Early spring · Weather & things to do
Black Hills in March
Black Hills warms up: highs climb to 43°F (6°C), from 32°F in February, with lows of 21°F (-6°C) and about 1.1 in (27 mm) of rain or snow.
Our comfort score puts it mid-table at 53/100, 8th of 12.
- Avg high
- 43°F (6°C)
- Avg low
- 21°F (-6°C)
- Rain or snow
- 1.1 in (27 mm)
- Humidity
- 65%
- Cloud cover
- 64%
- Daylight
- ~11 h 38 min
- Comfort score
- 53/100 · Fair
What March feels like
It's cool, with highs near 43°F (6°C), so a proper jacket stays on most of the day.
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 21°F (-6°C), so expect frost and ice.
Precipitation is light, about 1.1 in (27 mm) of rain or snow, and since the average temperature is below freezing, what does fall may well be snow.
Plan around March
March sits mid-table; the best months are June – September.
- Last dry month before the rain or snow picks up: April brings 2.1 in (54 mm).
- Comfort improves from 49/100 in February to 53/100.
- Our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route recommends May – Sep, so March falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for March
- Insulated jackethighs only 43°F
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 21°F
- Insulated, waterproof bootssnow is likely on some days
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Black Hills in March
Weather can go either way, so the picks below mix open-air spots with indoor backups.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Four presidents carved in granite, with the Presidential Trail at the base.
Iron Mountain Road
Winding road with pigtail bridges and tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore.
Sylvan Lake
Granite-ringed lake with an easy 1-mile shoreline loop and boulder scrambles.
Needles Highway
14-mile road through granite spires and one-lane tunnels, including the Needles Eye.
Naughti Wines
Hill City tasting room on Hwy 385 pouring its own wines plus Sick-N-Twisted beers, with a patio and firepit.
Nearby in March
- Badlands National Park in March~64 mi · highs 51°F, 0.9 in rain or snow · 4°C (8°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Medora in March~217 mi · highs 45°F, 0.8 in rain or snow · 1°C (2°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Rocky Mountain NP in March~259 mi · highs 34°F, 1.9 in rain or snow · 5°C (9°F) cooler by day, wetter
- Denver in March~287 mi · highs 56°F, 1.3 in rain · 7°C (13°F) warmer by day, about as wet
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid. Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Black Hills in March: quick answers
Is March a good time to visit Black Hills?
It's middling, scoring 53/100. The best months are June – September, at up to 96. Expect highs of 43°F (6°C) and 1.1 in (27 mm) of rain or snow. Our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route recommends May – Sep, so March is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Black Hills in March?
Average highs are 43°F (6°C) and average lows 21°F (-6°C), making it the 5th-coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Black Hills in March?
Not much: about 1.1 in (27 mm) of rain or snow falls across March on average, the 5th-driest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 19.2 in (487 mm).
What should I pack for Black Hills in March?
Bring insulated jacket (highs only 43°F), hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 21°F), insulated, waterproof boots (snow is likely on some days) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
More on Black Hills
Planning Black Hills in March?
Bring the crew into one shared trip: vote on dates, build the day-by-day plan, split costs and share one packing list.