Ultimate 1-Day Salt Lake City Sandlot Getaway: Relive the Classic Baseball Movie

Introduction

For fans of The Sandlot, few things are as nostalgic as the treehouse banter, the Beast’s backyard, and Squints’ legendary pool moment. Lucky for you, most of the film was shot around Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah — and you can see it all in a single day! This trip is tailor-made for movie buffs, families, or anyone craving a mix of film history and quirky Americana. In just one day, you’ll swing by the houses of Smalls and Benny, peek at the original sandlot field, cool off at the pool, and wrap it up at the drugstore where the boys hustled for baseballs. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die — and this trip proves it.

• ✈️ How to Fly into Salt Lake City

• Closest Airport: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) — just 10 minutes from downtown and less than 45 minutes from all the filming locations.

• Direct Flights: Major airlines (Delta, Southwest, United, American, Alaska, JetBlue) offer nonstop service from most U.S. hubs.

• Rental Car: Highly recommended — all Sandlot filming spots are spread across Salt Lake, Midvale, and Ogden. Pick up your car at SLC and you’re ready for the road trip.

• Pro Tip: If you’re short on time, skip Ogden (the pool) — all other locations are within 30 minutes of downtown Salt Lake City.

• 👉 Book Flights + Rental Car on Expedia
  
  

🏨 Where to Stay in Salt Lake City, Utah

Grand America Hotel (Upscale Luxury)
📍 555 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT
✅ Luxury spa, indoor & outdoor pools, elegant rooms, central downtown location
👉 Book on Expedia

Little America Hotel (Mid-Range Classic)
📍 500 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT
✅ Comfortable rooms, family-friendly, great value, indoor & outdoor pools
👉 Book on Expedia

Hyatt Place Salt Lake City/Downtown (Modern Mid-Range)
📍 55 N 400 W, Salt Lake City, UT
✅ Free breakfast, spacious suites, walkable to restaurants, close to I-15
👉 Book on Expedia

Motel 6 Salt Lake City Downtown (Budget-Friendly)
📍 176 W 600 S, Salt Lake City, UT
✅ Budget stay, pet-friendly, free parking, simple rooms
👉 Book on Expedia

VRBO Option: Modern SLC Bungalow
📍 Near Sugar House neighborhood
✅ 2-bedroom home, full kitchen, private yard, close to Smalls & Benny’s houses
👉 Book on VRBO

🚗 Day 1: Heroes, Houses & The Beast

Morning: The Sandlot Neighborhood

Scotty Smalls’ House
📍 1556 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT
⏳ Suggested Time: 10 min 💲 Admission: Free (private residence – view respectfully)
Description: Start where it all began. This quiet Salt Lake neighborhood was home to Smalls, the new kid in town. Snap a photo from the street — it looks remarkably similar today.

Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez’s House
📍 1571 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT
⏳ Suggested Time: 10 min 💲 Admission: Free (private residence – view respectfully)
Description: Just steps away is Benny’s house, the heart of the team. Stand here and imagine the legendary back-yard pep talks that led Smalls into Sandlot history.

Ham Porter’s House
📍 2005 Bryan Ave, Salt Lake City, UT
⏳ Suggested Time: 10 min 💲 Admission: Free (private residence – view respectfully)
Description: A quick drive lands you at Ham’s place — you’re killin’ me, Smalls! It’s another quiet residential street, but worth the stop for a fan photo.

Lunch: Liberty Park Picnic

Liberty Park
📍 600 E 900 S, Salt Lake City, UT 🔗 Website
⏳ Suggested Time: 1 hr 💲 Admission: Free
Description: Pack a picnic or grab take-out from a local sandwich shop, then relax at Liberty Park. This is where the Founders Day carnival and fair scenes were filmed. Bonus: the chase with “The Beast” had sequences shot around here too.

Afternoon: The Field, Mr. Myrtle & The Game

The Original Sandlot Field
📍 1388 Glenrose Dr. S, Salt Lake City, UT
⏳ Suggested Time: 20 min 💲 Admission: Free (street view only)
Description: The most sacred stop — the sandlot itself. The field is now fenced off and mostly overgrown, but the bones of it are still there. Respect private property, but take it in: this is the spot where baseball became legend.

Mr. Myrtle’s House (The Blind Man & The Beast)

📍 Next to the Sandlot Field, near 1388 Glenrose Dr. S, Salt Lake City, UT

⏳ Suggested Time: 15–20 min 💲 Admission: Free (view area respectfully)

Description: In the movie, the blind character Mr. Myrtle (played by James Earl Jones) lived next to the Sandlot and owned The Beast. His house wasn’t a real residence — it was a prop built right beside the Sandlot field for filming. The infamous backyard fence where The Beast lurked was also constructed along this lot. Today, the house is gone, but standing near the field you can still picture those legendary scenes where Smalls and the gang finally faced their fears. 

Riverside / Neil Draper Field (The Big Game)
📍 739 N 1400 W, Salt Lake City, UT
⏳ Suggested Time: 20 min 💲 Admission: Free
Description: This is where Benny and the gang played the rich kids in their uniforms. Riverside Park’s northeast baseball field — now named Neil Draper Field — is still active. Address: 739 N 1400 W, Salt Lake City, UT. Stand behind home plate and relive the swagger of that unforgettable showdown.

Late Afternoon: The Pool

Lorin Farr Community Pool
📍 1691 Gramercy Ave, Ogden, UT 🔗 Website 📞 (801) 629-8284
⏳ Suggested Time: 45 min 💲 Admission: $6–$7
Description: Up in Ogden, this classic public pool is where Squints made movie history. You can actually swim here, so bring your suit if you want the full experience.

Dinner Finale

Vincent Drug Store (Exterior Only)
📍 7696 Main St W, Midvale, UT 84047
⏳ Suggested Time: 15–20 min 💲 Admission: Free (view from the street)
Description: End the day where the boys bought baseballs. Vincent Drug is long closed, but the storefront facade remains. Trees and landscaping obscure parts of the building, but fans will instantly recognize the spot. A perfect nostalgic photo op to close out your trip.

🕒 Sample Timeline

• 8:30 AM → Leave hotel, start at Smalls’ house
  
  

• 9:00–11:30 AM → Houses + Sandlot field + Liberty Park
  
  

• 12:00 PM → Picnic lunch at Liberty Park
  
  

• 1:30 PM → Riverside Little League Field
  
  

• 2:30 PM → Drive to Ogden, hit Lorin Farr Pool (swim if you want)
  
  

• 4:30 PM → Head south to Midvale for Vincent Drug
  
  

• 6:00 PM → Wrap up, dinner nearby or return downtown
  
  

Total drive time: ~2 hrs 40 min (spread across the day).

Final Thoughts

In just one whirlwind day, you’ve seen Smalls’ humble beginnings, Benny’s backyard leadership, Ham’s comic relief, and the original sandlot where legends were born. You’ve cooled off at Squints’ infamous pool, strolled Liberty Park, and capped it at the iconic drugstore. For any fan of The Sandlot, this trip is the ultimate movie pilgrimage. Book your Salt Lake stay through Expedia or VRBO and get ready to step straight into baseball movie history.