Planning a spring training trip around the Cactus League or Grapefruit League schedule requires knowing which teams train where, how far apart the facilities are, and which games align with your travel dates. A good spring training map and schedule are your two most important planning tools — the map tells you which facilities are realistically close enough for same-day doubleheaders, and the schedule tells you which teams are playing at home on your dates.

According to the Cactus League Association, the 10 Cactus League facilities in Arizona are all within a 45-minute drive of central Scottsdale — making multi-facility days practical and popular. Florida’s 10 Grapefruit League facilities are more spread out, stretching from Tampa on the Gulf Coast to Jupiter on the Atlantic Coast, which requires more strategic planning for multi-game days. This guide covers the geographic layout of both leagues, how to use the schedule effectively, and how to build an itinerary that maximizes your baseball content per day.

How Are Cactus League Facilities Laid Out?

Arizona’s spring training geography is the most travel-friendly in professional sports. Fifteen MLB teams train at 10 shared facilities clustered around the Phoenix metropolitan area. The facilities form a rough semicircle from Glendale (northwest) through Scottsdale and Mesa (east) to Goodyear and Surprise (west). According to driving-time data, the longest drive between any two Cactus League facilities is approximately 45 minutes, and most facility-to-facility drives are 15 to 25 minutes.

This density is the Cactus League’s defining advantage for travelers. A 10:00 AM game at Sloan Park (Cubs) in Mesa followed by a 1:05 PM game at Salt River Fields (Diamondbacks) in Scottsdale is a 20-minute drive. A morning practice session at Camelback Ranch (White Sox/Dodgers) in Glendale followed by an afternoon game at Scottsdale Stadium (Giants) is a 30-minute drive. The compactness makes Arizona the better choice for fans who want to see the most teams and games in the shortest time.

Cactus League Facility Clusters

  • Scottsdale / Salt River area (closest to Old Town Scottsdale): Salt River Fields (Diamondbacks, Rockies), Scottsdale Stadium (Giants). The most convenient facilities for fans staying in Scottsdale — 10 to 15 minutes from Old Town’s hotels and restaurants
  • Mesa / Tempe area (east valley): Sloan Park (Cubs), Hohokam Stadium (Athletics), Tempe Diablo Stadium (Angels). The Cubs at Sloan Park draw the highest attendance in the Cactus League. Mesa is 20 minutes from Scottsdale
  • Glendale / Peoria area (west valley): Camelback Ranch (White Sox, Dodgers), Peoria Sports Complex (Padres, Mariners). Larger facilities with strong fan infrastructure. 30 minutes from Scottsdale
  • Surprise / Goodyear area (far west): Surprise Stadium (Rangers, Royals), Goodyear Ballpark (Guardians, Reds). Slightly further from Scottsdale (40-45 minutes) but more affordable and less crowded

How Are Grapefruit League Facilities Laid Out?

Florida’s spring training geography is more spread out, with facilities on both coasts of the state. The Gulf Coast cluster (Tampa, Clearwater, Bradenton, Fort Myers, Sarasota) and the Atlantic Coast cluster (Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach) are separated by a two-to-three-hour cross-state drive. Multi-facility days work within each cluster but are challenging across clusters.

According to Grapefruit League data, the Tampa Bay area has the highest concentration of facilities — Steinbrenner Field (Yankees), TD Ballpark (Blue Jays, Dunedin), and BayCare Ballpark (Phillies, Clearwater) are all within 30 minutes of each other. The Jupiter-West Palm Beach area offers a second cluster with Roger Dean Stadium (Cardinals, Marlins) and The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches (Astros, Nationals) close together.

Grapefruit League Facility Clusters

  • Tampa Bay area (Gulf Coast): Steinbrenner Field (Yankees, Tampa), BayCare Ballpark (Phillies, Clearwater), TD Ballpark (Blue Jays, Dunedin), LECOM Park (Pirates, Bradenton). The densest cluster in the Grapefruit League — all within 30-45 minutes. Best base for multi-game days
  • Fort Myers area (Gulf Coast): JetBlue Park (Red Sox), Hammond Stadium (Twins). 2-hour drive from Tampa but offers the beloved Fenway-replica experience at JetBlue Park plus Fort Myers’ beach proximity
  • Jupiter / Palm Beach area (Atlantic Coast): Roger Dean Stadium (Cardinals, Marlins), The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches (Astros, Nationals). Close together (15 minutes) with Atlantic beach proximity. 2.5-hour drive from Tampa
  • Port St. Lucie (Atlantic Coast): Clover Park (Mets). Somewhat isolated from other facilities but near the Atlantic Coast beaches

How Do You Use the Schedule to Build Your Itinerary?

The MLB spring training schedule is published on mlb.com each fall, with games beginning in late February. According to scheduling data, each team plays approximately 15 home games during the exhibition season, with most games starting at 1:05 PM local time. The schedule allows you to filter by team, date, and facility — which is the essential tool for identifying same-day doubleheader opportunities and confirming that your target teams have home games on your travel dates.

Schedule Planning Tips

  • Start with your must-see team: Identify which dates your favorite team plays at home. Build the rest of your itinerary around those anchor games
  • Look for same-day doubleheader opportunities: In Arizona, check for two home games at nearby facilities on the same day — a morning game at one and an afternoon game at another. The schedule page on mlb.com makes this easy to identify
  • Check for rivalry matchups: Yankees-Red Sox, Cubs-Cardinals, and Dodgers-Giants spring training games sell out fast. If a specific rivalry is on your list, buy those tickets first
  • Plan around full-roster windows: Late February through the first week of March offers full rosters. Mid-to-late March sees roster thinning. Check the schedule to align your trip with the roster window that matters to you
  • Use a travel package for multi-game trips: MLB spring training packages from Major League Vacations include tickets to multiple games across different facilities, hotel, and rental car coordination — one booking for your entire schedule

Ready to plan your spring training itinerary? Browse MLB spring training packages or build a custom multi-facility schedule with Major League Vacations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the spring training schedule?

MLB.com/spring-training has the complete schedule with filters by team, date, and venue. Individual team websites also publish their spring training schedules with ticket links.

How far apart are Cactus League facilities?

Most are 15-25 minutes apart by car, with the longest drive approximately 45 minutes. All 10 facilities are within the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.

Can I see two games in one day?

In Arizona, yes — same-day doubleheaders at different facilities are common and practical. In Florida, same-day doubleheaders work within regional clusters (Tampa Bay area, Jupiter area) but not across coasts.

Do I need a rental car?

Yes — in both Arizona and Florida. There is no practical public transit between spring training facilities in either state. A rental car is the only way to access facilities and plan multi-game days.

Which league is better for a multi-facility trip — Cactus or Grapefruit?

The Cactus League (Arizona) for geographic density and the ability to see the most facilities in the least time. The Grapefruit League (Florida) for beach proximity and combining baseball with a broader Florida vacation.