Visiting Miami in March
On the second Sunday of March, the clocks spring forward before dawn, and by noon hundreds of thousands of people are packed along Calle Ocho, dancing to salsa in the street and eating croquetas from paper trays. Across the bay that same week, police checkpoints go up at the South Beach beach entrances; up in Miami Gardens, the world’s best tennis players are hitting on the practice courts; and by the end of the month, Bayfront Park shakes to the bass of Ultra. Miami in March has warm water, long evenings and near-perfect weather, and it has more going on than any other month of the year. It also has spring break. Planning a March trip well is about knowing where the energy is, and choosing whether you want to be in the middle of it or just close enough to enjoy it.
This guide covers what March costs and how busy it gets, the realities of spring break on Miami Beach, the festivals and sporting events worth timing a trip around in 2027, what is good to do this month, and how to find a calmer version of Miami when the party is at full volume. Event dates are for March 2027, and prices were checked in September 2026; treat them as the right order of magnitude. For temperatures and rainfall in every month, see our Miami weather by month guide.
March at a Glance
| What | March in Miami |
|---|---|
| Crowds | Very high all month; South Beach at its most intense on spring break weekends |
| Hotel prices | Peak season — among the highest of the year, especially festival weekends |
| Hurricane risk | None |
| Weather in brief | Highs around 80°F, lows around 66°F, about 2.6 inches of rain |
| Sea temperature | About 73°F — warming up and more swimmable |
| Big events 2027 | Calle Ocho (14 Mar), Miami Open (14–28 Mar), Miami Music Week (22–28 Mar), Ultra (26–28 Mar) |
| Best for | Festival-goers, music fans, tennis fans, beach lovers who avoid South Beach’s peak weekends |
Is March a Good Time to Visit Miami?
For weather, it is one of the very best months. It is a little warmer than February, still dry, with low humidity and long, sunny days, and after the clocks change the light lasts well into the evening. The ocean warms to around 73°F, making it noticeably more pleasant for swimming than in January or February.
For events, March is unbeatable. It has Miami’s biggest street festival, one of tennis’s most important tournaments, the world’s best-known electronic music festival and a whole week of parties around it, plus the start of the pool-party season.
The complications are cost, crowds and spring break. March is peak season, and hotel prices during Ultra and Miami Music Week are among the highest of the year. South Beach becomes a spring break destination, with heavy crowds and special restrictions on the busiest weekends. None of that has to spoil a trip, but it does mean March rewards careful planning more than almost any other month. Compare it with the rest of the year in our guide to the best time to visit Miami.
The Weather, Briefly
Expect highs around 80°F and lows around 66°F, with about 2.6 inches of rain over the month. Most days are sunny and breezy, and you will rarely need more than a light layer in the evening. Occasional late-season cold fronts can still bring a cooler, windy day, but they are mild by now.
Daylight saving time begins on 14 March 2027, pushing sunset later into the evening — good news for beach afternoons and outdoor dinners. The sun is getting strong again, so take sunscreen seriously. For detailed figures, see our weather by month guide.
Spring Break on Miami Beach: What to Expect
This is the part of March that needs the most explanation, because it shapes the whole month on Miami Beach, and because the rules change from year to year.
What stays the same every year
In recent years, the City of Miami Beach has treated the whole of March as a high-impact period, with the strictest measures concentrated on the busiest spring break weekends in the middle of the month. Some rules apply all year round and are simply enforced more heavily in March:
- Alcohol and smoking are banned on Miami Beach city beaches year-round.
- Coolers, glass containers, tents, inflatables and amplified music without a permit are banned on the beach during the high-impact period.
- Police presence is heavy in South Beach, especially along Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue.
What changes from year to year
On the busiest weekends, the city has in past years restricted vehicle access into South Beach, limited the number of beach entrances along Ocean Drive and set up security checkpoints, and charged very high flat rates in the entertainment-district garages. In 2024 and 2025, it also imposed curfews and closed some beaches early. In 2026, there was no blanket curfew, but the police chief retained the power to impose an emergency one if needed. The 2027 measures had not been announced when this guide was written. Check the City of Miami Beach’s announcements shortly before you travel.
Who should avoid South Beach in mid-March
If you are a family with young children, a couple looking for a romantic getaway, or anyone who wants a relaxed beach vacation, avoid staying in South Beach over the peak spring break weekends. You will pay a premium to be in a crowded, heavily policed area with restricted access. Choose mid-Beach, North Beach, Surfside, Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove or Coral Gables instead, and visit South Beach on a weekday morning. If you are young and here to party, South Beach is where the action is, but know the rules; our guide to whether Miami is safe covers staying out of trouble.
Crowds and Prices
March is peak season from start to finish, but the pressure points move through the month.
Early March
The first week or so of March is typically the calmest part of the month. The Winter Party Festival, a major LGBTQ+ event, usually spans late February and early March, and SOBEWFF has just finished, but the big spring break weekends and music festivals are still ahead.
Mid-March
From around the second weekend, spring break is in full swing on Miami Beach, and Calle Ocho (14 March) and the start of the Miami Open (14 March) bring big crowds to Little Havana and Miami Gardens. Hotel prices in South Beach are high and rising.
Late March
The last week and a half is the most expensive stretch of the Miami year outside the Christmas holidays. Miami Music Week (22–28 March) and Ultra (26–28 March) fill hotels across Miami Beach and downtown, often with minimum stays, while the Miami Open reaches its finals. If you are not coming for the music, avoid staying downtown around Ultra weekend.
Restaurants
Restaurants are busy all month, and popular spots in Miami Beach, Brickell and Wynwood book up well in advance for weekends. Reserve before you arrive.
March Events Worth Planning Around
March has the busiest event calendar of the Miami year. See our Miami events and festivals guide for everything else.
Calle Ocho Music Festival (Sunday 14 March 2027)
The Calle Ocho Music Festival is the biggest street party in Miami and the largest Hispanic festival in the United States. On Sunday 14 March 2027, around 15 blocks of SW 8th Street in Little Havana close to traffic and fill with music stages, food stalls, dancing, flags from every corner of Latin America and an enormous, joyful crowd. It is free to walk in, loud, hot, crowded and completely wonderful. Wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen, drink plenty of water, keep an eye on your belongings, and do not try to drive near Little Havana that day. Our Calle Ocho Festival guide has the details.
Miami Open (14–28 March 2027)
The Miami Open is one of the biggest events on the tennis calendar, with the world’s top men and women competing at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens from 14 to 28 March 2027 (dates are subject to change). The early rounds are the best value: grounds passes let you wander the outside courts and practice courts, where you can watch famous players at close range. Tickets for the later rounds and finals cost much more. Hard Rock Stadium is about 15 miles north of downtown and largely car-dependent, so allow plenty of time for traffic and parking. Our Miami sports guide covers the stadium.
Miami Music Week (22–28 March 2027)
Miami Music Week is a week of electronic music events in clubs, hotel pools, rooftops and warehouses across Miami and Miami Beach, running from 22 to 28 March 2027 and building toward Ultra. Many events are ticketed separately, some are free with RSVP, and the pool parties of Miami Beach are at their most intense. Our Miami Music Week guide covers how to navigate it.
Ultra Music Festival (26–28 March 2027)
Ultra Music Festival, one of the world’s biggest electronic music festivals, returns to Bayfront Park in downtown Miami from 26 to 28 March 2027. Tens of thousands of fans a day fill the park beside Biscayne Bay for three days of headline DJs across multiple stages. Tickets are expensive and sell in tiers, so buy early from official sources. Downtown is transformed for the week: roads around Biscayne Boulevard close, the Metromover is crowded, and hotels nearby are noisy and very expensive. Our Ultra Music Festival guide has everything you need.
Winter Party and the pool-party season
The Winter Party Festival, a major LGBTQ+ fundraiser for the National LGBTQ Task Force, usually runs across late February and early March; check the 2027 dates. Our LGBTQ+ Miami guide has more.
March is also when Miami’s pool-party and day-club season begins in earnest, running roughly until October. Venues are generally open from late morning to sundown and busiest at weekends. Strawberry Moon at The Goodtime Hotel runs weekend day parties around its twin pools, DAER at Hard Rock Hollywood brings the biggest production and headline DJs, and Nikki Beach’s Sunday day party on the sand is a long-standing tradition. Our hotels with pools guide covers where to swim.
Sports
March is a great month for sports. Besides the Miami Open, the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers are chasing the playoffs, Inter Miami’s MLS season is underway at Nu Stadium near the airport, and Major League Baseball’s spring training games are played in Palm Beach County, with the regular season beginning around the end of the month. See our Miami sports guide for tickets and venues.
What to Do in Miami in March
Beyond the big events, March is ideal for enjoying Miami at its most comfortable.
Beaches away from the crowds
With warmer water and long, sunny days, March is a superb beach month, as long as you choose your beach. Crandon Park on Key Biscayne has calm, shallow water and shady palms, and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, at $8 per vehicle, has one of the loveliest beaches in the city and a historic lighthouse. Haulover Park in the north has space and lifeguards, and parking costs $7 on weekdays and $10 at weekends. Mid-Beach and North Beach are calmer than South Beach even at the height of spring break. Our Miami beaches guide and Key Biscayne guide have the details.
The Everglades
The dry season continues through March, and the Everglades are still excellent, with good wildlife viewing and manageable mosquitoes. Temperatures are rising, so start early. Our Everglades tour guide covers airboats, the Anhinga Trail and Shark Valley.
On the water
March is ideal for boat tours, sunset cruises, jet skiing and kayaking on Biscayne Bay. Solo jet ski rentals typically run $85 to $160 an hour, and a 40-foot yacht charter for up to 12 people costs roughly $700 to $1,000 for three to four hours. Book ahead for weekends, and ignore anyone hard-selling jet ski rides on the beach. Our Miami water sports guide compares the options.
Calmer neighborhoods
If the energy of South Beach, Little Havana and downtown gets to be too much, Miami has quieter corners. Coral Gables has Mediterranean-style streets, Miracle Mile’s restaurants and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Coconut Grove is leafy and relaxed, with Vizcaya and bayside cafés. Our guides to Coral Gables and Coconut Grove have the details.
Day Trips in March
When the city is at its busiest, a day away can be the best part of a March trip.
The Florida Keys are warm, dry and beautiful in March, with good snorkeling off Key Largo and calm water at Bahia Honda. Key West, around three and a half hours each way, is busy with its own spring break crowds, so book any overnight well ahead. Our Key West day trip guide has the route.
Palm Beach County is where to catch Major League Baseball spring training games before the regular season begins, and the town of Palm Beach itself is a calm, elegant contrast to South Beach. Fort Lauderdale, about 40 minutes north, has a long, less frantic beach and the waterside restaurants of Las Olas Boulevard. Our day trips from Miami guide covers all of them.
March With Children
Many American schools take their spring break in March, so family attractions are busy throughout the month, particularly in the middle two weeks. Zoo Miami, Jungle Island and Frost Science all get crowded, so buy timed tickets online and arrive at opening time.
The key to a good family trip in March is location. Base yourself on Key Biscayne, in Coconut Grove or in mid-Beach rather than South Beach, and you get the same sunshine and warm water with none of the spring break atmosphere. Crandon Park’s calm, shallow water on Key Biscayne is ideal for young swimmers, and an airboat ride in the Everglades is a highlight for older children. Calle Ocho is fun for families in the morning, before the crowds and the heat build. Our things to do with kids guide has many more ideas.
Where to Stay in March
In March, where you stay matters more than in any other month.
- For spring break and parties: South Beach, if you are prepared for crowds, restrictions and high prices.
- For Ultra: downtown or Brickell, within walking distance of Bayfront Park; book months ahead.
- For Miami Music Week: South Beach or mid-Beach, close to the pool parties.
- For families and couples: Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, mid-Beach or North Beach.
- For the Miami Open: anywhere with good road access north, and a rental car.
Our guide to where to stay in Miami compares every neighborhood.
Getting Around in March
Traffic is at its worst in March. Expect restricted vehicle access into South Beach on peak spring break weekends; road closures on SW 8th Street for Calle Ocho; closures around Biscayne Boulevard and Bayfront Park during Ultra; and heavy traffic to Hard Rock Stadium for the Miami Open. Use the free Metromover in downtown and Brickell, walk where you can, and allow extra time for rideshares, which surge heavily at festival times. Our Miami transportation guide covers every option.
What to Pack for March
- Summer clothes and swimwear for warm days and pool parties.
- A light layer for breezy evenings.
- Comfortable shoes for festivals — Calle Ocho and Ultra involve hours on your feet.
- High-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat; outdoor events have little shade.
- A small, clear or festival-approved bag if you are attending Ultra or the Miami Open; check each event’s bag policy.
- A refillable water bottle where events allow it.
Our what to wear in Miami guide has more.
Two Ways to Do March
The festival weekend
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Thursday | Arrive; Miami Music Week pool party in Miami Beach |
| Friday | Ultra at Bayfront Park |
| Saturday | Late brunch; Ultra |
| Sunday | Ultra’s final day, or recover on Key Biscayne |
The spring-break escape for families
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 | Crandon Park beach on Key Biscayne |
| 2 | Everglades airboat ride and the Anhinga Trail |
| 3 | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and lunch in Coral Gables |
| 4 | Calle Ocho Festival (14 March) in the morning, or Zoo Miami |
| 5 | Vizcaya and lunch in Coconut Grove |
| 6 | Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park |
Our Miami itineraries lay out other plans.
Making March Go Further
March is expensive, but you can still manage costs. Book everything early, especially for Ultra and Miami Music Week, when the best-value rooms disappear months ahead. Avoid the festival weekends and the peak spring break weekends if you can, and stay midweek. Choose neighborhoods away from the action, such as Coral Gables or North Beach, where prices are lower and the atmosphere calmer.
Many of March’s best experiences cost little: Calle Ocho is free to attend, the beaches and parks cost a few dollars in parking, and the Miami Open’s early-round grounds passes are far cheaper than the finals. Avoid Ocean Drive’s tourist-trap restaurants, where cocktails cost around $25 and service charges of 18 to 20 percent are added automatically. Our Miami budget tips have more ideas.
Who March Suits
March is ideal for
- Festival-goers and music fans for Calle Ocho, Miami Music Week and Ultra.
- Tennis fans for the Miami Open.
- Young travelers looking for a lively spring break.
- Beach lovers who choose their beaches carefully and enjoy the warmer water.
- Anyone who wants great weather and does not mind paying for it.
Consider another month if
- You want a quiet, relaxed South Beach. Try November, April or May.
- You are on a tight budget. The fall shoulder season is much cheaper.
- You dislike crowds and traffic. Late April and May offer warm weather with far fewer people.
Our guide to Miami in February covers the month before: slightly cooler, just as expensive and packed with food and arts festivals.
FAQ
Is March a good time to visit Miami?
Yes, for weather and events: it is warm, dry and sunny, with a packed calendar. It is also peak season, with high prices and spring break crowds on Miami Beach.
Is Miami Beach crowded during spring break?
Yes, especially South Beach on the peak March weekends. The city usually introduces extra restrictions and heavy policing. Mid-Beach, North Beach and Key Biscayne are calmer.
Is there a spring break curfew in Miami Beach?
It varies from year to year. Miami Beach imposed curfews in 2024 and 2025, but not in 2026, although the police chief kept the power to impose one. Check the city’s announcements before you travel.
When is the Calle Ocho Festival 2027?
Sunday 14 March 2027, along SW 8th Street in Little Havana.
When is Ultra Music Festival 2027?
From 26 to 28 March 2027, at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami.
When is the Miami Open 2027?
From 14 to 28 March 2027 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, subject to change.
Is the ocean warm in Miami in March?
It warms to around 73°F — refreshing and very swimmable on a sunny day, though not yet as warm as summer.
The spring break rules change every year, and the detail matters more than it looks: where you can park, what a tow costs, what the checkpoints turn away and which parts of the island sit outside the fencing. Our spring break in Miami guide goes through all of it, along with where students and families should stay.
The Miami Open is the month’s big sporting event, and the best way to see it is not the finals but a weekday grounds pass in the first week, when the whole draw is on site and the practice courts are full. Our Miami Open tennis guide covers tickets, the best days and where to sit to stay out of the sun.
Related Miami Guides
- Miami Travel Planning — everything you need to plan the trip.
- Miami Weather by Month — temperatures, rain and humidity all year.
- Best Time to Visit Miami — how March compares.
- Miami Events and Festivals — the full annual calendar.
- Visiting Miami in February — the month before.
- Calle Ocho Festival — Miami’s biggest street party.
- Ultra Music Festival — tickets, stages and survival.
- Miami Beaches — finding a calm beach in spring break season.
Photo Credits
Bayfront Park during Ultra Music Festival: Panoramic View of Bayfront Park during the 2013 Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida by Robert Giordano, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Aryna Sabalenka practicing at the Miami Open: Aryna Sabalenka at 2025 Miami Open 01 by Vbrunophotog, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Remaining photographs from the miamitourism.org library.