Wake up from hibernation and put these 15 Southwest adventures on your March travel calendar. Sure, there might be some winter chill in the air, but that means you can beat the big crowds during this time of the year and see some of the most beautiful sights in the United States. Make sure you’ve reserved a spot in one of the RV parks listed below before you embark on your March adventure.
Northern Arizona March Adventures
Hiking the Grand Canyon. Photo: Skeeze/Pixabay
Take a Trail Into the Grand Canyon
We can’t get enough of the America’s favorite gorge, and you need to visit without the crowds to truly feel its vibe. In March, the winter chill begins to dissipate, giving visitors the green light for an exploration well before the torrents of visitors that flood America’s second-most popular national park. From the South Rim, descend into the gorge via the Kaibab Trail, which leads hikers to “Ooh Aah Point” and other sweeping vistas. More than 200 miles to the west, the U-shaped Grand Canyon Skywalk juts out from the canyon rim, 4,000 feet from the bottom. Visitors can look straight down from the glass floor for dizzying glimpses of the abyss below.
Gazing at the Milky Way. Photo: Skeeze/Pixabay
Star Gaze in Flagstaff
See stars in Flagstaff, a mountain town with a special relationship with astronomy. The town is home to the world-famous Lowell Observatory, which made striking observations of the surface of Mars more than a century ago; the findings inspired H.G. Wells to write “War of the Worlds” in 1898. The community sits within the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world and over the years has maintained its commitment to keeping skies clear. In fact, city light fixtures are pointed downward and shielded at the sides to prevent light pollution, and in 2001 the town became the first-ever Dark Sky City. Visitors can take a star-watching tour to see the constellations that sparkle above in the crisp spring air.
Baseball action heats up in spring. Photo: Skeeze/Pixabay
Catch Foul Balls in Mesa
Baseball’s opening day can’t come soon enough! That’s why you need to grab your favorite mitt and motor to spring training nirvana in Arizona. The area around Phoenix is the site for Major League Baseball’s Cactus League, which sees teams square off in pre-season competition in the month before Opening Day. In Mesa, fans fill Sloan Park to cheer the Chicago Cubs or gather in Hohokam Stadium to root on the Oakland A’s as the teams compete for the Cactus League pennant. In all, 200-plus baseball games are played in the league in a laid-back atmosphere. Prefer rugged outdoor adventures to munching on popcorn and Cracker Jacks? Mesa sits within striking distance to some of the region’s most popular Southwest adventures, including the Superstition Wilderness.
Stay here during your Arizona visit:
Vista Del Sol RV Resort, Bullhead City
Verde Ranch RV Resort, Camp Verde
Verde River RV Resort & Cottages, Camp Verde
Pueblo El Mirage RV & Golf Resort, El Mirage
Eagle View RV Resort Asah Gweh Oou-o At Fort McDowell, Fort McDowell
Payson Campground and RV Resort, Payson
Desert Shadows RV Resort, Phoenix
Sunflower RV Resort, Surprise
Grand Canyon Railway RV Park, Williams
Northern California March Adventures
Photo: Cameron Venti/Unsplash
Watch Whales from Fort Bragg
Every March, pods of gray whales make their northward journey along America’s west coast, attracting whale watchers to the coast to catch glimpses of the mammals. The coastal communities of Mendocino and Fort Bragg make the most out of this spectacle with food and wine tasting, art shows, marine educational displays and naturalist-guided walks and lectures. If you’d prefer to avoid the crowds, you can find several vantage points to watch in solitude.
A Napa Valley vineyard. Photo: Pixabay
Savor Fine Wine in Napa Valley
In the wine business, timing is critical, and March is an ideal month to tour Napa Valley. Beat the summer crowds and enjoy the blooming of the lush Northern California landscapes. With fewer wine tasters to compete with, you’ll get more attention from winemakers eager to share their vintages. March events like Napa Valley’s CabFest celebrate the spring with full glasses of cabernet fresh from the bottle.
Photo: Mabel Amber/Pixabay
Stop and Smell the Flowers at Sutter Creek
This town’s rich Gold Rush history has made it a popular attraction, but during March, people come for a different treasure. Just outside of town, Daffodil Hill erupts with as many as 300,000 yellow and white blooms amid century-old farm buildings and implements. The amazing floral display was started in 1877 by “Lizzie” van Vorst-McLaughlin, a Dutch immigrant homesick for her native Holland. McLaughlin’s descendants continued the tradition, expanding the garden into a sprawling carpet of color.
Stay here during your Northern California visit:
Mad River Rapids RV Park, Arcata
A Country RV Park, Bakersfield
Bakersfield River Run RV Park, Bakersfield
Bakersfield RV Resort, Bakersfield
The Lakes RV & Golf Resort, Chowchilla
The RV Park At Rolling Hills Casino and Resort, Corning
Pomo RV Park & Campground, Fort Bragg
Riverwalk RV Park & Campground, Fortuna
Marin RV Park, Greenbrae
Casa de Fruta RV Park, Hollister
Jackson Rancheria RV Park, Jackson
Boulder Creek RV Resort, Lone Pine
Pismo Sands RV Park, Oceano
Pismo Coast Village RV Resort, Pismo Beach
Coyote Valley RV Resort, San Jose
Coachland RV Park, Truckee
The RV Park at Black Oak Casino Resort, Tuolumne
Sac-West RV Park and Campground, West Sacramento
Colorado March Adventures
Photo: WikiImages/Pixabay
Surf Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Surf’s always up in this corner of Colorado. While much of Colorado remains blanketed in snow during March, a 55-square-mile expanse of the state’s southeastern region ripples with smooth sand dunes. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is home to the tallest dunes in North America, topping out with the 750-foot Star Dune; hearty hikers can climb to the top for great views. Bring a sandboard and woosh down the slopes. Running along the eastern edge of the park is Medano Creek, where anglers can hook cutthroat trout. Four-wheelers can hit the Medano Pass Primitive Road for wild rides.
A natural hot spring in Glenwood Springs. Photo: Glenwood Springs
Raft and Soak in Glenwood Springs
Few places in Colorado are better suited for riding out the late-winter, early-spring season. When the temperatures dip, visitors can sink into one of the Glenwood Springs’ hot springs and let their cares melt away with the winter snow. And as the nearby Colorado River begins to swell with the thaw, hefty trout and midge begin to bite on lines. Later in the month, the spring runoff churns with Class IV whitewater rapids in some parts of the river. Hone your rafting skills at The Glenwood Whitewater Park & Activity Area in town, or head two miles upstream for the really gnarly stuff in Glenwood Canyon.
Pikes Peak HIghway Mountain Road. Photo: Mike Goad/Pixabay
Reach New Heights in Colorado Springs
This is a town of high achievers. Colorado Springs is home to the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, both of which offer tours through gorgeous campuses. To achieve literal heights, ascend the 14,115 foot Pikes Peak on the nearby Pikes Peak Highway. This mountaintop dishes out spectacular views of the surrounding region and the vistas inspired English professor Katherine Lee Bates to write “America the Beautiful” during her 1893 visit. If you’d prefer not to drive the winding road, hop aboard the Broadmoor Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which gives passengers gorgeous views of waterfalls and forests of aspen and pine during the journey.
Stay here during your Colorado visit:
Oasis RV Resort & Cottages – Durango, Durango
Glenwood Canyon Resort, Glenwood Springs
Loveland RV Resort, Loveland
New Mexico March Adventures
A bead basket. Photo: Leoleobobeo
Art Hop in Santa Fe
Santa Fe has a rich art pedigree, with a long list of local legends that includes world-renowned 20th-century painter Georgia O’Keeffe. The town continues to push artistic frontiers in the dynamic sculptures and gardens that line Canyon Road, the creative artery of Santa Fe. Discover even more artistic treasures in Santa Fe Plaza, where artisans sell their wares in a gathering place dating back to the 1500s.
Photo: New Mexico Tourism
Set Sail for the Stars in Elephant Butte
This 36,500-acre Elephant Butte Reservoir is the largest body of water in New Mexico and a go-to playground for fishing and boating. The attractions that surround it are equally compelling. After water skiing, paddleboarding or hauling in big bass on the lake, motor south to the town of Truth or Consequences, named after a game show and renowned for its healing hot springs. To the Southeast, the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space offers a glimpse into the future of space commuting and tourism; group tours are available.
Route 66 signage. Photo: DB McNicol/Pixabay
Roll on Route 66 in Albuquerque
In its heyday in the middle of the 20th century, Route 66 gave travelers a way to experience Southwest adventures with the family car. Several neighborhoods in Albuquerque keep the spirit alive on long stretches of the so-called “Mother Road,” which runs through town along Central Avenue. Pop into eclectic shops adorned with neon signs or score a booth in an old-fashioned diner. You’ll find historic segments of the route in Nob Hill, the University area and Historic Old Town.
Stay here during your New Mexico visit:
Isleta Lakes & RV Park, Albuquerque
Route 66 RV Resort, Albuquerque
Tico Time RV River Resort, Aztec
Little Vineyard RV Resort, Deming
Cedar Cove RV Park, Elephant Butte
Elephant Butte Lake RV Resort, Elephant Butte
USA RV Park, Gallup
Sunny Acres RV Park, Las Cruces
Rancheros de Santa Fe Campground, Santa Fe
Santa Fe Skies RV Park, Santa Fe
Utah March Adventures
Photo: Karsten Winegeart/Unsplash
Play in the Snow in Park City
In northern Utah, and March storms often bring the kind of white, fluffy powder that ski bums dream about. Pack up the skies and snowboard and plan to hit the slopes in Park City Mountain, Snowbird, Deer Valley and other skiing destinations. When you’re not wooshing down pristine slopes, hang out in places like Sundance, Park City and Salt Lake City for fine dining and fun culture.
Zion National Park. Photo: InfiniteThought
Hike Zion National Park
Although some of the higher-altitude regions of Zion National Park are closed through March, dedicated hikers can still find plenty of trails with otherworldly views. Spring flowers begin to bloom at this time and the crowds are relatively light, giving hikers a chance for sweet solitude on the trails. Remember to dress in layers as the mornings and evenings can still be quite cold.
Biking outside of Moab. Photo: anjuli-anjuli-ieh
Mountain Bike in Moab
Many two-wheel buffs consider Moab to be the mountain-biking capital of the United States. It’s hard to dispute that assertion. Endless winding trails, vast stretches of slick rock and a biker-friendly community — complete with bike stores, repair shops and tour operators — make this a pedaling nirvana. The proximity of the Colorado River, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park add to Moab’s appeal. With seasonable temperatures and reasonable crowds, March is a great time for Southwest adventures in Moab.
Stay here during your Utah visit:
Shady Acres RV Park, Green River
Mountain Valley RV Resort, Heber City
WillowWind RV Park, Hurricane
Grand Plateau RV Resort at Kanab, Kanab
Spanish Trail RV Park, Moab
Lakeside RV Campground, Provo
McArthur’s Temple View RV Resort, St. George
