Los Angeles
Los Angeles in March: what to expect
Yes — March is a good month for Los Angeles if you want mild, mostly dry days and lighter crowds than summer. Expect roughly 21 °C (70 °F) highs and 11 °C (52 °F) lows, occasional rain, and medium crowds and prices. Book outdoor plans early in the month and keep a wet-day backup.Yes — March is a good month for Los Angeles if you want mild, mostly dry days and lighter crowds than summer. Expect roughly 70 °F (21 °C) highs and 52 °F (11 °C) lows, occasional rain, and medium crowds and prices. Book outdoor plans early in the month and keep a wet-day backup.
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GuideLos Angeles
Key facts
- Verdict
- Go — mild days, medium crowds, medium prices
- Typical high / lowcheck
- About 21 °C / 11 °C (70 °F / 52 °F)
- Raincheck
- Around 5–6 wet days; March is one of the wetter months of the year
- Daylight
- About 12 hours; clocks move forward on the second Sunday (US daylight saving)
- Crowds
- Medium — spring break and school groups from mid-month
- Prices
- Medium — lower than June–August, higher than January–February
- Water and beachescheck
- Ocean about 15 °C; fine for walking, cold for swimming without a wetsuit
Weather in March
March sits at the tail of the Los Angeles rainy season. Most days are bright and dry, but a storm can still arrive and drop a day or two of steady rain. Daytime highs land near 21 °C (70 °F) and nights near 11 °C (52 °F) — a light jacket or sweater is useful after sunset, especially near the coast where the marine layer can keep mornings grey until late morning.
The ocean stays cold at roughly 15 °C, so March is a walking-the-beach month rather than a swimming one. Inland, the San Fernando Valley and the foothills run a few degrees warmer than Santa Monica or Long Beach. Snow remains possible in the San Gabriel Mountains above about 1,500 m, which occasionally closes the Angeles Crest Highway — check conditions before driving up.
| Measure | March | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Typical high | 21 °C / 70 °F | Coast a little cooler, valleys warmer (check) |
| Typical low | 11 °C / 52 °F | Cooler in the valleys and hills (check) |
| Wet days | About 5–6 | One of the wetter months; most days still dry (check) |
| Ocean temperature | About 15 °C / 59 °F | Wetsuit for long swims |
| Daylight | About 12 hours | Clocks go forward on the second Sunday |
Crowds and prices
March is a middle month for Los Angeles: quieter than summer, busier than January. The first half is the calmest window. From mid-month, spring break brings school groups and families, and hotel rates in Santa Monica, Hollywood and near Disneyland edge up on weekends.
Airfares and car hire are usually below summer levels, and theme parks are manageable on weekdays. If your dates are flexible, aim for the first ten days of March for the best combination of weather odds and price.
| Index (1–5) | March | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Crowds | 3 | Lower than June–August, higher than January |
| Prices | 3 | Below summer peak; weekend spikes from mid-month |
| Weather comfort | 4 | Mild days; rain is the main risk |
What's on in March
Los Angeles runs on its own calendar, so exact dates shift each year — confirm before booking around any single event.
The Academy Awards (Oscars) usually fall in March and bring road closures and hotel demand around Hollywood and Downtown. The LA Marathon closes streets from Dodger Stadium to the coast on its Sunday. St Patrick's Day parades and pub events run around 17 March, and the LA County Air Show at Fox Field in Lancaster is a mid-to-late March weekend. College basketball's March Madness fills sports bars and can push up hotel rates near venues.
- Academy Awards ceremony — Hollywood and Downtown closures (date varies; check)
- LA Marathon — street closures from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica (date varies; check)
- St Patrick's Day parades and events — around 17 March
- LA County Air Show, Lancaster — a March weekend (check)
- March Madness — bars and venues busy
Where to go in March
This is a strong month for the city's outdoor sights before summer heat and haze. Walk the Venice and Santa Monica beachfront, hike in Griffith Park to the observatory, and drive Mulholland Drive on a clear day for the valley-to-ocean view. The Getty Center and the Getty Villa are free to enter, with paid parking, and both work well on a showery day.
It is also a good window for day trips: the desert around Joshua Tree and Palm Springs is still comfortable in March, and Catalina Island is quiet and green. In the mountains, check road and snow conditions before heading up the Angeles Crest Highway.
- Venice and Santa Monica beachfront — best on a clear afternoon
- Griffith Park and the observatory — hike early, before the haze
- The Getty Center and Getty Villa — free entry, paid parking
- Joshua Tree and Palm Springs day trip — comfortable desert temperatures
- Catalina Island — quiet season, ferries running (check)
What to pack
Pack for two seasons in one day: a light jacket or sweater for evenings and coastal mornings, layers you can shed by midday, and a compact umbrella or rain shell for the odd storm. Comfortable walking shoes matter more than anything else in a city this spread out. Add sunscreen and sunglasses — the March sun is strong on clear days — and a refillable water bottle.
- Light jacket or sweater for evenings
- Compact umbrella or rain shell
- Layers for warm afternoons
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
Nearby months
February is cooler and wetter but the quietest month for hotel prices. April brings warmer, drier days and the start of the beach season, with crowds still moderate. May is one of the best all-round months — warm, mostly dry and bright, though the coast can stay grey in the morning. If your trip is flexible, April and May are the safer bets for outdoor plans.
Questions people ask
Is March a good time to visit Los Angeles?
Yes. Days are mild at about 21 °C, crowds and prices are medium, and most days are dry. Rain is the main risk, so keep a wet-day backup and book outdoor plans early in the month.
What is the weather like in Los Angeles in March?
Mild and mostly dry, with highs near 21 °C (70 °F) and lows near 11 °C (52 °F). Expect about 5–6 wet days, cooler coastal mornings and a cold ocean at roughly 15 °C.
What events happen in Los Angeles in March?
The Academy Awards usually fall in March, along with the LA Marathon, St Patrick's Day events around 17 March and the LA County Air Show in Lancaster. Dates shift each year, so confirm before booking around one.
Is March a busy month in Los Angeles?
It is medium. The first half is quieter; from mid-month spring break lifts weekend hotel rates in Santa Monica, Hollywood and near Disneyland.
Can you swim in the ocean in Los Angeles in March?
The water is about 15 °C, so most people walk the beach rather than swim. Surfers wear wetsuits year-round.
Deep dive
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