Joshua Tree National Park in March
March at Joshua Tree National Park averages a daytime high near 74°F and an overnight low around 49°F, with about 0.4" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 1.6× the park's average month, which makes March a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 49°F
- Average high
- 74°F
Range across the year: 40°F to 104°F
- Precipitation
- 0.4 in
- Daylight
- 11.7 hours
Roughly 14% of the park's yearly visitors come in March: about 392,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
It is the single busiest month of the year at Joshua Tree; July, the quietest, runs only about 0.6× the average — a 3-to-1 swing between high and low season.
On our Best Time to Visit score March rates 44/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is October: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season).
The daily average of about 62°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 18.6 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 15% 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 9.8-hour midwinter low and the 14.2-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 2,932,644 recreation visits, down 2% from 2,991,874 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 15%, so a March visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How March compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | 67°F / 44°F | 1.1× Average | 54 Fair |
| March | 74°F / 49°F | 1.6× Very busy | 44 Poor |
| April | 81°F / 55°F | 1.4× Busy | 63 Good |
All twelve months at Joshua Tree, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Joshua Tree in March
The National Park Service tags 46 Joshua Tree activities for spring. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Attend a Keys Ranch Tour · 90-120 minutes · reservation required
- Hike Arch Rock · 45-90 minutes
- Hike Fortynine Palms Oasis · 2-3 hours
- Hike Lost Palms Oasis · 4-6 hours
- Hike Panorama Loop Trail · 3-5 hours
- Hike Skull Rock · 1-2 hours
- Hike West Side Loop · 2-3 hours
- Rock Climbing at Echo T
Frequently Asked Questions
March averages a daytime high near 74°F and an overnight low around 49°F at Joshua Tree National Park, with about 0.4 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 18.6 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
March is very busy at Joshua Tree National Park (about 1.6× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 44/100. Our recommended month is October.
The busiest month is March and the quietest is July. March sits at about 1.6× the park's average, or 14% of annual visitation.
A typical March sees about 392,000 recreation visits at Joshua Tree National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Joshua Tree in March
Booking a March trip to Joshua Tree National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live March availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Joshua Tree
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 Joshua Tree in March?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Joshua Tree 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.