When is Spring Training in Scottsdale
Spring Training in Scottsdale runs from late February through most of March. That is when Cactus League teams settle into their Arizona ballparks for a month of preseason baseball under a sky that rarely clouds over. The games count for nothing in the standings, which is exactly why they are so much fun. Players are loose. Tickets are easier to come by than in the regular season. And the parks are small enough that you can hear the infield chatter from the concourse.
We have hosted Spring Training groups at our Scottsdale houses for years. The rhythm is always the same. A slow morning by the pool, an afternoon game, dinner back at the house or out in Old Town. Then you do it again with a different team the next day. If you are planning your first trip, this guide covers the ballparks, the timing and where a group should stay.
Cactus League ballparks near Scottsdale
The Cactus League is spread across the Valley, but Scottsdale sits close to the middle of it. Several parks are a short drive from our estates and one is right in the heart of town.
The Diamondbacks are the home team and bring the most local energy to the stands. The Giants at Scottsdale Stadium are the game most of our guests build the trip around, simply because the park is so easy to reach from Old Town. If you want a two-team kind of day, Camelback Ranch lets you see both clubs that train there without moving the car.
- Scottsdale Stadium, downtown Scottsdale: spring home of the San Francisco Giants and the only park you can reach on foot from Old Town.
- Salt River Fields: where the Arizona Diamondbacks train, a short drive east of Scottsdale.
- Sloan Park, Mesa: the Chicago Cubs and one of the loudest crowds in the league.
- Hohokam Stadium, Mesa: the Athletics, a relaxed and budget-friendly afternoon with plenty of young talent on the field.
- Camelback Ranch, Glendale: shared by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox, so one drive west gets you two clubs.
How to plan a Spring Training trip for a big group
Hotels get awkward at eight people and impossible at twenty. That is the whole case for a private estate during Spring Training. Everyone eats breakfast in the same kitchen, the cars leave together, and the post-game debrief happens around one pool instead of in a lobby bar.
A few things we tell every group. Buy tickets as soon as the schedules are released, because the popular matchups sell out fast. Plan one game a day, not two. Afternoon starts are the norm and the drive back across the Valley eats more of the evening than you expect. Leave at least one day open for golf or a hike.
Bring sunscreen and a hat. Late February in Scottsdale feels like early summer if you are flying in from Chicago or the Bay Area, and the seats down the lines get full sun all afternoon.
Where to stay for Spring Training in Scottsdale
Parsons Hospitality runs four private estates across Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Each one suits a different kind of Spring Training group.
Wild West Estate is the natural pick for a group of up to sixteen. It has seven bedrooms and sits close to Old Town, which puts Scottsdale Stadium and the best bars and restaurants within a short ride. A group of college friends chasing the Giants and the Cubs for a long weekend will not want to be anywhere else.
Casa Palacio takes twenty across eight bedrooms and adds a grotto pool and a tennis court. It works for two or three families traveling together, or for a company that wants to bring clients to the games and host them properly afterward.
Valley Vista Estate in Paradise Valley sleeps thirty across eleven bedrooms. It is the answer when the reunion keeps growing, or when a corporate outing needs one roof for the whole team.
Troon Ranch Casitas in North Scottsdale is three separate casitas five minutes from Troon North. If your group is smaller and golf matters as much as baseball, this is the one.
Things to do in Scottsdale between games
Spring Training leaves your mornings and evenings wide open. Old Town Scottsdale has the dining and the galleries. The Sonoran Desert has the hiking, and March is the month to do it before the heat arrives. Several of our guests treat Spring Training as a golf trip with baseball attached, and the courses around North Scottsdale make that easy.
The intimate ballparks are part of the appeal, but so is the pace. Nobody is rushing. Games start in the early afternoon, the crowd thins in the seventh, and you are back at the house with the grill going before sunset.
Booking tips for Spring Training week
Spring Training is one of the busiest stretches of the Scottsdale calendar. It overlaps with the Arabian Horse Show and the start of rodeo season, so the whole town is full. Our estates carry event-week minimum stays during this period and the March dates go first.
Book as soon as your group agrees on dates. If you are flexible, late February is a little quieter than mid-March and the weather is nearly identical. Ask us about the ballparks when you reserve. We know the drive times from every house and will tell you honestly which games are worth the trip across the Valley.
Questions we get asked
When does Spring Training start in Scottsdale?
Cactus League games begin in late February and run through most of March. Exact dates shift each year, so check the league schedule before you book.
Which Spring Training ballpark is closest to Scottsdale?
Scottsdale Stadium, spring home of the San Francisco Giants, is in downtown Scottsdale. Salt River Fields, where the Diamondbacks train, is a short drive away.
Can a group of 16 stay together for Spring Training in Scottsdale?
Yes. Wild West Estate sleeps sixteen across seven bedrooms and sits close to Old Town. For twenty, look at Casa Palacio. For thirty, Valley Vista Estate.
Is there a minimum stay during Spring Training?
Yes. Our estates carry event-week minimum stays across the Spring Training season. Send us your dates and we will confirm what applies.
