Pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectra of N 2 O was recorded in a series of temperature calibrated cell measurements in the region 295-796 K. A theoretical rotational CARS code for N 2 O was implemented and temperature analysis was performed by fitting the modeled theoretical spectra to the experimental spectra. Excellent agreement between the experimental and modeled spectra was obtained and the thermometric accuracy for the measurements was evaluated to be better than 1%. Also, rotational N 2 CARS spectra were recorded at the same measurement conditions and the temperature analysis performed on these spectra resulted in the same accuracy. The peak signal strength was found to be~5 times stronger for N 2 O than for N 2 at ambient temperature and pressure. The temperature precision was evaluated to a relative standard deviation of 2.0%-2.7% in the studied temperature range, about half of the values for N 2 , which is attributed to the larger number of spectral lines for N 2 O. Rotational N 2 O CARS thermometry show great potential, because of a high Raman cross-section and large number of populated rotational states at any temperature.