliga

nature

Airboat operators run tours through the marshes and lake edges where you'll likely spot alligators, bald eagles, great blue herons, and possibly wild boar. Most tours depart from Kissimmee (Lake Toho) or communities along the St. Johns River east of Orlando. The flat-bottomed boats skim over sawgrass and lily pads at speeds that make conversation impossible. Loud, bumpy, and genuinely fun.

March is dry season, so water levels in the marshes are lower, which concentrates wildlife into smaller areas and makes sightings more likely. Alligators are also becoming more active as temperatures warm.

Booking tipBook a morning tour for the best wildlife activity. Afternoons can be windier and less productive for spotting animals.

What to eat in March

In season: fruit

Florida strawberries
The Plant City strawberry harvest peaks in late February through March. The Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, about 50 minutes west of Orlando, runs in early March and draws over 500,000 visitors across 11 days. You'll find fresh Plant City berries at farmers' markets across the Orlando area, and several restaurants in the Mills 50 and Thornton Park districts feature them in seasonal specials.
Florida citrus
March is the tail end of Florida's navel and Valencia orange season. Roadside stands along US-27 south of Clermont still have fresh-picked fruit in March, and the juice is noticeably sweeter than anything shipped to grocery stores up north. The citrus groves around Showcase of Citrus in Clermont offer U-pick experiences through early spring.

On menus now

Stone crab claws
Florida's stone crab season runs October 15 through May 15, and March is still well within the window. The claws are served cold with mustard sauce at seafood spots along Restaurant Row on Sand Lake Road. Worth noting, the claws are sustainably harvested. Fishermen remove one claw and return the crab to the water, where it regenerates.

Festival food

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival outdoor kitchen plates
The festival's outdoor kitchens serve seasonal small plates you won't find on the regular Epcot menus. Options rotate yearly but typically include dishes built around spring ingredients. Each kitchen has its own themed menu with 4-6 items, and the portions are sized for grazing across multiple stops.

Regular events in March

Orlando Fringe Festival preview events

Orlando's annual Fringe Festival typically runs in May, but preview events and early-bird ticket sales often begin in March. The Fringe is the longest-running fringe theater festival in the United States, held in the Loch Haven Park cultural corridor near the Orlando Museum of Art.

Various dates in March (preview events ahead of May festival)

Orlando Farmers Market at Lake EolaFree

The weekly Sunday morning market at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando runs year-round, but March is one of the best months to go. The market hosts around 50+ vendors selling local produce, prepared foods, plants, and crafts along the lake's north shore. The weather is warm enough to linger but not hot enough to wilt.

Every Sunday, 10am to 4pm

Run Disney spring race weekend

Disney hosts occasional runDisney events in the spring, with courses that wind through Walt Disney World resort property. These events typically sell out months in advance and bring a noticeable bump in resort hotel occupancy for the race weekend.

Varies by year, check runDisney calendar

Central Florida Fair

The Central Florida Fair is a traditional county fair with livestock shows, carnival rides, deep-fried everything, and live entertainment at the Central Florida Fairgrounds on West Colonial Drive. It typically runs for about 11 days in early to mid-March.

Early to mid-March (approximately 11 days)

Best places this March

Blue Spring State Park
nature
The premier manatee viewing site in Central Florida, with a boardwalk along the spring run where dozens of manatees gather in the warm water. The park also has swimming (when manatees are not present), kayak rentals, and hiking trails through hardwood hammock. Located in Orange City, about 45 minutes north of Orlando.
Orange City (day trip)
Park Avenue, Winter Park
culture
Winter Park's main street runs about 10 blocks with independent shops, galleries, and restaurants. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art anchors the north end. In mid-March, the entire avenue becomes the venue for the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival.
Winter Park
Leu Gardens
nature
Harry P. Leu Gardens covers 50 acres on the shore of Lake Rowena, about 10 minutes north of downtown Orlando. March is peak bloom for the rose garden, and the tropical stream garden and butterfly garden are active. The site includes a historic house museum from the 1880s.
Audubon Park
Lake Eola Park
sightseeing
The iconic downtown Orlando park centered on a lake with a fountain that lights up at night. The 1.4 km walking path around the lake passes swan-shaped paddle boat rentals, the Walt Disney Amphitheater, and a playground. The Sunday farmers' market sets up along the north shore.
Downtown Orlando
Wekiwa Springs State Park
nature
A natural spring with a large swimming area fed by 22°C (72°F) aquifer water, plus kayak and canoe access to Wekiwa River. The park has 21 km of hiking trails through sand pine scrub and Florida flatwoods. About 30 minutes northwest of downtown Orlando near Apopka.
Apopka (day trip)
The Milk District
nightlife
A neighborhood along East Robinson Street anchored by independent bars, restaurants, vintage shops, and a small live music venue scene. The 2nd Thursday of each month brings a neighborhood market and bar crawl. Less polished than Park Avenue, more local flavor.
Milk District
Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve
nature
A 440-acre preserve on the western edge of Orlando near the Butler Chain of Lakes, with 4 hiking trails through pine flatwoods and cypress swamp. March is dry enough that the trails are passable but still green from winter rains. Free admission, no reservations needed.
Southwest Orlando

Your packing checklist

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Sunscreen SPF 50+The UV index in Central Florida reaches 7-8 in March. Reapply every 2 hours during outdoor park days, more often if you're sweating.Shop
Lightweight rain poncho or packable rain jacketAfternoon showers pop up on roughly 8 days in March. A compact poncho takes up less bag space than an umbrella and works better on rides.Shop
Light hoodie or jacketMorning temperatures near 15°C (60°F) feel cool, especially if you're arriving at a park at opening. By midday you'll stash it in your bag.Shop
Comfortable walking shoes with good supportA full day at Magic Kingdom covers 10-15 km of walking on concrete. Blisters from new shoes are one of the top reasons people cut park days short.Shop
Refillable water bottleDisney and Universal both offer free ice water at quick-service restaurants. Staying hydrated in the March sun is more important than most visitors expect.Shop
Allergy medicationOak pollen peaks across Central Florida in March. If you have any history of seasonal allergies, bring antihistamines even if you don't usually need them at home.Shop
Wide-brimmed hat or baseball capShade is scarce in theme park queues. A hat makes a measurable difference during 60-90 minute outdoor waits.Shop
Portable phone chargerTheme park apps drain battery fast, and you'll rely on them for wait times, mobile ordering, and Lightning Lane reservations throughout the day.Shop

Insider tips

The Epcot Flower & Garden Festival outdoor kitchens have shorter lines on weekday afternoons compared to weekends. If you're staying multiple days, save the festival grazing for a Tuesday or Wednesday.
Blue Spring State Park posts daily manatee counts on its website and social media. Check the count the morning you plan to visit. If it's dropped to single digits, the season is effectively over and the drive might not be worth it.
The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival is free to attend, but parking in Winter Park during festival weekend is a challenge. The SunRail commuter train stops at the Winter Park station on Morse Boulevard, about a 5-minute walk from Park Avenue.
Orlando's best independent restaurant scene is not near the parks. Mills 50, the stretch of Mills Avenue between Colonial Drive and Virginia Drive, has the highest concentration of Vietnamese restaurants in the Southeast, plus craft breweries and taco spots. It's about 15 minutes from International Drive.
If you're visiting Universal and want to ride Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure with a sub-60-minute wait, get to the park at least 30 minutes before the posted opening time. The published opening time is often later than the actual gate opening in March.

Avoid these mistakes

Underestimating how spread out Orlando is. Walt Disney World alone covers about 100 square km. There's no practical way to walk between parks or resort areas. Budget time for driving, parking trams, monorails, and buses between every stop.
Assuming March weather is consistent all month. An early-March cold front can drop temperatures to 10°C (50°F), cold enough that you'll want long pants and a real jacket. Check the 10-day forecast before packing.
Booking a hotel solely based on the "Orlando" label without checking its actual location. A hotel in the Kissimmee corridor or on US-192 might be a 30-40 minute drive from Universal Studios, even though both are technically in the Orlando metro.
Skipping sunscreen on overcast March days. The UV index still reaches 6-7 through cloud cover in Central Florida, and a full day outdoors without protection will result in a burn that limits the rest of your trip.
Planning every day at theme parks and burning out by day 3. Mix in a springs visit, a morning at Leu Gardens, or a low-key afternoon in Winter Park. Orlando has more to offer than the parks, and the parks are more enjoyable when you're not exhausted.

Practical tips for March

Book theme park tickets and hotel reservations at least 6-8 weeks before your March travel dates. Spring Break pricing is in full effect all month, and the best-value properties fill early. Disney Lightning Lane and Universal Express Pass availability is limited in March, so factor that into your park strategy. For dining at sit-down restaurants inside Walt Disney World, reservations open 60 days in advance and popular spots fill within minutes. If you're driving, note that I-4 through the tourist corridor between exits 64 and 82 is under long-term construction through at least 2026, with frequent lane shifts and reduced speed limits. Give yourself an extra 20-30 minutes for any drive that crosses that stretch. Allergy sufferers should start antihistamines a day or two before arriving in Orlando, rather than waiting for symptoms to begin.

FAQ

Is March a good time to visit Orlando's theme parks?

March is a good time weather-wise, with highs around 27°C (80°F) and minimal rain. The tradeoff is Spring Break crowds, which push wait times to 90+ minutes at headline attractions and raise hotel rates 30-50% above average. If you can handle the crowds and the cost, the weather makes it one of the more comfortable months for full park days.

How crowded is Orlando in March compared to other months?

March is one of the 3-4 busiest months in Orlando, alongside late June, the week between Christmas and New Year's, and Thanksgiving week. The staggered Spring Break schedule means elevated crowd levels persist for the entire month rather than concentrating in a single week. Late January and early February are the quietest periods if you want to avoid the crowds entirely.

What should I wear in Orlando in March?

Lightweight, breathable clothing works for most of the month. Mornings and evenings cool to around 15°C (60°F), so bring a light jacket or hoodie for early park arrivals. A rain poncho is worth packing for the occasional afternoon shower. Comfortable walking shoes are more important than anything else if you're spending full days at the parks.

Can you still see manatees in Orlando in March?

Early March is typically the tail end of manatee season at Blue Spring State Park, about 45 minutes north of Orlando. Manatee numbers depend on river water temperature. As the St. Johns River warms through March, the manatees gradually disperse. Check the park's daily manatee count before making the drive. By late March, sightings are less reliable.

Is the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival worth visiting in March?

The festival's opening weeks in March are arguably the best time to go. The outdoor kitchens and garden installations are freshly set up, and lines at the food-and-drink stands are shorter than they'll be in April and May. The festival is included with regular Epcot admission, and the outdoor kitchen items are priced individually as you go.