Things to Do in Springfield in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Springfield
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + March mornings in Springfield carry enough bite to make walking tours pleasant before 11 AM, temperatures sit at 8°C (46°F) and the air still holds winter's last wood-smoke from neighborhood chimneys.
- + Hotel rates fall roughly 30% from summer peaks, letting you book the restored 1920s inn downtown without the shoulder-to-shoulder lobby crowds that descend in May.
- + The Illinois State Museum keeps its doors open until 8 PM on Thursdays. Thinner tourist traffic means you can read the Lincoln-Herndon law office exhibit without a school group clogging the doorway.
- + Springfield's restaurant scene, built on long-running places like Maldaner's (since 1884) and Obed & Isaac's (converted 1890s church), still has same-week openings for dinner reservations.
- − Afternoons swing from 12°C (54°F) to sudden 25 km/h (15.5 mph) prairie winds that bite harder than the thermometer suggests, outdoor patios stay deserted even when sunshine looks tempting.
- − The Lincoln Home National Historic Site sticks to winter hours through March 20, so the final tour leaves at 4 PM instead of 5 PM, trimming your daylight schedule.
- − Springfield's notorious March winds lift dust from surrounding farmland. Sunglasses stop being optional and become necessary eye protection.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March's low humidity keeps the 3 km (1.9 mile) downtown heritage walk agreeable, start at the Old State Capitol, loop past the Lincoln-Herndon law offices, and end at the Lincoln Presidential Library before afternoon winds strengthen. The bronze Lincoln statue at Union Square is nearly yours alone for photos.
Springfield's craft breweries, set in red-brick 1920s warehouses, host indoor tastings that suit March's changeable weather. Malt and hops hang in the air of buildings where Model T Fords were once assembled.
Clear March mornings deliver 40 km (25 mile) views across the flat prairie from the 110 m (361 ft) dome. The interior staircase, 405 steps, stays cool enough to climb without sweating, and the acoustics turn every footfall into a drumbeat.
March shows at Edwards Place and the SAA Collective spotlight local prairie artists responding to the seasonal turn, charcoal skies over corn stubble, early crocus blooms in watercolor.
Windy afternoons invite retreat into Springfield's used bookstores, Prairie Archives carries the scent of old paper and coffee, while the café in the Lincoln Library basement serves house-roasted beans that fog the windows.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Downtown's main street shuts down for bagpipers, Irish dancers, and the surprisingly substantial local pipe band marching past the Old Capitol. Green beer flows at Obed & Isaac's afterward, while families gather at the kid-friendly carnival in Washington Park.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Book Experiences in Springfield
Top-rated things to do in Springfield this March
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Springfield.
See All Springfield Tours on Viator