Photo: Charles Boyer
Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Florida’s Space Coast every year to view a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
While the area is accommodating and friendly to tourists, those same tourists often ask the same question of the locals: “Where is the best places to view a rocket launch?” The answer to “where is the best place to view a launch?” is best prefaced with “it depends.”
The Cape, as many locals call the combined bases of KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, is big — really big: CCSFS is some 1,325 acres in size. It is 17 miles long and 6 miles wide, covering about 102 square miles. KSC is 140,000 acres, about 34 miles long and roughly six miles wide, covering 219 square miles. KSC is immediately north of CCSFS, so from tip to tip, it is roughly fifty miles long. That length covers the unsecured areas of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, immediately to the north of KSC, but that area is often closed for national security or crewed NASA launches. That, and officially MINWR closes at dusk.
Those numbers might seem very discouraging to a visitor, but the truth is that despite its huge size, it’s actually pretty easy for the public to get a great view of a launch. In this quick guide we’ll take a look at some of our favorites — the places the locals go to see rockets heading to space.
The Best of the Best Views: KSC Visitors Center
The best answer is to plan ahead and buy tickets from the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center, because they will have the closest views on offer: The Apollo / Saturn V Center (see below). They do cost a good bit of money, however: tickets can range from free (included with the KSCVC ticket) to as high as $250 — the price they charged for Artemis.
That’s a lot of money, but if you’re only going to come here once, trust me, it is worth it. You will definitely hear the roar and see the best view of the launch, so think about whether it fits into your budget.
If $250 is beyond what you want to spend, the Visitors Center often has cheaper tickets where you can view from the Visitors Center grounds. It’s 7.5 miles to the launch pad, but you won’t see the rocket until it clears the trees. It’s still really close and you’ll hear the roar and see a lot, so it may be an alternative for you.
Photo: Charles Boyer
Positives About Launch Viewing at KSC Visitor’s Center
- These are the best views available to the public
- End to end transportation — busses take you to the viewing site
- Bathrooms and refreshments are near the viewing sites
- A host gives viewers the latest launch information
- There are bleacher seats available
- Easily handicap accessible
- Very child-friendly
- Space gift shops are nearby
Negatives About Launch Viewing at KSC Visitor’s Center
- It’s costly: Parking + KSCVC Admission + Viewing Ticket prices add up fast
- It’s not for last-second viewers: you will need to be there several hours early to park, get to the bus and then ride it to the viewing site
- Traffic can be very heavy both coming and going
Star Fleet Tours
Star Fleet is a commercial tour operator out of the Cape Canaveral Port, and they are without a doubt the best one in town for viewing launches, bar none. That’s not to say the other guys are not good folks or a good value, but Star Fleet is a cut above.
They will give you outstanding views of launches from out on the water but aren’t as close as the KSC Visitors Center tours because of the exclusion zone that extends from the launch pad and out several miles into the Atlantic.
That doesn’t matter, because you’ll see as much as you’d see anywhere off the base, and you’ll also get to view the launch from angles that very few people ever do.
As it is with the KSCVC, there is a cost associated with them, but it’s well worth the money and the time. Click the link above to view their site and definitely consider them.
(Note: I am not compensated by or represent Star Fleet Tours. This is just my honest opinion of them.)
Positives About Star Fleet Tours
- SUPERB views of launches and landings, from the water
- Super-friendly and knowledgeable staff
- Refreshments are available
- There are usually marine toilets on-board
- Easy, secure and free parking
Negatives About Star Fleet Tours
- The tickets are somewhat pricey. Considering it’s a sea-going vessel with certified crew, however, that’s to be expected
- If you are prone to seasickness, it’s a possibility. You will be on the ocean
- Takes an appreciable amount of time to travel to the viewing site and return to port afterwards.
There are are other choices off of KSC property.
Just Okay Views (IMO):
Let’s start with two spots that in my opinion are overrated for crewed launches: Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral and the Cocoa Beach Pier in the northern end of Cocoa Beach. While they are decent viewpoints, there are much better ones strictly from a launch spectator point of view, yet they always seem to be on the tip of tourists’ tongues when they arrive here.
Crewed SpaceX launches are from LC-39A, which is on the north end of Kennedy Space Center. Let’s start with the two I consider to be mistakes. Your mileage may vary, but I think you can get a better look at other spots.
Most visitors ask me about these two places the most: Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral and the Cocoa Beach Pier. They’re great spots to visit, but are only okay for crewed launches.
You’ll definitely see the rocket in flight, but they are not what I would consider the best views for KSC-side launches. They’re a little better for launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, but even then, not the best of the best.
(Note: when Blue Origin starts launching New Glenn, Jetty Park will be a prime-time spot. Stay tuned.)
Jetty Park Pier:
Views are pretty good, but it is 13 miles to LC-39A from there, and the rocket will be flying NE and away from you. On the other hand, if the mission is being launched with a SpaceX Falcon 9, you will have the best views of anyone as the rocket returns to the landing zones in CCSFS.
Whether or not to go here can be a judgement call: do you want a close-up view of liftoff, or would you prefer to see a 230 foot tall booster free-falling out of the sky prior to its engines re-igniting and slowing it the last few feet to a soft landing? That’s your decision.
Positives about Jetty Park:
- Easy parking
- Close to Cocoa Beach
- Bathrooms
- The beach
- Area is secured
- Decent view of the rocket’s flight
- Best views of SpaceX booster landings
Negatives
- You’re a long way from liftoff, and you won’t see much until the rocket is about 100 feet high
- There’s a fee to enter
- Once the parking lots are full, no one else is allowed in
- Traffic can get thick leaving.
Cocoa Beach Pier:
Google Maps Link
About 15.5 miles from LC-39A. Decent views, but again, you will not see ignition on the launch pad and the rocket will be flying away from you.
Positives About Launch Viewing at Cocoa Beach Pier
- The beach is a world-famous surfing destination
- People-watching is great
- Restaurants on the pier and nearby are excellent
- Hotels, etc. are within walking distance
- Decent view of the rocket’s flight
Negatives About Launch Viewing at Cocoa Beach Pier
- If you have to drive to Cocoa Beach Pier, parking is paid by the hour
- It can get crowded there
- You won’t see liftoff – like Jetty Park, you’ll have to wait a few seconds for the rocket to clear obstructions
Great Views
Max Brewer Bridge, Titusville:
This is considered a top-class viewpoint. Get there early and park across the street at the park. Walk to the top of the bridge on the south side. 11.5 miles away, with an elevated viewpoint, you will clearly see ignition and liftoff. You will also see the rocket more clearly as it flies away.
Positives About Max Brewer Bridge:
- This is one of the “classic” launch viewing spots.
- It’s free
- Superb views of LC-39A and LC-39B, where crewed launches are from
- You can see ignition and liftoff from a higher vantage point
- The surrounding views are outstanding
- There are restaurants nearby
Negatives About Max Brewer Bridge:
- Parking can fill up early, especially on the side of the road
- Crowds can get heavy
- It can be a long walk to the viewing spots
- Bathrooms can be harder to find (look in the park next to the bridge) and take a while to walk to.
- It can take a long time to leave after the launch thanks to traffic
- If there is a lightning storm nearby, high on a metal structure is no place to be
Space View Park, Titusville:
Google Maps Link
12.08 miles away, this is another great viewing area. The park is smaller, with less parking. Ignition and liftoff is visible.\
Rotary Riverfront Park, US1, Titusville:
12.05 miles away, and an excellent place to go see the launch. A bit south of Space View and the Max Brewer Bridge, this park is actually closer to the launch pad and you will be able to see the liftoff. Is on the Indian River and and is an excellent vantage point. There is a small parking lot and road-side parking.
Kennedy Point Park, US1, Titusville:
12.25 miles away. More or less the same as Rotary Park but with a little less parking. Ignition and liftoff is visible.
Positives About Titusville’s Parks On US-1
- It’s free
- There are excellent views of liftoff, flight and landings
- Launch viewers in those spots are a good mix of locals and tourists, and it is a friendly crowd
- Titusville Police keeps a close eye on these spots for public safety
- This is considered one of the classic spots to watch a launch
- Internet signals are great to very good
Negatives About Titusville’s Viewing Spots
- Parking lots can fill up a couple of hours before a launch, leaving late-arriving people to park off the side of the road.
- Many viewing spots aren’t in parks, they are in vacant lots
- Traffic can be heavy after leaving
Other Spots That Are Good
Bennett Causeway – Rocket Launch Viewing Area
The causeway that extends over the Indian and then the Banana Rivers between Cocoa and Cape Canaveral are perfect places to watch a launch, albeit a long way away. You won’t hear the sound of the liftoff for over thirty seconds after ignition, but you will be able to see ignition and Falcon 9 for a good while as it heads to space.
Here’s a view of a launch from LC-39A seen from the Causeway on A1A/528
If you choose this site for viewing launches from LC-39A (or B), I recommend binoculars and for photography, you’ll need a really long zoom lens. If you want to take closer-in photos, cell phones are not that great to take pictures with from this spot, and I recommend at least a 300mm telephoto on a good DSLR or mirrorless. Even then you’ll be cropping in when you look at the shots on your computer later.
Here’s a closer view.
If you are coming in from I-95, go to the exit for the port (the cloverleaf above) and then head back west on A1A (it’s the same road as Florida-528.) Cross the first bridge (views are better there,) and pull off and park. Unless you are getting there super-early, you’ll see cars and tracks (and some campers) and fellow launch-watchers on the shore of the river.
While you wait, you’ll no doubt see pelicans, probably osprey hunting, and other waterbirds. More often than not folks will also enjoy seeing dolphins swimming just off shore. This is a wild area, so beware of wildlife. I’ve never seen an alligator at this site, but your mileage may vary. Just keep your eyes open and remember you’re in a natural area and you won’t have any problems.
Spots We Left Off
Playalinda Beach
One major viewing spot that is not included in this list is Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is immediately north of Kennedy Space Center and can offer some spectacular launch viewing.
The reason why it is omitted is fairly simple: it is often closed to the public during national security or crewed launches, both for public safety and for general security reasons. MINWR closes at dusk, and it is not uncommon for KSC Police or National Parks rangers to ask you to leave if they see you in MINWR at night.
Photo: Charles Boyer
IF Playalinda Beach inside the Wildlife Refuge is open (be sure to check the day of or the day before a launch, it is perhaps the best place to go. You’ll be on the longest stretch of undeveloped beach on Florida’s east coast, and you’ll be within four miles of liftoff, on a beach. It’s incredible there, but chances are less than 50/50 that it will be open for a crewed launch. That said it is worth checking.
If Playalinda is open for the launch you are seeing, it is an absolute must to several hours early. The beach fills up very quickly, and once the parking lots are full, the National Park Service stops allowing more visitors inside the gate.
Additionally, this is an area that requires an entrance fee, and the line to get in can be long and take a long time as people purchase their entrance tickets. Patience is required.
