Things to Do in Indianapolis in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
March Weather in Indianapolis
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
125°F (51°C)
High Temp
91°F (33°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ A 35°F swing in 24 hours is normal. Check forecasts twice daily. Pack both coats and T shirts.
⚠ Late snow can close the airport and I-65. Keep departure plans loose. Buffer your schedule.
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + March cracks the city open. Daytime hits 55°F (13°C) and locals grin through 'fool's spring,' knowing winter will slam back yet pretending it won't.
- + Hotel tabs stay winter low. You can stroll without facial pain. Cheap rooms plus bearable air equals March magic.
- + Massachusetts Avenue hosts the St. Patrick's Day parade while the city still buzzes. Summer humidity hasn't drained the life yet.
- + NCAA hordes haven't landed. Walk into St. Elmo's sans reservation. Fountain Square stays quiet enough for conversation.
Considerations
- − Weather punches hard. Tuesday flirts at 65°F (18°C) and sunny. Thursday crashes to 28°F (-2°C) with sleet that glazes every sidewalk.
- − Brown and muddy rules. The White River churns like chocolate milk. Military Park grass is mostly dead, speckled with last week's snow.
- − Canal Walk is open, empty, and freezing. Wind tunnels between buildings turn 50°F (10°C) into 30°F (-1°C) misery.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
Indianapolis in March feels damp and cool, with the scent of wet pavement. Then the sun appears. It brings a surprising warmth that coaxes people onto the patios along Massachusetts Avenue. Locals watch the forecast with intensity. They look for 50-degree days, and for the tournament brackets that dictate late March. The city's identity is tied to this season. Conversations in coffee shops turn to seedings and Cinderella stories. Downtown energy becomes electric. Two events define the calendar. The St. Patrick's Day Parade transforms Massachusetts Avenue with kilts and bagpipes. It culminates at the old Biergarten. Communal cheer makes the crisp air feel less biting. Then the NCAA tournament arrives, if the schedule aligns. The roar from Lucas Oil Stadium rolls through the streets. It is a deep hum of collective hope from seventy thousand voices. The city becomes a temporary capital of college sports. Bars pack. Hotel lobbies buzz with fans. Visiting means navigating this shift, from an intimate neighborhood celebration to a vast city-wide theater.
Indianapolis Mobile Pub Tour and Experience
guided_experienceA converted school bus painted in bold colors rumbles downtown. Its interior has tables and taps. This mobile pub tour has a rolling view of Indianapolis landmarks. You will see the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and the convention center's modern glass. The experience shares local brews with a small group. Transit becomes the main event.
It is the most social way to sample the city's craft beer scene. You will not need a designated driver.
Insider tip: Boarding is often near City Market. Arrive early to grab a warm, flaky pastry from a stall inside. It cushions the tasting.
Indy Walking Tours
walking_tourThis guided walk peels back layers of the Mile Square, Indianapolis's original plat. It reveals stories in granite war memorials and 19th-century brick warehouses. You will hear the city's founding history along the old Central Canal. Feel the scale of monuments designed to honor veterans. The tour provides a foundational narrative.
No other activity so directly connects the city's planned layout to its historical ambitions.
Insider tip: The guide points out subtle carvings on memorials. Keep your eyes level with the stonework to see them.
Massachusetts Avenue Food Tour
foodMassachusetts Avenue has century-old buildings and neon marquees. A culinary tour moves from a cozy bakery to a modern gastropub here. You will taste house-cured meats and artisan cheeses. You finish with a decadent dessert. Learn about the avenue's evolution from a commercial corridor to a cultural axis. The experience engages taste and context.
It has a curated, filling introduction to the independent restaurants that define this walkable district.
Insider tip: Tours meet outside the historic Athenaeum building. Look up at its detailed terracotta facade before departing.
Wicked Wraiths of White River: Indianapolis Ghost Tour
walking_tourThis evening tour follows the White River banks and older downtown sections. The guide shares tales of spectral sightings under antique streetlights. You will hear stories rooted in the city's industrial past. Feel the cool river breeze. It adds a chill to the history. This is an alternative look at Indianapolis.
For those intrigued by the paranormal, it is the only tour exploring hauntings associated with the central waterway.
Insider tip: The path has uneven brick sidewalks and riverbank gravel. Wear sturdy, flat shoes for the dark terrain.
Outdoor Escape Room in Indianapolis - Mile Square in Downtown
otherThis interactive puzzle sends teams racing through downtown Indianapolis. You use a smartphone to solve clues tied to statues and historical plaques within the Mile Square. See the city as a game board. Feel the urgency of the clock. Decipher codes hidden in plain sight. It turns a stroll into a collaborative adventure.
It is the most engaging way for friends to actively explore the city's core.
Insider tip: The game is outdoors and self-paced. A dry March afternoon is ideal. Check the hourly forecast. Start when rain is least likely.
Fountain Square Food Tour
foodFountain Square has a vintage duckpin bowling alley and busy murals. A food tour here highlights global flavors and revived spirit. You will taste tangy barbecue glazed with local beer. Sip craft cocktails in a retro lounge. Sample inventive dishes from chefs anchoring the neighborhood's resurgence. The tour captures this renewal.
It delivers a concentrated taste of Indianapolis's most evolving neighborhood.
Insider tip: The tour ends near the Fountain Square Theatre Building. Allow extra time afterward. Hear the crack of pins from the bowling alley. See its classic neon sign.
Where to Stay in Indianapolis in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
★★★★★
Luxury
Trump International Hotel & Tower® New York
From $839 / night
Check Prices on Trip.com →
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid March
St. Patrick's Day Parade and Celebration
Bagpipes roll down Massachusetts Avenue the Saturday before March 17. Green beer flows at the Rathskeller, pouring since 1894. The parade leaves the Scottish Rite Cathedral at noon and lands at the Biergarten, where 40°F feels like June.
Mid to Late March
NCAA March Madness First Round Games
If IU or Purdue hits the bracket, Lucas Oil Stadium erupts in cream-and-crimson or black-and-gold. Seventy thousand Midwesterners shouting college hoops is the closest Indy gets to church.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Indianapolis Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals read your jacket like a passport. Ski parka at 50°F screams tourist. Denim over hoodie says Indy.
Master the skywalk web covering 12 downtown blocks. March from JW Marriott to Circle Centre Mall without breathing outdoor air.
St. Elmo's shrimp cocktail blasts sinuses harder than cold meds. Horseradish heat is legend, and March tables are gettable.
Gondolas sleep until April. But electric cars roll the Cultural Trail. Drivers are retired history teachers who point out Prohibition tunnels under nearly every block.
Avoid These Mistakes
Never assume March means spring. Snow has crashed Opening Day, April 6, repeatedly. Pack for Chicago, not Charlotte.
Three miles on the Canal Loop sounds easy until 20 mph winds turn 45°F into 30°F. Take the Red Line. Walk short sections instead. Save your face.
Hotels near the track promise 'convenience' yet sit 10 km from downtown with zero March life. Skip the Speedway zone. Base yourself in Fletcher Place or Mass Ave. Uber to IMS on race day only.
Explore More Activities in Indianapolis
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Indianapolis.
See All Indianapolis Tours on Viator