Where the Atlanta Braves Hold Spring Training (And What That Means If You Live in Atlanta)

If you follow the Atlanta Braves from here in metro Atlanta, spring brings one big question: Where is Atlanta Braves spring training, and how do I get there from Atlanta?

Here’s a clear breakdown of where the Braves train, how it connects to life in Atlanta, and what to know if you’re thinking about making the trip.

Where Is Atlanta Braves Spring Training?

The Atlanta Braves hold spring training in North Port, Florida, at a complex called CoolToday Park.

• Facility name: CoolToday Park
• Location: North Port, Florida
• Primary use: Atlanta Braves spring training home and player development activities

Even though the team is branded as “Atlanta,” spring training is not in Georgia. Like most Major League Baseball teams, the Braves train in Florida during February and March to take advantage of warmer weather and established spring facilities.

Why Isn’t Spring Training in Atlanta?

From an Atlanta perspective, it can feel a little strange that the hometown team starts its season states away. There are a few practical reasons:

• Weather: February and early March in Atlanta can be cold and rainy. Florida’s milder climate is more reliable for daily outdoor workouts and games.
• Grapefruit League: MLB’s spring training is split into two groups:
  • Grapefruit League (Florida)
  • Cactus League (Arizona)
    The Braves are part of the Grapefruit League, so they play other teams that cluster nearby in Florida.
• Long-standing tradition: The Braves have a long history of spring training in Florida, and the infrastructure is built around that (fields, clubhouses, nearby teams, travel patterns).

For Atlanta residents, this means you won’t see official Braves spring training games at Truist Park. Instead, the team returns to Atlanta for regular-season home games and occasionally for late-spring exhibition events.

How Far Is Braves Spring Training from Atlanta?

From an Atlanta standpoint, here’s what the trip to spring training generally looks like:

*Times are rough estimates and can vary with traffic, routing, and airport connections.

Driving from Atlanta to CoolToday Park

If you’re in Atlanta or the metro area and want to drive:

• Route pattern: Many drivers take I‑75 South out of Atlanta, then connect to routes leading toward the southwest coast of Florida.
• Estimated time: About 8–9 hours, depending on traffic, stops, and exact starting point in Atlanta.
• Common starting reference points in Atlanta:
  • Downtown Atlanta (near State Capitol / Five Points)
  • Midtown Atlanta
  • Cumberland area (near Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta)

Most fans treat it as a long day drive or a weekend trip, often stopping overnight somewhere along I‑75 if traveling with family.

Flying from Atlanta to Braves Spring Training

If you prefer to fly out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, you have a few practical approaches:

1. Fly to a Nearby Florida Airport

North Port does not have a major commercial airport, so fans usually fly to nearby cities, then drive:

Common airports people use:

• Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
• Fort Myers (Southwest Florida International Airport – RSW)
• Tampa International Airport (TPA)

From these airports, people generally rent a car and drive to North Port. Drive times are typically 1–2 hours depending on the airport.

2. Combine Air Travel and a Short Road Trip

For many Atlanta-based fans:

1. Fly ATL → TPA, SRQ, or RSW
2. Pick up a rental car at the airport
3. Drive to North Port for games and practices

This option can significantly cut down total travel time compared with driving the entire way from Atlanta, especially if you’re planning a shorter trip.

When Is Atlanta Braves Spring Training?

Spring training generally runs from mid-February through late March, before the start of the regular MLB season.

From an Atlanta planning standpoint:

• Pitchers and catchers usually report first in February.
• Position players report soon after.
• Exhibition games begin later in February and run through March.

Schedules and exact dates change each year, so Atlanta fans usually:

• Check the upcoming spring schedule during the offseason.
• Look at which weekend series or weekday games fit best with school breaks, work schedules, or planned Florida vacations.

What To Expect If You Visit from Atlanta

If you’re thinking about going from Atlanta to see Braves spring training, here’s how it typically feels compared to a regular game at Truist Park in Cobb County.

Game Atmosphere

Spring training games are usually:

• Smaller and more relaxed than a packed regular-season game.
• Family-friendly, with a more casual and close-up feel.
• Often a mix of:
  • Major league stars
  • Bench players
  • Prospects and minor leaguers

You might see shorter appearances from star players, especially early in the spring, as managers focus on workouts and evaluating talent.

Access and Autographs

Fans often find:

• Easier views of batting practice and warmups
• More chances to see players moving between fields and clubhouses
• Occasional opportunities for autographs or photos, especially around practice fields

Nothing is guaranteed, but the overall environment can feel more personal than a crowded Atlanta regular-season game.

How Spring Training Connects Back to Atlanta

Even if you never travel to Florida, spring training directly affects what you see later at Truist Park.

Roster Decisions

During spring training, coaches and front office staff:

• Decide who makes the major league roster that comes back to Atlanta.
• Evaluate players returning from injury.
• Give younger prospects a chance to face higher-level competition.

By the time the Braves play their home opener in Atlanta, many of those roster choices were shaped in North Port.

Player Readiness

Spring training also helps:

• Starters build up pitch counts and innings.
• Hitters refine timing against live pitching.
• New teammates adjust to playing together, including relievers, catchers, and defensive pairings.

So when you’re sitting in a seat at Truist Park or watching from home in Atlanta, the sharpness you see on Opening Day is largely the product of that work in Florida.

Planning a Trip from Atlanta: Key Considerations

If you’re an Atlanta-based fan thinking about going down to spring training, it helps to think through:

1. Time of Year

• February: Earlier in camp; more workouts and drills, fewer full-intensity games.
• March: More game-like feel; players are ramping up for the regular season.

Atlanta families often plan around:

• Winter breaks
• Spring break weeks
• Long weekends when they can combine baseball with a broader Florida vacation.

2. Budget and Logistics

From an Atlanta lens, typical costs can include:

• Gas or airfare from Atlanta
• Hotel or vacation rental in or near North Port
• Rental car if flying
• Game tickets and parking

Many fans also compare:

• The cost of a Florida spring trip
  versus
• Saving those funds for more regular-season games in Atlanta at Truist Park.

3. Kids and Families

For metro Atlanta families, spring training can be:

• A first introduction to live baseball in a quieter setting.
• A chance for kids to see players up close without the intensity of a night game crowd.

However, it does require:

• A long drive or flight from Atlanta.
• Planning around school schedules and other activities.

How Spring Training Differs from Braves Games in Atlanta

For someone used to going to Braves games at Truist Park, the biggest differences with spring training include:

• Location:
  • Spring training: North Port, FL
  • Regular season: Truist Park in Cobb County, near the intersection of I‑75 and I‑285.
• Game stakes:
  • Spring: Focused on evaluation and preparation.
  • Regular season: Games count in the standings.
• Facilities:
  • Spring: Training complex with multiple fields, practice areas, and development facilities.
  • Atlanta: Full-scale major league stadium with larger crowds, extensive entertainment and dining at The Battery Atlanta.

From an Atlanta fan’s point of view, spring training is more about access and experience, while home games at Truist Park are about competition and atmosphere.

Quick Summary for Atlanta Residents

If you live in Atlanta and wonder about Braves spring training, here are the key points:

• Location: Atlanta Braves spring training is held at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, not in Atlanta or elsewhere in Georgia.
• Distance from Atlanta: Roughly 8–9 hours by car or a combination of flight + 1–2 hour drive from nearby Florida airports.
• Timing: Runs February through March, before the regular season returns to Truist Park in Cobb County.
• Purpose: A time for players to prepare, rosters to be set, and prospects to be evaluated before the team comes back to Atlanta.
• For fans in Atlanta: You can either travel to Florida for a more relaxed, up-close baseball experience, or follow spring training from home and then catch the Braves once they return to Atlanta for regular-season games.

This is how Atlanta’s team uses Florida each spring to get ready for the season you’ll watch here in the city.