March marks the beginning of spring in NYC, and the city is buzzing with excitement for the warmer weather to come. It’s an excellent time to visit and indulge in sightseeing, shopping, museums, and nightlife.
However, the weather can be unpredictable, with frequent temperature drops throughout the day, causing it to get quite chilly. So, knowing what to pack is vitally important for enjoying your time during this month.
We’ve been living in NYC for over ten years and have found March to be a pretty cold month overall. Sometimes, it even snows at the beginning of the month.
We help you with essential tips:
- Packing overview
- Outfits / What to Wear (Women and Men)
- The Weather
SHOP NOW: Buy the latest TRENDY spring outfits on Amazon
In case you consider visiting the city during another spring month, make sure to check out our guides for:
Top Activities in March [Casual Clothing]
March Packing Overview
Tops
- Sun Protection : UPF 50+ Workout tops provides maximum sun protection against harmful ultraviolet rays.
- Built with Force technology to wick sweat and dry fast
- Athletic Slim Fit. For Regular fit Order Size Up. Merino Wool Socks ($21 Value!): The package includes merino...
- Long-sleeved base layers: These are essential for layering and can be dressed up or down. Consider packing a variety of colors and styles.
- Hoodies and sweaters: Ideal for chilly days. Opt for dark, solid colors that are easy to mix and match.
- T-shirts: Include a few short-sleeve options for warmer days or indoor activities.
- Button-up shirts or blouses: Perfect for a smart-casual look or evenings out.
- Cardigans: Lightweight and easy to carry, great for layering.
Jackets
- WATERPROOF& WINDPROOF RAINCOAT: This hooded rain jacket is made of super waterproof material, it's lightweight ,...
- [Pack & Go Convenience] — Designed for convenience, this light rain jacket women is easy to fold and store,...
- Packability and Portability: 33,000ft packable rain jacket women is super lightweight, with packable carrying...
- Warm coat: Essential for early March’s colder weather. Choose versatile colors like black or navy.
- Light jacket: For milder days. A denim or leather jacket can add style to your outfit.
- Rain jacket: A must-have for unpredictable spring showers.
Shoes
- The VL Court 3.0 Low Skateboarding Shoes combine a soft suede upper with lightweight cushioning that delivers...
- Chic Quilted Design: Features a stylish quilted faux leather upper that adds a touch of sophistication and texture...
- Comfortable sneakers: Dark colors to hide street dirt. Ideal for extensive walking.
- Water-resistant boots: Keep your feet dry during rainy days.
- Dress shoes or stylish boots: For evenings out or more formal occasions.
- Casual slip-ons or flats: For easier, relaxed days.
Pants
- Dokotoo womens casual high waisted long pants is made with high-quality fabric. Soft, lightweight and comfortable...
- Lightweight and Breathable: 100% cotton material is soft and skin-friendly, may be prone to wrinkles, can be ironed...
- Skin-friendly Material: Comfy wide leg pants are made from lightweight fabric. These wide leg pants offer a...
- Jeans: Versatile for both casual and dressier occasions.
- Joggers: Comfortable for casual wear or exercising.
- Chinos or dress pants: For a smart-casual look.
- Leggings or yoga pants: Comfortable options for women.
Accessories
- Tailored for Women - These small sling bags are specially designed for women. Made from high-quality pu leather,...
- The sling bag made with high-quality tear and water-resistant polyester material, which provides extra strength and...
- 【Durable Material】The cross body bag is made of vegan PU leather, which is comfortable, lightweight and water...
- Scarves: Both fashionable and practical for warmth.
- Hats and gloves: For colder days, especially early in the month.
- Sunglasses: For sunny days and style.
- Umbrella: Compact and essential for spring showers.
- Backpack or crossbody bag: For carrying essentials while exploring.
March Outfits | What to Wear
In March, wear layers and warm clothes. The first half of the month is colder, and it may even snow, while the second half of the month starts to warm up. Pack waterproof boots, jeans, long-sleeved base layers, hoodies or sweaters, a winter hat, gloves, and a warm coat.
This is a time of changing temperatures, with colder temperatures at the beginning of the month and at night. It usually rains quite a bit during the month and may even snow at the beginning of the month, so it’s important to pack waterproof boots to keep your feet dry and comfortable.
Wear a warm base layer and a coat, and pack an umbrella and poncho for rainy days. We wear beanies to keep our heads warm during this windy month. On milder days in March, you can wear a light jacket or hoodie instead of a winter coat.
Shoes
You will be walking a lot during your trip to New York City, so pack comfortable walking sneakers. March tends to be a rainy month, and may even be sleet or snow, so also bring waterproof boots to keep your feet dry.
Women’s Outfit Tips
For ladies visiting New York City in March, pack layers of clothing, including a coat, long-sleeved shirts, hoodies or sweaters, jeans, waterproof boots, a beanie, and sneakers for walking. If you are coming in the first half of the month, pack gloves for cold weather.
It is a chilly time, especially within the first week or two. Thus, you’ll want to stay warm and dry and have layers for extra protection on wet, windy, and cold days and nights. Almost half of the month may be rainy, so bring waterproof boots, an umbrella, and a poncho.
Tops
As the weather changes and shifts during this time in NYC, wearing layers will help you stay comfortable at any temperature. Wear a long-sleeved base layer that you can dress up or dress down.
Add a hoodie or sweater for windy, chilly days. We like to wear dark, solid colors for fashionable tops that you can mix and match.
Jacket
March is a chilly time in the city, so a warm jacket is important. For cooler weather at the beginning of the month, a coat is your best bet.
For milder days, a jacket and layered tops will be enough to stay comfortable. We often wear black or dark coats and jackets for versatile style options and a clean look. Check out our recommendations above for suggestions.
Shoes
New York is a walking city, so you’ll need comfortable shoes so you can see all the best attractions without getting sore feet (check out our tips on where to go at the end of this article!).
For sneakers, you pack comfortable shoes in dark colors as they will be less likely to show dirt from the city streets. March in NYC tends to be rainy and chilly, so a pair of water-resistant boots will keep your feet dry and comfortable when it rains.
Pants
Jeans are versatile pants that you can dress up with a nice sweater and boots or dress down with a hoodie and sneakers. We like to wear jeans in New York City for chilly days and nights during this month.
If you plan on working out during your trip or want some comfy pants for casual days, joggers are a good option.
Accessories
March is windy and chilly in New York City, so you will need a beanie to keep your head warm. If you are coming to the city in the first half of the month, pack gloves for colder nights and possible snow days. You will also need an umbrella for rainy days.
For going out at night, bring a purse or small bag. During the day, you may need a larger bag for carrying water, your wallet, your phone, and hand sanitizer.
Additionally, we highly recommend a bag with anti-theft features (see our recommendation above) to keep your belongings safe in the city!
Men Outfit Tips
For men traveling to New York City in March, pack layers, water-resistant boots, a coat, and a beanie. If you are visiting during the first half of the month, you may need gloves, but only for cold nights or potential snow days. You’ll also need comfortable walking shoes for exploring the city on foot.
Tops
March weather in New York City can be windy and cold, but there may be warmer days as well, especially at the end of the month. Wear layers to stay comfortable, including a long-sleeved shirt as a base layer and a hoodie or sweater on top.
A warm or at least medium coat is perfect for colder days and nights, and a light jacket will keep you warm on milder days.
Coat
March weather can be chilling and rainy so bring a warm coat and rain gear, including an umbrella and poncho. We like to wear puffer coats in NYC, and they’re great for traveling as you can easily pack them into small spaces.
Jeans
Jeans are versatile and warm, and you can pair them with a hoodie for a casual look or add a sweater to dress up more.
Rain Gear
Be prepared for rainy, chilly days and nights in March with a beanie, umbrella, poncho, and waterproof boots. If you are coming in early March, you may also need gloves.
Shoes
Pack waterproof boots for your March trip to this city. A comfortable pair of water-resistant boots will help keep your feet dry and toasty even on wet days and cold nights. For mild days, you can wear some comfortable sneakers.
Weather
March is a chilly month in New York City, with the earlier part of the month being colder than later in the month when the springtime temperatures begin to appear. It’s best to wear layers for your trip so you can stay warm on cold days and take off layers when it warms up.
Here are the average high temperatures:
- Early March: 46°F (8°C)
- Mid-March: 50°F (10°C)
- Late March: 55°F (13°C)
A Typical Day
A typical day during this month here is windy, and it may even snow in early March. Wearing layers and a coat will help you stay cozy on cold days, and you can always take off layers if the temperatures warm up.
The beginning of the month tends to be colder than later in March when spring temperatures will begin to hit.
It’s a time when the weather can vary a lot, but the warmest time of day is usually in the afternoon, with temperatures dropping at night after the sun goes down. At night time, you will want a warm jacket or a coat, and you may want a beanie to keep your head warm from the wind.
💡 One of the most important pieces of clothing you’ll need for your New York City trip is comfortable shoes. We will go into more detail on shoes later.
Daily temperature progression on a typical day:
- Morning (8 AM): 41°F
- Afternoon (3 PM): 50°F
- Evening (10 PM): 44°F
Rain
March is a rainy time in NYC, with an average of 12 days of precipitation. In early March, there may be rain or sleet mixed with snow, so pack warm waterproof boots if you will be visiting the city within the first two weeks.
For any time during this month, you will need some rain gear, including an umbrella, rain boots, and a waterproof jacket.
Snow
It does not snow a lot in March here, but there are an average of 2 snow days during the month, usually in the first half of the month. So, even if the chance is low, don’t be surprised when it snows.
💡 You will need weatherproof boots for rain and possibly snow, so make sure you bring waterproof boots that have good traction and are comfortable for walking.
We also wear hats and gloves on snow days, so if you come in the first half of the month, I recommend winter accessories.