Olympic in March: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 64/100 · #5 of 12 months

March is a quiet month with trade-offs at Olympic National Park: crowds run 21% of the August peak (133,353 average visits). Weather: highs average 51°F and lows 36°F, with 17.2″ of precipitation and 11.8 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Crowds in March

Olympic averages 133,353 recreation visits in March — 21% of what August, the peak month, draws. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Weather & daylight

Days are cool (highs average 51°F), and mornings are chilly (lows average 36°F). This is one of the wetter months (17.2″ of precipitation on average). Mid-month daylight runs 11.8 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station QUINAULT 4 NE, WA US (13 mi from park coordinates, 286 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of March.

What to pack for Olympic in March

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 36°F
• Rain shell + pack cover — 17.2″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 17.2″ of rain is normal this month

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If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Olympic are April and May.

Also at their best in March

Other parks whose computed March verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• Great Basin in March — 10% of peak crowds, highs 48°F, score 81/100
• Shenandoah in March — 23% of peak crowds, highs 55°F, score 78/100
• Wind Cave in March — 15% of peak crowds, highs 50°F, score 78/100
• Mesa Verde in March — 17% of peak crowds, highs 47°F, score 77/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in March · Last verified 2026-09-24