Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in March
March at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine averages a daytime high near 55°F and an overnight low around 39°F, with about 3.9" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.7× the park's average month, which makes March a quiet month here.
- Average low
- 39°F
- Average high
- 55°F
Range across the year: 30°F to 90°F
- Precipitation
- 3.9 in
- Daylight
- 11.7 hours
Roughly 6% of the park's yearly visitors come in March: about 28,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes March the 8th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (1.4×) and the January low (0.3×).
On our Best Time to Visit score March rates 49/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 47°F is cool, so layers and a shorter daylight window matter. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 35% of annual visitors, choosing March instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 11.7 hours of daylight in March to explore — between the 9.2-hour midwinter low and the 14.8-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2024 drew 394,175 recreation visits, down 8.3% from 429,967 in 2023.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 47.4%, so March may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
How March compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 47°F / 32°F | 0.4× Very quiet | 51 Fair |
| March | 55°F / 39°F | 0.7× Quiet | 49 Fair |
| April | 67°F / 48°F | 1.3× Busy | 43 Poor |
All twelve months at Fort McHenry, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Fort McHenry in March
The National Park Service tags 16 Fort McHenry activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Battle of Baltimore · 45-60 minutes
- Flag Change Programs · 10-15 minutes
- Flag Talk · 20-30 minutes
- Ranger's Choice Programs · 25-45 minutes
- War in the Chesapeake · 30-45 minutes
- Become a Fort McHenry Jr. Ranger · 1 hour
- Fort McHenry Audio Tours · 45-90 minutes
- Ride Your Bike at Fort McHenry
Frequently Asked Questions
March averages a daytime high near 55°F and an overnight low around 39°F at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, with about 3.9 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 2 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
March is quiet at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (about 0.7× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 49/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. March sits at about 0.7× the park's average, or 6% of annual visitation.
A typical March sees about 28,000 recreation visits at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Fort McHenry in March
Booking a March trip to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live March availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Fort McHenry
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Visiting Fort McHenry in March?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Fort McHenry by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in March.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.