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February is Southwest Florida’s high season. Snowbirds fill the beaches, the weather is dry and mild, and in the second half of the month the Grapefruit League starts playing: seven big-league teams train within an hour of the Gulf beaches we cover. MLB has scheduled 2027 spring training games to start on Friday, February 19, 2027. One big caveat: the league’s labor deal expires December 1, 2026, so read the lockout note below before you book.
Which teams play near which beach
Here’s each Gulf Coast ballpark with the beach we’d stay on for it. Drive times are approximate and assume normal traffic; game days and February weekends are slower.
| Team | Ballpark | Stay on | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Red Sox | JetBlue Park, Fort Myers | Sanibel & Captiva | About 45 min |
| Minnesota Twins | Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers | Sanibel & Captiva | About 30–40 min |
| Baltimore Orioles | Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota | Siesta Key | About 20 min |
| Atlanta Braves | CoolToday Park, North Port | Siesta Key | About 45 min |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | LECOM Park, Bradenton | Anna Maria Island | About 25 min |
| Philadelphia Phillies | BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater | Clearwater Beach | About 20 min |
| Toronto Blue Jays | TD Ballpark, Dunedin | Clearwater Beach | About 20 min |
Spring training games are usually day games around 1 pm, with a few night games. Team schedules and ticket on-sale dates are posted on each club’s site; popular matchups and weekend games sell out.
Fort Myers (Red Sox and Twins): stay on Sanibel & Captiva
Two teams train in Fort Myers, which makes it the busiest spring training town on this coast. Sanibel and Captiva are the beach base: famous for shelling, bike paths and sunsets, with no high-rises. The trade-off is the causeway and island traffic, so leave early on game days.
Sanibel and Captiva were hit hard by hurricanes in 2022 and 2024, and some properties and restaurants are still rebuilding. Look at recent photos and reviews before you book; our listings show each stay’s guest rating and review count.
Sarasota (Orioles, and the Braves in North Port): stay on Siesta Key
Siesta Key is about 20 minutes from the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium and about 45 minutes from the Braves’ CoolToday Park in North Port. Siesta Beach’s fine white quartz sand stays cool underfoot, and Siesta Key Village has restaurants you can walk to. On non-game days, Sarasota’s St. Armands Circle and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium are close by.
Bradenton (Pirates): stay on Anna Maria Island
The Pirates play at LECOM Park, one of the oldest ballparks in spring training, about 25 minutes from Anna Maria Island. The island is low-key Old Florida: beach cottages, small inns, no high-rises, and a free trolley that runs the length of the island, so you can park the car for the days you’re not at the ballpark.
Clearwater and Dunedin (Phillies and Blue Jays): stay on Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach puts you about 20 minutes from both the Phillies at BayCare Ballpark and the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, and the Yankees play across the bay in Tampa. The beach is busy and walkable, with resort hotels, condos and the nightly sunset celebration at Pier 60. Most stays here are hotels, so it’s the easiest place on this list for a short, flexible trip.
February weather on the Gulf Coast
- Air: daytime highs are usually in the 70s °F, a few degrees warmer in Fort Myers and Naples than in Clearwater. Nights can drop into the 50s, and a cold front can bring a few cool, windy days.
- Water: the Gulf is usually in the mid-60s °F, refreshing at best. If swimming matters, filter for a stay with a heated pool.
- Rain: February is one of the driest months of the year here.
Valentine’s and Presidents’ Day share a weekend
In 2027, Valentine’s Day is Sunday, February 14, and Presidents’ Day is Monday, February 15. That weekend lands in the middle of snowbird season and the week before games are scheduled to start, so beach rentals and hotels book up early and many rentals set longer minimum stays. If your dates are flexible, the weekdays before February 13 or after February 16 are easier to book.
Want mountains instead of a beach for Valentine’s? See our romantic cabin getaways guide.
