First Day of Spring 2027 — Spring Equinox Date in the USA
The 1st day of spring 2027 in the USA is Saturday, March 20, 2027. The spring equinox occurs at 4:25 PM EDT (20:25 UTC), marking the official astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Date: Saturday, March 20, 2027
- Time: 4:25 PM EDT / 3:25 PM CDT / 2:25 PM MDT / 1:25 PM PDT
- Type: Astronomical / Vernal Equinox
- Also known as: Spring equinox, vernal equinox, March equinox
Spring Equinox 2027 — What Happens on March 20?
The spring equinox is the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator moving from south to north. On March 20, 2027, day and night are nearly equal in length across the globe — roughly 12 hours each.
After the equinox, the Northern Hemisphere tilts progressively toward the sun. Days grow longer and nights shorter until the summer solstice on June 21, 2027 — the longest day of the year.
The word equinox comes from Latin: aequus (equal) + nox (night). The equinox does not fall on March 21 in the USA; the last March 21 equinox for the continental United States occurred in the 20th century and will not return until 2101.
According to NASA,
the equinox is the exact moment the center of the sun crosses Earth’s equator.
Official US time is maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
First Day of Spring 2027 and 2028 — USA Dates at a Glance
| Year | Date | Day | Time (EDT) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | March 20 | Saturday | 4:25 PM | Vernal Equinox |
| 2028 | March 20 | Monday | ~10:17 AM | Vernal Equinox |
Both the first day of spring 2027 and the first day of spring 2028 fall on March 20. The equinox date shifts gradually due to the difference between the 365-day calendar year and the actual 365.25-day solar year.
Astronomical vs. Meteorological Spring — What’s the Difference?
There are two official definitions of when spring starts:
Astronomical spring begins at the vernal equinox — March 20, 2027 in the USA. This is the date most people refer to as the “first day of spring.”
Meteorological spring begins on March 1 and ends May 31. Meteorologists use this fixed three-month period for easier comparison of seasonal climate data year to year.
| Definition | Start Date (2027) | End Date (2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical spring | March 20, 2027 | June 21, 2027 |
| Meteorological spring | March 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 |
Both are valid; the choice depends on context. For calendar and holiday purposes, March 20 is the universally recognized first day of spring 2027 in the USA.
Important Dates in Spring 2027 (USA)
Spring 2027 in the USA is packed with notable dates. Here are the most important:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2027 | Meteorological start of spring |
| March 14, 2027 | Daylight Saving Time begins (clocks spring forward 1 hour) |
| March 17, 2027 | St. Patrick’s Day |
| March 20, 2027 | First Day of Spring 2027 — Vernal Equinox |
| March 28, 2027 | Easter Sunday |
| March 26, 2027 | Good Friday |
| April 22, 2027 | Earth Day |
| May 5, 2027 | Cinco de Mayo |
| May 9, 2027 | Mother’s Day |
| May 31, 2027 | Memorial Day (federal holiday) |
| June 19, 2027 | Juneteenth (federal holiday) |
| June 21, 2027 | First Day of Summer — Summer Solstice |
Working and School Calendar — Spring 2027
Spring 2027 runs from March 20 to June 20, covering parts of three full calendar months:
- March 2027 (spring portion): 11 spring days (March 20–31)
- April 2027: 30 full spring days
- May 2027: 31 full spring days
- June 2027 (spring portion): 20 spring days (June 1–20)
- Total spring days 2027: 92 days
Federal holidays in spring 2027:
- Memorial Day — Monday, May 31, 2027
School spring breaks vary by district but typically fall in the last two weeks of March or the first two weeks of April. Easter Sunday (March 28, 2027) anchors most spring break schedules for the 2026–2027 school year.
Download a Free March 2027 Calendar — USA
Print or save a free March 2027 calendar with the spring equinox and all US holidays marked. Available in PDF and image formats.
➡️ March 2027 Calendar USA — Free Printable
Frequently Asked Questions — First Day of Spring 2027
When is the first day of spring 2027 in the USA?
The first day of spring 2027 in the USA is Saturday, March 20, 2027. The vernal equinox occurs at 4:25 PM EDT (20:25 UTC).
When is the first day of spring 2028 in the USA?
The first day of spring 2028 falls on Monday, March 20, 2028. The 2028 equinox occurs in the morning EDT, as 2028 is a leap year which shifts the equinox slightly earlier in the day.
Why does the first day of spring change every year?
The equinox shifts because the solar year is approximately 365.25 days long, while the calendar year is 365 days. The accumulated quarter-day difference causes the equinox to move slightly each year, corrected every four years by a leap day.
Is the first day of spring always March 21?
No. In the 21st century, the spring equinox falls on March 19 or March 20 in the USA. The last March 21 equinox in the continental United States occurred in the 20th century; the next will not happen until 2101.
What time does spring start in 2027?
Spring 2027 begins at 4:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on March 20, 2027. In other US time zones: 3:25 PM CDT, 2:25 PM MDT, 1:25 PM PDT.
Is the first day of spring a public holiday in the USA?
No. The spring equinox is not a federal public holiday in the United States. The nearest federal holidays in spring 2027 are Memorial Day (May 31) and Juneteenth (June 19).
The first day of spring 2027 falls on Saturday, March 20, 2027, when the vernal equinox occurs at 4:25 PM EDT. This marks the astronomical start of spring across the United States and the Northern Hemisphere. Days will grow longer and temperatures warmer from this date until the summer solstice on June 21, 2027.
For a full printable March 2027 calendar with US holidays, visit our March 2027 Calendar USA page. You can also browse all US public holidays 2027 for the complete annual overview.
