United States, North America
Alaska in March
The Iditarod starts and aurora viewing around the equinox is excellent. Everything summer-related remains closed.
The straight answer
March is a month to think twice about visiting Alaska. The Iditarod starts and aurora viewing around the equinox is excellent. Everything summer-related remains closed.
- Weather
- Cold and sunny; Anchorage highs near 34F (1C)
- Crowds
- 1 of 5
- Prices
- 1 of 5
What March is like in Alaska
March is cold and often sunny. Anchorage highs reach about 34F (1C), and daylight grows quickly. The Iditarod starts in early March with a ceremonial start in Anchorage, and aurora viewing around the equinox is excellent. Everything summer-related is still closed, and prices and crowds stay low.
This month is not for a classic summer trip, but it is one of the best winter months. It suits travelers who want the Iditarod, the northern lights, and bright, snowy days. For wildlife and glacier cruises, plan for June through August instead.
Make the most of March
What is especially good about Alaska this month.
The Iditarod start
The famous thousand-mile sled dog race begins in early March with a festive ceremonial start in Anchorage.
Equinox auroras
The weeks around the spring equinox are known for strong aurora activity. Fairbanks is the best base.
Sunny winter days
Longer daylight and bright snow make March a good month for dog sledding and winter walks.
What to pack for March
- An insulated parka and snow pants
- Snow boots with good traction
- Sunglasses for snow glare
- Warm layers for long evenings outside
Our timing tip
Book Anchorage hotels early for the Iditarod start weekend, then head north to Fairbanks for aurora nights.
Book Alaska for March.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for March
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in AlaskaOpens a hotel search for Alaska in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in AlaskaWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in AlaskaTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Alaska for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
What's on in March
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Starts on the first Saturday of March in Anchorage, with the winners reaching Nome roughly eight to ten days later
About a thousand miles of Alaska wilderness by dog team, from a street party in Anchorage to a burled arch in Nome.
Aurora season
Late August through April, best on clear dark nights around the equinoxes
Fairbanks and the Interior offer some of Earth's most dependable aurora odds, given patience and clear skies.
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Starts in early March
The famous thousand-mile race begins with a ceremonial start in Anchorage. The surrounding week is winter Alaska at its most festive.
Things to do in Alaska
Denali National Park
Private cars are barred beyond the road's first stretch; park transit and tour buses run roughly late May to mid September, and that is the season. Book buses and nearby lodging early.
Kenai Fjords glacier-and-whale cruise from Seward
Day boats run roughly May through September to calving tidewater glaciers, with whales, otters, and puffins en route. Dress for 20 degrees colder than Anchorage.
Bear viewing at Brooks Falls or Lake Clark
Fly-in day trips put you at close, managed range from wild brown bears. July is the famous salmon-run peak at Brooks Falls; book far ahead.
The Alaska Railroad
The Anchorage-to-Denali and Anchorage-to-Seward runs are two of the world's great train rides, operating on a summer-heavy schedule with limited winter service.
An Inside Passage cruise
Glacier Bay, whales, and roadless towns like Juneau and Ketchikan. The season runs roughly late April to October; May and September sailings cost less.
Matanuska Glacier and the Glenn Highway
A day-trip-scale taste of glacier country from Anchorage, with guided glacier walks available in season.
Beat the crowds
- Shift to the shoulders: the first half of June or the last week of August into early September delivers most of peak Alaska with noticeably fewer people and better prices.
- In cruise towns, the crowd is the ship schedule. Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan swell by thousands at midday, so do town sights before 10am or after 4pm and spend midday on a trail or the water.
- Book the bottlenecks first: Denali buses, Brooks Falls lodging and flights, and Kenai Fjords boats sell out for peak July weeks months in advance, while the rest of the trip can be planned around them.
- Drive-it-yourself Alaska beats the package-tour flow: the Kenai Peninsula, the Glenn Highway, and Hatcher Pass are spectacular and largely ignored by the motorcoach circuit.
Know before you go
- Most of tourist Alaska effectively closes from October to April. Wilderness lodges, glacier day boats, seasonal hotels, and many restaurants in cruise towns shut entirely, and skeleton winter schedules replace summer transport.
- Denali's park road runs on a hard season: transit and tour buses operate roughly late May to mid September, and private vehicles are barred beyond the first stretch of road year-round. Note also that a landslide has closed part of the road in recent years, so check the park's current road status when planning.
- Cruise season runs roughly late April to October. Outside it, ships are gone and the most ship-dependent towns, Skagway above all, go into hibernation with many businesses shuttered.
- Winter is not closed everywhere: Anchorage and Fairbanks function fully year-round, and Fairbanks builds a real winter economy around aurora tourism, dog mushing, and the Chena Hot Springs road.
Alaska in March, quick answers
Is March a good time to visit Alaska?
March is a month to think twice about visiting Alaska. The Iditarod starts and aurora viewing around the equinox is excellent. Everything summer-related remains closed.
What is the weather like in Alaska in March?
Cold and sunny; Anchorage highs near 34F (1C).
Is Alaska crowded in March?
March is one of the quieter months in Alaska; most sights can be done without long waits.
What is happening in Alaska in March?
Aurora season (late august through april, best on clear dark nights around the equinoxes); Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (starts in early march).
Keep planning Alaska.
The months either side, and the best one if this is not it.
- 01Alaska in FebruaryThe month before: Cold and brightening; Anchorage highs near 27F (-3C)Think twice
- 02Alaska in AprilThe month after: Breakup season; Anchorage highs near 44F (7C), melting and mudThink twice
- 03Alaska in JuneThe next best month: Long mild days, highs near 63F (17C), light past midnight up northBest
Also at their best in March
Before you book.
Sort these two things first.
Sponsored links. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Visit Faye
Travel insurance.
FayeA missed connection, a bag that never turns up, a hospital abroad: far cheaper to cover before departure than to argue about after.
- Visit Saily
eSIM data.
SailySet up an eSIM before you fly so your phone has data the moment you land, without roaming charges.
Our top-rated travel gear
Whatever you decide, this is the gear we actually travel with: verified, priced, and ranked. Live price check on each.
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.