Private Travel for Groups & Families

Spring Training 2026: Why Baseball’s Preseason is the Ultimate Family Getaway

Friday, February 13, 2026Dylan Anderson

There is a specific feeling that hits you the moment you step off the plane at Spring Training. The air is warm, the winter gray is gone, and for the first time in months, the world slows back down to the pace of America's Pastime.

While the regular season is a spectacle of loud stadiums, strict schedules, and luxury suites, Spring Training is something far more inviting. It is the only time of year when the barriers come down enough, allowing you to lean against a chain-link fence and hear the pop of a catcher’s mitt or snag an autograph as guys walk back to the clubhouse.

For families, this is arguably the most restorative trip on the sports calendar. It doesn't require the rigid itinerary of a theme park vacation or the late-night exhaustion of a playoff run. It offers a simpler rhythm where baseball is the backdrop rather than the burden. You land, you find a spot in the sun, and you watch multimillion-dollar athletes remembering why they love the game.

Where to Find the Magic at Spring Training

The real magic of these weeks isn't found in the first inning of the 1:00 PM games, but rather in the quiet of the morning on the back fields. This is the secret that insiders know and families cherish. Before the main stadiums open their gates, players move between practice diamonds for drills in plain view.

This is where a child can stand ten feet from a batting cage while a superstar tweaks his swing, or get a nod from a pitcher walking to the dugout. It is a proximity that is impossible to find once the games move north, and it makes athletes seem just like one of the guys.

This relaxed schedule creates a perfect vacation loop. Because the "work" of baseball happens early, the rest of the day opens up. You can watch drills in the morning, catch a few innings of a game until the main guys end their day, and still find more fun before the sun goes down. It is a trip that feels like a deep exhale.

The Arizona Strategy: Efficiency in the Valley of the Sun

If you are looking for a trip where the logistics are invisible, the Cactus League in Arizona is the undisputed winner. The Greater Phoenix area is a masterpiece of efficiency, hosting all 15 teams within a single metropolitan footprint. You can set up a "base camp" at a resort and never pack your bags again, but choosing the right side of the valley matters.

The "East Valley" is the high-energy hub. This is where you find Scottsdale Stadium, nestled right in the middle of a walkable downtown filled with restaurants and nightlife. It is the home of the San Francisco Giants and sits just minutes from Salt River Fields, the pristine complex shared by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Just south in Mesa, you find the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park, which mimics the vibe of Wrigley Field. For private flyers targeting this cluster, Scottsdale Airport (KSDL) is the premier entry point. It puts you ten minutes from the best resorts, though it does see heavy traffic during game weeks.

The "West Valley" offers a more relaxed, suburban rhythm perfect for families who want to escape the crowds. This is the domain of the Peoria Sports Complex (Mariners and Padres) and Surprise Stadium (Royals and Rangers). The atmosphere here is quieter, the traffic is lighter, and the access to players is often easier. If your team is playing on this side of town, flying into Phoenix Deer Valley (KDVT) or Glendale (KGEU) is a brilliant move. You bypass the congestion of the main city and land practically in the stadium parking lot.

The Florida Strategy: A Beach Vacation with a Baseball Problem

Florida’s Grapefruit League offers a completely different experience. Unlike the condensed map of Arizona, Florida baseball is a regional affair spread from the Gulf to the Atlantic. This is a vacation first and a baseball trip second, so the strategy is to pick a coast and stay there.

The Gulf Coast is the heart of the "snowbird" experience, particularly in Fort Myers. This is Red Sox territory. Their stadium, JetBlue Park, is affectionately known as "Fenway South" because it replicates the dimensions of the Boston original, right down to the Green Monster in left field. Just down the road, the Minnesota Twins play at Hammond Stadium. Further north in Sarasota, the Orioles and Pirates have created a relaxed, historic baseball corridor.

For this region, Southwest Florida International (KRSW) is the standard commercial hub, but private flyers should look closely at Naples (KAPF) for a smoother, more discreet arrival that puts you close to the high-end beachfront hotels.

On the other side of the state, the Atlantic Coast offers a more sophisticated, fast-paced vibe. The Palm Beaches are home to the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals, who share a state-of-the-art complex, while the Cardinals and Marlins play in nearby Jupiter. This area feels less like a sleepy spring break and more like a high-end getaway. West Palm Beach (KPBI) is the ideal airport here, offering world-class private facilities that cater to the equestrian and yachting crowds that frequent the area in February.

Finding Your Private Jet Charter to Spring Training

Spring Training also happens to coincide with a unique window in the private aviation calendar that savvy travelers can exploit. As fleets reposition from winter ski hubs like Aspen and Vail toward warm-weather destinations, "empty leg" flights often appear. These are repositioning legs where aircraft fly without passengers to pick up their next charter. If your family has a flexible schedule—perhaps flying on a Thursday morning rather than a Friday afternoon—you might be able to secure a light or midsize jet for a fraction of the standard cost.

However, the best approach for this trip is usually one of intentional planning. With pitchers and catchers reporting in mid-February and games beginning shortly after, the demand for prime weekend slots tightens quickly. Whether you are chasing the efficiency of Arizona or the beach days of Florida, the goal is the same: to cut down the travel time so you can spend more time watching the game.

Ready to hear the crack of the bat?