Yosemite in March: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Best window · VisitWhen score 73/100 · #2 of 12 months

March is one of the best months of the year to visit Yosemite National Park: crowds run 25% of the August peak (136,081 average visits). Weather: highs average 57°F and lows 34°F, with 5.5″ of precipitation and 11.9 hours of daylight. Roads and services are only partly open this month — see the access note below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Yosemite in March: what the park service says

In March, Yosemite's high country is still closed to cars: the park service says Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are usually shut for snow from November until late May or early June, with plowing updates starting April 15. You can still reach Yosemite Valley on the roads that stay open all year, including Wawona Road (Highway 41), El Portal Road (Highway 140) and Big Oak Flat Road, but tire chains may be required through early spring, so carry them.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in March

Yosemite averages 136,081 recreation visits in March — 25% of what August, the peak month, draws — this is the third-quietest month of the year. That crowd level sets the tone for parking, permits and lodging — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Weather & daylight

Daytime stays cool (highs average 57°F), and mornings are chilly (lows average 34°F). This is one of the wetter months (5.5″ of precipitation on average). Mid-month daylight runs 11.9 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station YOSEMITE PARK HQ, CA US (3 mi from park coordinates, 4,018 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of March.

What to pack for Yosemite in March

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

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 34°F
• Rain shell + pack cover — 5.5″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 5.5″ of precipitation is normal this month

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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