A first weekend in Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago: choose your gallery visit
Lincoln Park: Nature Boardwalk and a free zoo visitAn example packing list for Chicago in March
Use this as a starting point and choose what suits your plans. Packtricia tailors your list and quantities to your trip length, weather and preferences.
Clothing
- Underwear
- Bras (if worn)
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- Long-sleeved shirt or breathable top
- Comfortable trousers
- Removable knit
- Warm weatherproof jacket
- Broken-in walking shoes with grip
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash or soap
- Deodorant
- Skincare products
- Sunscreen
- Hairbrush or comb
- Shaving supplies (if used)
- Menstrual products (if needed)
- Contact lens solution (if used)
Essentials
- Passport or accepted travel ID
- Travel tickets and booking confirmations
- Wallet and payment cards
- Phone
- Charging cable and charger
- Travel adapter (if needed)
- Medication (if needed)
- Glasses or contact lenses (if used)
- Refillable water bottle
- Day bag
- Power bank (if needed)
- Water-resistant pouch
- Compact umbrella (if preferred)
Monthly weather and packing notes
In March, combine a warm jacket, long-sleeved top and knit that you can remove indoors. The Riverwalk can feel colder than sheltered streets, and frost or wet paving still needs footwear with grip. Keep rain protection in the day bag even on a bright morning.
- Daytime
- 6–10°C
- Evenings
- -3–1°C
- Rain
- Showers possible
- Daylight
- Check sunset when planning the park or a waterfront finish.
- Packing style
- Removable layers and comfortable closed shoes
National Weather Service Chicago O’Hare station normals cover 1991–2020. Mean daily maximum 47°F (8.3°C), minimum 31°F (-0.6°C), monthly precipitation 2.45 inches (62.2 mm). Clothing bands convert to Celsius, round and expand by 2°C each way; these are outfit prompts, not forecast limits. Precipitation includes water-equivalent snow. Airport exposure differs from downtown streets, riverbanks and the lakefront. Check the forecast for your actual travel dates.
Outfit ideas for your outings
March around Millennium Park
- Long-sleeved shirt or breathable top
- Removable knit
- Comfortable long trousers
- Walking footwear with grip
- Warm weatherproof jacket
A Riverwalk or open boat-deck outing
- Long-sleeved shirt or breathable top
- Removable knit
- Warm weatherproof jacket
- Sun protection
- Secure comfortable footwear
Art Institute galleries and an indoor stop
- Long-sleeved shirt or breathable top
- Removable knit
- Comfortable trousers or skirt
- Closed shoes
- Day bag to store outer layers
What to leave behind
- Stiff unworn shoes: test footwear before Loop paving, park paths and transit stairs.
- Only a summer outfit: a rain shower, indoor air conditioning or waterfront wind can still need an extra layer.
Reviewed 2026-10-13
National Weather Service: Chicago O’Hare 1991–2020 normals · Choose Chicago: first-time visitor routes · CTA: route, payment and access guidance