March in Seattle is the month when winter starts to loosen its grip, though it hasn't let go yet. Daytime highs hover around 10.9°C (52°F), nights still dip to 4°C (39°F), and you'll see roughly 98mm of rain spread across 15 days. That said, the light is shifting. After months of 4:30pm sunsets, daylight stretches past 7pm by month's end, and that psychological lift matters more than any thermometer reading. You'll notice Seattleites emerging from hibernation, filling the sidewalk tables outside cafes in Fremont and Capitol Hill even when it's 9°C and drizzling. The city feels like it's waking up.
The real draw of a March visit tends to be the end of the month, when the Yoshino cherry trees in the University of Washington Quad reach peak bloom. On good years, the canopy turns the Quad into a pale-pink tunnel, and the photos draw thousands of visitors over a 10-day window. Emerald City Comic Con fills the Washington State Convention Center in early March, pulling over 100,000 attendees across 4 days. Between those two anchors, March has more going on than most people expect from Seattle's off-season.
To be fair, this is still a wet, cool month. You will get rained on. The rain tends to arrive as a persistent drizzle rather than downpours, the kind that soaks through cotton in 20 minutes without ever seeming dramatic enough to justify an umbrella. If you need sunshine to enjoy a trip, wait until July. But if you're comfortable in layers and don't mind gray skies, March offers lower hotel rates, shorter lines at Pike Place Market, and a city that feels more like itself than it does when 3 million summer tourists arrive.
Why visit in March
- Hotel rates in downtown Seattle typically run well below July-August peaks, and weekday availability tends to be generous enough that you rarely need to book more than a few days ahead.
- The University of Washington cherry blossoms in the Quad reach peak bloom in late March most years, creating one of the Pacific Northwest's best free spectacles.
- Lines at popular spots like Pike Place Market, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the Space Needle are noticeably shorter than summer, with wait times often half what you'd face in August.
- Daylight increases by nearly 90 minutes over the course of March, from about 11.5 hours on March 1 to over 13 hours by March 31, making evenings feel dramatically longer than the dark winter months.
- Emerald City Comic Con in early March brings a specific energy to the city. Even if you're not attending, the cosplay spilling out onto Pike Street and into nearby bars is its own free entertainment.
Worth knowing
- Rain falls on roughly 15 of 31 days, and the persistent low overcast at 80% humidity means your clothes, hair, and shoes feel perpetually damp. Cotton is your enemy here.
- Temperatures rarely break 13°C (55°F), which rules out comfortable outdoor dining, beach trips to Alki, or any activity where you'd want to sit still outside for more than 30 minutes.
- Mountain passes to popular day-trip destinations like Leavenworth or the North Cascades are still snow-covered and occasionally closed. Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass require chains or AWD through most of March.
- The San Juan Islands ferry schedule still runs on its reduced winter timetable through March, limiting one of the region's best day trips to fewer departure options.
Best for
Think twice if
March in Seattle feels like a long, slow exhale after winter. The rain eases from January's 171mm and February's 109mm down to 98mm, though 15 rainy days means you'll still see drizzle more often than not. The rain here tends to be a fine mist that locals call "the Seattle gray." It rarely pours. Mornings often start with low clouds sitting on the tops of Capitol Hill and Queen Anne, burning off by midday on good days, sometimes not at all. Temperatures sit in a narrow band, with highs around 10.9°C (52°F) and lows near 4.0°C (39°F). Frost is possible in the first half of the month, especially in neighborhoods farther from the water like Maple Leaf or Wedgwood. Humidity hovers at 80%, which makes the cold feel damper than the number suggests. Wind off Elliott Bay adds a chill factor on the waterfront. You might get 2 or 3 genuinely pleasant afternoons where the sun breaks through and temperatures reach 14-15°C (57-59°F). Those days, the city transforms. People fill Gas Works Park, the Olympic Sculpture Park, and every south-facing patio in Ballard.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | 3 | 171 |
| Feb | 8 | 2 | 109 |
| Mar | 11 | 4 | 98 |
| Apr | 13 | 6 | 73 |
| May | 17 | 9 | 56 |
| Jun | 21 | 12 | 48 |
| Jul | 25 | 15 | 7 |
| Aug | 25 | 15 | 31 |
| Sep | 21 | 13 | 50 |
| Oct | 15 | 9 | 111 |
| Nov | 10 | 6 | 172 |
| Dec | 8 | 4 | 201 |
Headline events
University of Washington Cherry Blossom Season
Late March (typically March 20-31, weather dependent)
The Yoshino cherry trees in the UW Quad typically reach peak bloom in the last 10 days of March, turning the Liberal Arts Quadrangle into a canopy of pale pink. The 30 trees were planted in 1962, and peak bloom draws thousands of visitors daily for roughly a week. The timing shifts year to year depending on winter temperatures. Photographers, families, and graduation-portrait seekers crowd the Quad from sunrise to sunset during peak days. The blossoms are free to visit and open 24 hours.
Best things to do in March
Cherry Blossom Viewing at the UW Quad
natureThe Liberal Arts Quadrangle at the University of Washington holds 30 Yoshino cherry trees planted in 1962. When they hit peak bloom in late March, the courtyard becomes a pale-pink canopy that draws thousands of daily visitors. The bloom window typically lasts 7-10 days. Arrive before 9am on weekdays to have the Quad relatively to yourself. The light is best in the first 2 hours after sunrise, when the blossoms glow against the Gothic-style brick buildings.
Peak bloom of the Yoshino cherries falls in the last 10 days of March most years, making this a narrow seasonal window.Booking tipFree and open 24 hours. Parking on campus fills early during peak bloom, so take the Link Light Rail to the UW station and walk 10 minutes north.
Pike Place Market Without the Crowds
cultureSeattle's 117-year-old public market runs 9 blocks along the waterfront and houses over 200 independent vendors. In March, the foot traffic drops enough that you can actually stop at the fish-throwing counter, browse the lower-level shops, and eat at the Market Grill without standing in a 40-minute line. The flower vendors have early daffodils and tulips from the Skagit Valley farms, and the craft stalls in the North Arcade feel browsable rather than claustrophobic.
Summer draws roughly 10 million annual visitors to Pike Place. March's lower foot traffic makes the experience feel closer to a neighborhood market than a tourist attraction.Booking tipGo before 10am on weekdays for the emptiest aisles. The flower vendors and fish stalls open first.
Emerald City Comic Con
entertainmentECCC fills the Washington State Convention Center across 4 days in early March. Over 100,000 attendees come for panels with comic artists, screenwriters, and voice actors, plus a show floor packed with independent publishers, cosplay meetups, and tabletop gaming. The convention spills into downtown Seattle, with themed pop-up bars and restaurants running specials tied to the event. Worth noting, even non-attendees can catch free cosplay spotting along Pike Street.
ECCC is scheduled annually for the first weekend of March, making it the month's largest organized event.Booking tip4-day passes typically sell out weeks before the event. Single-day Saturday passes go fastest. Book downtown accommodation early if you want to walk to the Convention Center.
Skagit Valley Tulip Preview
natureThe full Skagit Valley Tulip Festival kicks off April 1, but late March offers a preview as early-blooming fields start showing color along Best Road and McLean Road near La Conner, about 95km north of Seattle. The advantage of visiting before the official festival is fewer cars on the narrow farm roads and no admission fees at most fields. The fields sit flat in the Skagit River delta, with the North Cascades as a snow-capped backdrop on clear days.
Early-blooming tulip varieties begin opening in the last week of March, offering a preview window before the April crowds arrive.Booking tipDrive north on I-5 and exit at Conway or La Conner. Weekday mornings see almost no traffic on the farm roads.
Olympic Sculpture Park Walk
artThe Seattle Art Museum's free outdoor sculpture park stretches 3.6 hectares along the Elliott Bay waterfront in the Belltown neighborhood. In March, the park's native plantings start greening up, and the lower visitor count means you can linger at Alexander Calder's Eagle or Richard Serra's Wake without weaving through tour groups. On clear March afternoons, the views across Elliott Bay to the Olympic Mountains are sharper than in summer's haze.
March's intermittent sun and fewer visitors make the waterfront walk more contemplative than the crowded summer version. The lower-angle spring light hits the sculptures differently.Booking tipFree and open daily from sunrise to sunset. Enter from Western Avenue and Broad Street.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
artDale Chihuly's permanent exhibition sits at the base of the Space Needle and holds 8 interior galleries plus an outdoor garden filled with blown-glass sculptures nestled among live plantings. March's overcast skies actually benefit the interior Glasshouse, where the 12m-tall suspended sculpture glows under diffused natural light rather than competing with direct sun. The garden pieces, surrounded by early spring plantings, photograph well against gray clouds.
Shorter lines in March mean you can spend more time in each gallery without being shuffled through. The diffused light from overcast skies enhances the color saturation of the glass.Booking tipBook timed entry online to skip the walk-up line. Late afternoon on weekdays is typically the quietest window.
Brewery Hopping in Ballard
food_drinkBallard's brewing district runs along 14th Avenue NW and Leary Way, with over a dozen craft breweries within a 15-minute walk of each other. March is when many release their spring seasonal beers. Stoup Brewing, Reuben's Brews, and Obec Brewing all have heated indoor taprooms that make rainy-day hopping comfortable. The neighborhood's industrial-block layout means you can hit 4 or 5 breweries in an afternoon without needing a rideshare.
Spring seasonal releases hit taps in March, and the low tourist season means taproom seating is easy to find without reservations.Booking tipNo reservations needed at most Ballard taprooms. Start at the north end of 14th Ave NW and work south.
What to eat in March
On menus now
Dungeness Crab
The commercial Dungeness season runs through spring, and March is still prime time. Whole crabs show up steamed at waterfront restaurants and stacked on ice at Pike Place Market fish vendors. The meat tends to be sweet and firm this time of year, with the crabs having had months to fill out their shells after the fall molt. Pure Seafood at Pike Place and Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar in Capitol Hill both serve them whole or as crab rolls.
Spot Prawns
The early spring spot prawn season brings these large, sweet crustaceans to Pike Place Market and restaurant menus across the city. They're usually served simply, either raw as sashimi or quickly sautéed in butter, because the flavor is clean and delicate enough to carry the dish. They sell out fast at the market, so morning visits give you the best selection.
In markets
Pacific Oysters
Willapa Bay and Hood Canal oysters hit peak condition in the cooler months, and March is the tail end of that prime window. Shucked raw, they carry a briny, cucumber-like flavor that's distinct from East Coast varieties. The Walrus and the Carpenter in Ballard and Taylor Shellfish in Pioneer Square move through hundreds daily. You'll also find them grilled with garlic butter at Elliot's Oyster House on the waterfront.
Stinging Nettle
Wild nettles appear at farmers markets around the Puget Sound region in March, and Seattle chefs tend to fold them into pasta, soups, and pestos. The leaves have a green, earthy flavor somewhere between spinach and mineral-rich seaweed. Look for nettle ravioli and nettle soup at farm-to-table restaurants in Ballard and Fremont. The University District Farmers Market on Saturday mornings is a reliable spot to find bunches from local foragers.
Regular events in March
Emerald City Comic Con
The Pacific Northwest's largest pop-culture convention fills the Washington State Convention Center with over 100,000 attendees across 4 days of panels, cosplay, tabletop gaming, and artist showcases.
First weekend of March (Thursday-Sunday)Seattle Restaurant Week (Spring Edition)
Dozens of restaurants across the city offer prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus, giving visitors a chance to try higher-end spots at reduced rates. Participating restaurants span neighborhoods from Capitol Hill to Georgetown.
Mid-March (varies by year)Seattle Irish FestivalFree
Held at the Seattle Center in the days surrounding St. Patrick's Day on March 17, the festival features traditional Irish music sessions, dance performances, and cultural workshops. The surrounding bars in Lower Queen Anne run their own St. Patrick's Day programming.
Weekend nearest March 17University District Farmers MarketFree
The year-round Saturday morning market at the University Heights Center carries early-spring produce including nettles, overwintered greens, and the first rhubarb of the season from Skagit Valley farms.
Every Saturday, 9am-2pmBest places this March
University of Washington Quad
natureThe Liberal Arts Quadrangle holds 30 Yoshino cherry trees that peak in late March. The Gothic-revival brick buildings frame the canopy. Arrive before 9am on weekdays.
University DistrictPike Place Market
marketSeattle's 117-year-old public market feels most like a neighborhood institution in March, when the summer crowds haven't arrived. The flower stalls carry Skagit Valley daffodils and early tulips.
DowntownGas Works Park
parkThe former gasification plant sits on a hill above Lake Union with skyline views to the south. On the 2-3 sunny March afternoons, the hillside fills with locals soaking in the unexpected warmth.
WallingfordMuseum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
museumFrank Gehry's crumpled-metal building at Seattle Center houses rotating exhibits on music, sci-fi, and gaming culture. March's lower attendance means more time with the Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana collections.
Lower Queen AnneOlympic Sculpture Park
artThe Seattle Art Museum's free 3.6-hectare waterfront park features large-scale sculptures with Elliott Bay and Olympic Mountain views. The native garden plantings start greening up in March.
BelltownCapitol Hill
neighborhoodSeattle's densest neighborhood for restaurants, bars, and independent shops runs along Pike and Pine streets east of downtown. The coffee culture here is deep, with roasters like Victrola and Stumptown within 2 blocks of each other.
Capitol HillBallard Brewery District
food_drinkOver a dozen craft breweries cluster along 14th Avenue NW and Leary Way. March brings spring seasonal releases and easy taproom seating without the summer wait times.
BallardKerry Park
viewpointThe 1.2-acre pocket park on West Highland Drive offers the classic Seattle postcard view: the Space Needle against the downtown skyline with Mount Rainier behind it. Clear March evenings, rare as they are, produce some of the best photo conditions of the year.
Queen Anne
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Insider tips
The UW Quad cherry blossoms are tracked obsessively by local photographers. Follow the UW Botanic Gardens social media accounts for real-time bloom updates, because peak can shift by 2 weeks depending on winter temperatures.
Pike Place Market has a lower level (the DownUnder shops) that most tourists skip entirely. The stairways near the main arcade lead to vintage poster shops, small galleries, and a magic shop that's been there since the 1970s.
If you want the Emerald City Comic Con experience without a badge, the bars and restaurants on Pike Street between 7th and 9th Avenues fill with cosplayers all weekend. Unicorn and Rhein Haus both tend to become unofficial afterparty spots.
The Link Light Rail runs from Sea-Tac Airport to the University of Washington in about 50 minutes with no transfers. It's the cheapest and most reliable way to get between the airport and downtown or Capitol Hill, and March ridership is low enough that you'll likely get a seat with luggage.
For the best Seattle skyline photo with Mount Rainier, check the weather for a clear evening and head to Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill. March's lower sun angle puts warm light on the skyline in the hour before sunset. On overcast days, skip it. The view without Rainier is less remarkable.
The Ballard Locks (Hiram M. Chittenden Locks) are free to visit year-round and see boat traffic even in March. The fish ladder viewing windows are less interesting this time of year since salmon runs peak in summer and fall, but watching the locks operate is still worth 30 minutes.
Avoid these mistakes
- Packing only cotton layers. Seattle's 80% humidity and persistent drizzle soak cotton quickly, and it won't dry. Wool and synthetics handle the climate far better.
- Assuming all hiking trails are accessible. Trails above roughly 900m in the Cascades remain snow-packed through March. Popular destinations like Lake Serene, Snow Lake, and Colchuck Lake require snowshoes or microspikes if they're reachable at all.
- Booking a hotel downtown during Emerald City Comic Con weekend without realizing the convention is happening. Rates near the Washington State Convention Center spike for that 4-day window, and rooms sell out early.
- Relying on the San Juan Islands ferry for a spontaneous day trip. The winter schedule, which runs through March, has fewer daily departures from Anacortes, and walk-on spots can fill on weekends.
- Trying to visit Mount Rainier National Park without checking road conditions. The road to Paradise, the main visitor area, may still be partially closed or require chains through most of March. Call the park's recorded road conditions line before driving the 2.5 hours from Seattle.
Practical tips for March
March weather in Seattle changes block by block and hour by hour. Check the forecast, but expect it to be wrong by afternoon. Dress in layers you can adjust on the move, because you might start the morning in 6°C fog in Pioneer Square and hit 13°C sun by the time you walk to Capitol Hill. The Link Light Rail and King County Metro buses cover most visitor destinations without needing a car. ORCA cards work on both systems and the Washington State Ferries to Bainbridge Island, which makes a good half-day trip even in March. If you're renting a car for mountain day trips, verify pass conditions on the WSDOT website before leaving. Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie Pass both require traction tires or chains on many March days, and the WSDOT cameras give you a real-time look at road conditions. Restaurant reservations are easier to get than in summer, but popular spots like Canlis, the Walrus and the Carpenter, and Bateau still fill on Friday and Saturday evenings. Book 3-5 days ahead for weekend dinners at high-demand restaurants.
FAQ
When do the University of Washington cherry blossoms typically peak in March?
The Yoshino cherry trees in the UW Quad typically reach peak bloom in the last 10 days of March, though the exact timing shifts year to year based on winter and early-spring temperatures. Some years peak has come as early as March 18, others as late as the first week of April. Follow the UW Botanic Gardens for real-time updates. The bloom window lasts roughly 7-10 days once it starts.
Is March a good time to visit Seattle on a budget?
March is one of the more affordable months to visit Seattle. Hotel rates and short-term rental prices sit well below the July-August peak, and availability is generally loose enough that you don't need to book weeks in advance. The main exception is the first weekend of March, when Emerald City Comic Con fills downtown hotels and pushes rates up for that 4-day window.
How rainy is Seattle in March compared to winter?
March is noticeably drier than the deepest winter months. January averages around 171mm, February about 109mm, and March drops to roughly 98mm. That said, rain still falls on about 15 of 31 days. The difference is that March rain tends to be lighter and more intermittent, with occasional afternoon breaks, while January delivers longer stretches of unbroken gray.
Can I hike in the mountains near Seattle in March?
Low-elevation trails in the foothills and around Puget Sound are accessible in March. Popular options like Rattlesnake Ledge (740m elevation), Twin Falls near North Bend, and the trails in Discovery Park within Seattle itself are typically clear. Anything above roughly 900m in the Cascades likely requires snowshoes or microspikes, and many trailhead access roads are still gated. Check the Washington Trails Association trip reports for current conditions.
What should I wear in Seattle in March?
A waterproof shell jacket is the single most important piece. Layer it over a fleece or wool mid-layer for warmth, and wear waterproof shoes since sidewalks stay wet most of the month. Avoid cotton base layers, as they absorb moisture in Seattle's 80% humidity and feel cold quickly. A compact umbrella is optional but appreciated on the heavier rain days.
Is it worth visiting Pike Place Market in March?
March is arguably one of the better months to visit Pike Place Market. The summer crowds, which can make the main arcade feel like a slow-moving conveyor belt, drop off significantly. You can actually stop at vendor stalls, watch the fish throwers without craning over 6 rows of people, and grab a seat at the Market Grill or Beecher's without a long wait. The flower vendors carry early-spring Skagit Valley daffodils and tulips, and the lower-level shops see almost no foot traffic.
Things to Do in Seattle in March
Free cancellation Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market
City tour — 2 hours, free cancellation.
via Viator
Free cancellation Mt. Rainier National Park Highlights Tour
Outdoor experience — free cancellation.
via Viator
Free cancellation Seattle City Highlights Tour
City tour — 3 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Seattle's Original Guided Harbor Cruise
Cruise — 1 hour, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Mt. Rainier Day Tour from Seattle
Day trip — free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Seattle City and Snoqualmie Falls Half-Day Guided Tour
Outdoor experience — 4 hours, free cancellation.
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