Things to Do in Portland in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Portland
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Cherry blossoms start peeking along the waterfront - Waterfront Park's 100-plus Akebono trees usually blush the third week of March, giving you the first proper spring photos without the April crowds.
- + Restaurant Week lands mid-March, when 100+ Portland restaurants run three-course menus that normally book out months in advance - you can get reservations at places like Le Pigeon or Nostrana during this window.
- + The rain shadow effect kicks in - while the coast gets hammered, Portland proper sees more clear mornings than any month except September, good for 7 AM coffee runs to Stumptown's original location.
- + Hotel rates are still in shoulder-season territory - you're paying roughly 30% less than summer pricing, and the downtown core doesn't feel like an outdoor music festival with suitcases.
- − March weather in Portland is fickle - you might plan a Saturday farmers market run and wake up to sideways rain that clears by noon, leaving you damp and mildly annoyed.
- − The spring runoff turns the Willamette that particular shade of industrial chocolate, so if you were dreaming of those Instagram-worthy river photos, you'll need to wait for clearer water in late April.
- − Powell's City of Books gets slammed during spring break - the rare book room becomes a tourist photo backdrop rather than the quiet sanctuary locals know it can be.
Year-Round Climate
How March compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | 2 | 0.2 inches |
| Feb | 9 | 2 | 0.2 inches |
| Mar | 12 | 3 | 0.2 inches |
| Apr | 16 | 6 | 0.1 inches |
| May | 20 | 9 | 0.1 inches |
| Jun | 24 | 12 | 0.1 inches |
| Jul | 29 | 15 | 0.0 inches |
| Aug | 29 | 16 | 0.0 inches |
| Sep | 24 | 13 | 0.1 inches |
| Oct | 17 | 8 | 0.2 inches |
| Nov | 11 | 5 | 0.3 inches |
| Dec | 8 | 2 | 0.3 inches |
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March's cool mornings (around 5°C/41°F at 7 AM) make Forest Park's 130 km (80 miles) of trails runnable without the summer dehydration factor. The forest floor stays damp but not muddy, and you'll share the Wildwood Trail with maybe five other people instead of the summer hordes. The Douglas firs drip condensation that smells like Christmas and wet earth - it's what locals call 'forest bath weather.'
March is food cart weather - the carts at Alder Street and Cartopia stay open longer because operators aren't melting in summer heat. The steam from Korean bibimbap carts mixes with the smoke from wood-fired pizza ovens, creating that signature Portland aroma. Rain showers send everyone under the covered areas, sparking random conversations between strangers over Korean-Mexican fusion tacos.
March is when Portland's craft distilleries release their winter barrel-aged spirits - think Bull Run's 12-year single malt or Clear Creek's pear brandy made from last fall's harvest. The barrel rooms are 10°C (50°F) year-round, making tours comfortable even when it's drizzling outside. You'll smell the angel's share - that sweet, woody alcohol evaporating from the barrels - which hits different in March's cool air.
March cycling conditions are ideal - cool enough that you won't arrive at Breakside Brewery sweating through your flannel, and the eastside bike lanes aren't yet clogged with summer tourists. The 6 km (3.7 mile) Springwater Corridor ride from downtown to Cascade Barrel House takes you past houseboats and under bridges that smell like river water and creosote.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
PIFF runs the last two weeks of March at Cinema 21 and other venues, screening 100+ international films that haven't hit streaming yet. The festival crowd skews local - you'll overhear serious film nerds debating Iranian cinema over Nuvrei pastries between screenings.
The 40-year-old 5K/15K draws 35,000 runners in green everything. The course starts downtown and ends at Tom McCall Waterfront Park with beer gardens that smell like Guinness and kettle corn. Even non-runners come for the people-watching and pre-race carb-loading at Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen.
Packing Checklist
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Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Book Experiences in Portland
Top-rated things to do in Portland this March
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