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Kennedy Space Center Discounts and Deals

LAST UPDATE: 7/18/24

Kennedy Space Center is located near Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, about one hour’s drive from Walt Disney World and very near Disney’s Port Canaveral cruise terminal. It’s a fascinating place to visit and also adds an educational element to a Florida vacation! Check below for the latest Kennedy Space Center discounts, coupons, and offers .

If you need tickets to Kennedy Space Center and other Orlando area attractions , it’s worth checking out the available multi-attraction ticket discounts to see if they can save you extra money. Be sure to compare the final cost of a multi-park pass to the combined cost of the individual tickets; the best deal varies depending on the specific attractions and the discounts that are currently available.

All offers are subject to change without notice. Always call ahead and confirm before driving out of your way to take advantage of a particular offer! 

Kennedy Space Center Gate Prices

Kennedy space center ticket discounts, discounts on multi-attraction tickets that include kennedy space center, hotels near kennedy space center.

Please note: Kennedy Space Center charges a $5.60 processing fee per online order.

1-Day Admission is $80.25 per adult (age 12 and up), $69.55 per child (age 3-11), including tax. This date-specific ticket includes 1-day admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

2-Day Admission is $95.23 per adult (age 12 and up), $84.53 per child (age 3-11), including tax. This date-specific ticket is good for 2 visits, both admissions must be used within 6 months of the selected date. 

Parking is $16.05 for cars, $21.40 for RVs, $5.35 for motorcycles, tax included.

• Kennedy Space Center Specials & Discounts

Discount Tickets from Undercover Tourist

Aaa ticket discounts.

• United States, Puerto Rico & US Virgin Islands Teacher Pass

Military Ticket Discounts

• University of Central Florida Ticket Discounts

Go City Orlando Pass

Kennedy space center visitor complex specials & discounts.

You can sometimes find special offers on the Kennedy Space Center site . When we know about them, we will list them here.

Undercover Tourist , a reliable, authorized ticket broker, sells Kennedy Space Center tickets at a significant discount . This vendor often has the best deal overall.

A great source for Kennedy Space Center tickets is Undercover Tourist , a highly reliable ticket broker that sells substantially discounted Kennedy Space Center tickets (and other Florida attraction tickets). Undercover Tourist’s prices include tax , so be sure to account for that when comparing prices. If you’d like to know more, take a look at  why we recommend Undercover Tourist .

• Save money on Kennedy Space Center tickets from Undercover Tourist!  Scroll down to the Sightseeing section to see  Kennedy Space Center tickets.

Have some time before you need your tickets? Undercover Tourist offers its best deals on tickets exclusively for MouseSavers Newsletter subscribers. These special prices are not available to the general public and are not published here on MouseSavers.com. They are provided ONLY through a “secret” link in the monthly newsletter. They also run special sales on a few tickets in a Hot Deals newsletter once per month and they sometimes include Kennedy Space Center tickets. If you want to see those special sales you’ll want to subscribe to the Hot Deals alerts as well.

• Subscribe to the FREE MouseSavers Newsletter . The newsletter comes out on the 15th of each month (or the next business day) and we do not send out the “secret” link separately from the newsletter, so please plan ahead.

Each AAA (Auto Club) region has a different ticket policy. Not all regions carry discounted Kennedy Space Center tickets; regions that do carry the tickets may offer various promotions, which will come and go. You can only purchase tickets online through your own local club. You can generally purchase in person at any AAA club location throughout the USA by showing your card, but you’ll want to make sure the club in question has tickets in stock.

Auto Club South offers AAA members a discount on Kennedy Space Center admission when purchased in advance either in person or online. Note that it can take several days for Auto Club South tickets to be delivered via email – call ahead to check before you head to Orlando.

United States, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands Teacher Pass

United States, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Island K-12 teachers can get an Educator Study Pass that provides complimentary access to the Visitor Complex and KSC’s Educator Resource Center (ERC). To be eligible for this teacher’s resource, educators must bring one of the following items to Will Call: an active teaching certificate from the United States, Puerto Rico or US Virgin Islands; a badge with a photo that shows the title Teacher or Educator for K-12; or a letter on school letterhead, dated and signed by the principal listing the name of the teacher, stating they are an educator at the school. Call (855) 433-4210 for details.

Active and retired military receive special discounted pricing to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex when purchasing tickets through their participating ITT/MWR office.

Active military receive $5 off adult and child admission when presenting a valid military photo ID at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Ticket Plaza. Discounted military tickets can also be purchased in advance online on the Kennedy Space Center site, but you will need to use ID.me to verify that you are eligible. 

Active military also receive a 10% discount on merchandise and food when presenting their ID inside the Visitor Complex.

There is also a discount for military on Armed Forces Day (3rd Saturday in May).

University of Central Florida – Kennedy Space Center Ticket Discounts

Students, faculty and staff at University of Central Florida can purchase Kennedy Space Center tickets at a significantly reduced rate. There is a limit of 2 tickets every 30 days. Tickets can be purchased through the SGA Ticket Center located on the first floor of the Student Union. Be sure to buy in advance because they do sell out at times. Thanks to Amanda for info.

If you’re planning to visit the Kennedy Space Center, Legoland , and more, you may want to consider a Go City Orlando Pass . Very good discounts are frequently available, and MouseSavers.com readers get $10 or more in additional promo code discounts on these multi-park passes! These passes can save you a lot of money, and eliminate the hassle of buying all of your tickets individually. For more details and pricing just click on the pass name.

Go City Orlando Pass Discounts

Go City Orlando Pass is an all-inclusive pass that allows you to visit as many attractions as you want within a set number of days (usually 3 to 7 days). You pay one discount price for the number of days you choose. These work well if you are visiting at least two major attractions plus some less expensive attractions. The more attractions you visit, the more you save.

• Go City Orlando Pass includes admission to  50 Florida attractions  and comes in 2-, 3- and 5-day increments. If you want to fit in as much as you can using one simple pass for one price, consider this all-inclusive pass. Extra discounts are frequently available and MouseSavers readers get an extra discount off their purchase with a special promo code! This pass includes Kennedy Space Center ,  Legoland , Boggy Creek Airboat Tour, WonderWorks Orlando, Lion Country Safari, The Wheel at ICON Park, Gatorland, and more.

Read reviews of hotels that are convenient to Kennedy Space Center.

Honest Kennedy Space Center Review + Expert Tips (2024)

Whether you’re a Florida resident or just visiting, one of the lesser talked about attractions is the Kennedy Space Center.

Everyone seems to focus on Disney and Universal, while missing out one of the most fascinating attractions in all of the US – the Kennedy Space Center.

This is truly where the magic happens when it comes to the American Space program.

Countless astronauts have blasted off from their launchpads, and history has been made thanks to NASA’s work (and now private companies) at the center.

In this Kennedy Space Center review, we’re talking all about the visitor complex where you can get up close and personal to giant rockets, retired shuttles, and hear from astronauts about the day to day experience up in space.

As we’ll talk about later, the KSC is located about an hour’s drive away from Orlando (the main hub of tourist attraction in Central Florida), but that journey is well worth it for anyone who has ever dreamed of walking in the footsteps of the explorers who have raced to the moon, landed rovers on Mars, or discovered new planets.

💰 Want the cheapest Kennedy Space Center tickets ?

We always buy them here for the best prices!

Practical Tips for KSC

Below are some of the more need-to-know tips about the Kennedy Space Center.

• Address : Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953, USA
• The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a full-day experience (mostly self-guided)
• KSC is typically open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and the hours are typically 9am to 5pm
• Bring lots of sunscreen and check out my Florida packing list to make sure you are actually prepared for a day in the sun

Is Kennedy Space Center Worth It?

Before you go on reading about the Shuttle Launch experience or astronaut talks or any of the amazing things that the Kennedy Space Center offers, the main question on your mind might be, “Is the Kennedy Space Center worth it?”

While it’s close to some beaches, it is a commitment to visit from Orlando if that’s where you’re based on your vacation, and in the late 90s and early 2000s, KSC was not necessarily known for its quality.

It was fun, but maybe not a full day experience.

Nowadays, in 2023, a lot has changed at the center and the Kennedy Space Center is not only completely worth it, but should be a must-do on your Florida bucketlist.

Who Should Go to the Kennedy Space Center?

Who is the Kennedy Space Center for?

Is it too advanced for small kids?

Too many kiddie activities for adults?

Luckily, Kennedy Space Center is for everyone.

Genuinely, everyone.

For adults, there are plenty of fascinating space-themed exhibits.

For kids, there are interactive games and an awesome play area and IMAX movies.

For the teens, there are some cool simulators and the general awe of standing under a space shuttle.

You don’t need to know much about space or NASA’s missions to visit Kennedy Space Center , as they do a great job of explaining everything and helping you get immersed in this incredible world of spaceflight.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Overview

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is located within Kennedy Space Center. Kennedy Space Center itself is where all of the American rocket (and past shuttle and other) launches takes place.

The Visitor Complex is very much for-visitors, so you aren’t being given extra security access to some of the more important NASA buildings (as if!), but you do get to see them from the outside, and NASA has built out the visitor section with plenty of artifacts, preserved mission control rooms and space mobiles, and other information so you can learn about what they do without getting in the way of the astronauts about to launch.

The park is big enough to take up a whole day, but not so massive that it’s hard to get around, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost like you might at some of the bigger Disney theme parks.

Walking through the entrance is an experience unto itself, where you’ll see one of NASA’s launch countdown clocks used until recent years, as well as the beautiful “EXPLORE” letters.

Once you’re in the park, the first area is the Heroes and Legends exhibit, which has a movie intro and then takes you into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

It’s worth it to take a quick look inside, but it isn’t the best that KSC has to offer.

Further on you’ll find the Rocket Garden, which is exactly what it sounds like and is one of the best chances at the center to get really up close to some of the most famous rockets in NASA history.

Keep walking and head to the right and you’ll find the hub of Kennedy Space Center, including Mission to Mars (an exhibit all about how NASA is trying to both take humans to Mars and learn more about this mysterious planet), as well as the Universe theater where they hold astronaut talks and some movie showings throughout the day.

Under the awning there are plenty of tables to sit and enjoy your lunch, as well as entrance to the Kennedy Space Center store, which we’ll cover later.

You’ll also find some really cool exhibits, including interactive walkway exhibits where you step on the tiles to make energy, as well as International Space Station memorabilia and the iconic NASA logo over the rotating Earth.

Follow through to the Bus Launch area, which will take you on the Kennedy Space Center bus tour that we’ll cover in a minute.

Or, keep heading through the awning and you’ll find the IMAX center (seriously worth seeing one of their IMAX movies – this is NASA, they’ve got the original space footage!) as well as the kid’s play area called Planet Play which they basically won’t want to leave.

You’ll pass some restaurants and bathrooms and arrive at the far corner of the park where the Atlantis exhibition and Space Shuttle Experience is found.

The Atlantis exhibition is for anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to see a space shuttle up close.

While the shuttle program is no longer active, the spirit of the shuttle and all of the innovations it brought to NASA are celebrated in this fantastic and large exhibit.

There’s a brief movie as you enter, and then the doors open and you see Atlantis right in front of you, no longer in space but showing off here on Earth.

Throughout the exhibit there are fun kid-friendly interactive activities to see how well you could pilot the shuttle, as well as a replica of the space station made out of clear plastic tubes for toddlers and children to crawl in.

There’s also a fun slide to take you from the top to the bottom (but there are also stairs, don’t worry).

Adults will love the sheer amount of information about the shuttle, including exhibits on its boosters, how the shuttle is transported to the pad, and how it lands.

On a more somber note, there is a memorial for the two shuttles lost during the program: Challenger and Columbia. Each astronaut on these missions are celebrated and remembered, and there is a piece of wreckage of each that has been recovered.

It reminds you of the dangers of space flight and of the absolute bravery of each astronaut who pushes the boundaries to go beyond for the advancement of humankind.

Within the Atlantis building is the Shuttle Launch Experience, which we’ve dedicated its own section to below.

The final section of the park is the Apolo/Saturn V center, which we have included as part of the bus tour review since you can’t walk to it from within the park and must take the bus transportation.

Shuttle Launch Experience

One of the most popular things for KSC to advertise with on commercials is the Shuttle Launch Experience. They promise that you’ll feel what it’s really like to get on a shuttle and launch into outer space.

The reality is that the simulator at Disney’s Epcot, Mission Space, is far more intense than the Shuttle Launch Experience, but that means the experience is more family-friendly here.

No backpacks or purses can be taken on board, so you use the free lockers provided and then get in line and weave your way up to the entrance. Staff members should be able to tell you how long the wait is, but we only waited 10 or so minutes on a week day.

You’ll experience a prelaunch briefing, then get strapped into your seats for around an 8 minute experience where the simulator tips you so you are “laying” on your back in your seats, and then it’s off to space!

If the line is short enough, everyone should do it just to say they’ve done it, but if it’s relatively long, it’s really only worth doing if you have kids who will definitely enjoy themselves.

You do feel some “forces” on you and the simulator will shake and rattle around, but somehow I doubt this is actually how the astronauts feel!

Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour

The KSC bus tour and Apollo/Saturn V center is the crème of the crop for what the visitor complex has to offer (the Atlantis exhibition is a close second).

It’s also included with the price of your ticket!

The traditional bus tour is usually about an hour experience that takes you throughout the Kennedy Space Center complex, including launch pads, the famous vehicle assembly building, and to landing facilities and the Cape Canaveral lighthouse.

Unfortunately, as of January 2022, the full bus tour is not operating due to COVID-19 and there is no clear date of when this will be brought back.

However, a shortened bus tour that takes about 20 minutes will take you from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex out to the Apollo/Saturn V center, and along the way you will see the Vehicle Assembly Building and some launch pads.

To get to be roaming around NASA’s grounds with your bus driver is truly an experience of a lifetime for many who can look out to the launch pads and imagine a rocket blasting off or finally get a feel for just how massive the Vehicle Assembly Building is (it had to fit a whole Space Shuttle!)

Once you get to your destination, the Apollo/Saturn V Center, you take a self-guided tour through this fantastic exhibit which includes everything from information on the moon landings to an actual Saturn V hanging over your head for you to get a real sense of scale.

There’s a fantastic “experience” where you get to see the original Mission Control room for the first crewed Apollo V mission, and there are memorials to astronauts who lost their lives during missions during this time.

If the Atlantis exhibition is NASA’s more recent past, then the Saturn V/Apollo center is its real history, taking you back to a time when landing on the moon sent shockwaves around the world and rockets and capsules were much less advanced than they are now.

You can even walk across one of the arms to get to the rocket that actual crews walked across on the launch pad.

When you’re finished with this area (you could spend a solid couple of hours here, but there is a lot of other park to see so about an hour to an hour and a half should be good), you hop back on the next waiting bus which takes you directly back to the Visitor Complex.

Astronaut Talks, Events, and Movies

In between all of the exhibits, the Kennedy Space Center puts on a daily schedule of events that ranges from the IMAX movies to talks and Q&A sessions from astronauts (you would be surprised how many astronauts you’ve never heard the names of who just want to give back and share about their experiences at KSC).

These are well worth going to, and for many the highlight of the day as you can take some time to cool off in a dark theater or lecture hall and actually hear from the people who know spaceflight best.

Food at the Kennedy Space Center

There are no waiter-service restaurants at the Kennedy Space Center, but there are a few sit-down restaurants where you order and then get your food and find a seat.

If you’re out at the Saturn V/Apollo Center, Moon Rock Cafe has some options including chicken salads and pizzas.

Back at the visitor complex, Orbit Cafe is probably your best bet with the most options like pulled pork, burgers, pizza, salads, and more.

There’s also the Red Rock Grill (again, more of the same), which wasn’t open during our visit.

None of the food is gourmet, but it’s not bad for theme park food.

You can bring your own lunch in, however, which is what we’d recommend if you’re visiting from somewhere where it’s easy to pack your own lunch.

The snacks at KSC are definitely the real treat, with everything from hand-dipped ice cream to Dippin Dots to everyone’s favorite “astronaut” food (ie, dehydrated food that really should only be eaten if you’re in outer space, but many kids find fun to try).

Kennedy Space Center Store

Space lovers will be happy to know that the Kennedy Space Center store is two storeys full of memorabilia, T-shirts, mugs, toys, and so many space-themed items that your Christmas shopping for the year can basically be done all in one go.

It’s not just tacky stuff, either (though they do have things like shot glasses and bottle openers), but some really cool merchandise like flight jackets that can make you feel like you’re really a part of something.

There’s also a store out at the Saturn V complex if you end up spending more time out there.

How to Get to Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center is on the east coast of Florida, about 50 minutes to an hour from Orlando in good traffic.

The easiest way to get there is to rent a car and drive, but if you’re visiting Orlando and you don’t have a car, there are day trip options from Orlando to the Kennedy Space Center .

In fact, it’s one of the best day trips from Orlando , full stop.

The best tour of the Kennedy Space Center from Orlando is this one (you will be self-guided when you arrive at the Kennedy Space Center, like other visitors, but you can add-on the transportation from Orlando that would be near impossible or prohibitively expensive otherwise if you don’t have a car of your own).

Best Kennedy Space Center Tour from Orlando

Need transportation to the Kennedy Space Center from Orlando? The best tour option is here .

Parking at Kennedy Space Center

Parking at Kennedy Space Center is plentiful, but is an extra $10 per car ($5 per motorcycle) on top of your ticket price.

Kennedy Space Center Tickets

Kennedy Space Center is one of those places where the ticket price on the day costs just as much as online, so really the only benefit to buying online is so you don’t have to stand in line at the ticket booth (which, honestly, is a great reason, but I’m just saying if you forget to do that then you can still purchase them there).

For adults, the cost is $57 per person, and for children it’s $47.

If you do want to buy online, you can buy tickets here .

If you’re looking for Kennedy Space Center discounted tickets, the best places to check out are buying them via Undercover Tourist here, or if you’re a military member, you get discounted entrance.

You can also buy multi-day entrance for $82 per adult where you can come buy as many times as you want during the year, so if you’re local or planning on coming back, it’s not too much more expensive to add this on.

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Complete Guide to Visiting Kennedy Space Center: Tips & Tricks

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The Kennedy Space Center is likely already on your list if you have an interest in all things space, especially if you’re traveling to Orlando with kids and seeking a hands-on experience. 

For Florida travelers with a more passing interest, it can still be a great visit. It can help you develop a greater appreciation for what it takes to run a successful space shuttle program and the bravery and ingenuity involved with planning for a safe, effective space launch.

Our family had an amazing time checking out the Kennedy Space Center, which was the perfect way to mix things up in between Walt Disney World and Universal Studios .

Pro tip: Get your discounted Kennedy Space Center tickets here and bundle them with your rental car for huge savings!

In this guest post, space enthusiast Brian of Travel on the Reg will share his best tips for Kennedy Space Center to make the most of your visit! He’ll share the best things to do at the Kennedy Space Center and how to plan your next trip there with this complete guide to the Florida space site. I took lots of fun photos on our family trip to Kennedy Space Center, and you’ll see those throughout this article since I haven’t gotten to use them elsewhere!

And now over to Brian…

Where is the Kennedy Space Center?

The Kennedy Space Center is on Merritt Island in central Florida. It’s not really a city but an unincorporated area. The area is most well-known for being a NASA launch site as home to the Launch and Landing Facility (LLF), previously known as the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF).

Merritt Island is also home to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. That means you may be able to spot some bald eagles on your way to the entrance, and if you opt to stay nearby you’ll want to build in time for a visit on a different day. 

NASA actually works with the refuge to make sure any decisions they make about shuttle launches, expansions, and changes to the existing footprint keep the wildlife habitat in mind.

Why was the Kennedy Space Center built in Florida? 

The Kennedy Space Center was built in Florida for a few reasons:

• Florida is closer to the equator than most other U.S. states, so rockets and shuttles launched from here use less energy to get out to where they’re going. In this case, where they’re likely going is outer space.
• Florida is on the East Coast. Anything launched from here gets a boost from the Earth’s eastward spin vs. similar efforts out of the West Coast.
• It’s close to the Atlantic Ocean. Any debris coming off the shuttles and rockets will fall into the water rather than in developed areas. Potential explosions, while rare, are also safer over the water.

One of the virtual astronauts you’ll meet while checking out the exhibits at the Kennedy Space Center will give you more details about the benefits of KSC’s location!

The complex is one of 10 NASA field centers around the United States, but it’s arguably the most well-known whether you’re a nerd for space exploration or a more casual observer. That’s what makes it such a popular stop on Florida trips or bigger road trips through the South .

How close is the Kennedy Space Center to Orlando? 

The Kennedy Space Center is 44 miles from Orlando. Drive time on that depends on where you’re coming from in Orlando, but expect it to take about an hour with light traffic. You’ll definitely want to rent a car for the trip!

Orlando is pretty notorious for heavy traffic as it’s Florida’s hub for all the fun, so it’s always best to give yourself extra time, especially if you have any timed activities while you’re here.

Is Cape Canaveral the same as the Kennedy Space Center? 

Cape Canaveral is adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center, but it’s not the same thing. Both are part of what’s known as the Space Coast. That’s not a reference to alien activity , but a nod to the spaceports located here.

The confusion may be related to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, a facility that also serves as a missile and rocket launch site for the U.S. Space Force.

To confuse you further, the Cape Canaveral program has also been known as the Cape Kennedy Air Force Station and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It’s all the same.

Tips for Visiting the Kennedy Space Center

Here are a few things you need to know before visiting the Kennedy Space Center:

• Tickets for Kennedy Space Center are available online. Buy them ahead of time to save a lot of money! 
• If you’re only buying general admission tickets, the cheapest discount Kennedy Space Center tickets are available through aRes Travel . Alternatively, you can pay just a few dollars more per ticket but score a huge discount on your rental car through Undercover Tourist when you bundle them together – that can save you hundreds of dollars.
• Ticket enhancements sell out. Book well ahead of time if you know when you’re visiting if you want to do any of the more immersive activities while you’re there.
• Parking is plentiful, but expect to pay a fee of $10 upon arrival.
• You can bring food and bottled drinks (just avoid glass) into the space center. Snacks are encouraged. The pricing inside is what you’d expect out of a theme park-style experience.
• If you don’t bring in food, there are quite a few options once you’re inside. Just expect the upsell. We spent about $25 on lunch that included a serving of fries, a veggie burger, chicken fingers, and two drinks.

How much time do you need at the Kennedy Space Center? You need at least 5-6 hours of time at the Kennedy Space Center to see the highlights. Add more time if you’ve purchased any enhancements.

I highly recommend you get there as early as possible. The center opens at 9am but the gates open at 8:30am. We arrived around 9:30am and met a long line of cars at the entrance. We were parked, past security, and in line for the bus tour just before 10am.

What is the best way to visit the Kennedy Space Center? The best way to visit the Kennedy Space Center is to download the app before you go and plot out your day.

This is basically the Disney World of space. You don’t want to go into this blind, as that may mean you run out of time to do the things that you really wanted to do. 

The app allows you to favorite things you need to see and view highlights by location on their Kennedy Space Center map. 

There are two locations you’ll be exploring on your visit, by the way, and one is only accessible by the Kennedy Space Center bus.

Best Things to Do at the Kennedy Space Center

We spent a full day at the Kennedy Space Center and still didn’t get to every nook and cranny while we were there. I do think we explored the complex quite well, though, so I’m going to share everything with you in the order we did it.

What should you do first at Kennedy Space Center? The first thing you should do at the Kennedy Space Center is explore the Apollo/Saturn V Center. You’ll get there on a bus tour from the main visitor complex.

Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour

The Apollo/Saturn V Center isn’t accessible on foot. To get there, you’ll need to take the bus tour, which is included in your regular admission ticket. 

Access the bus tour at the main visitor complex from NASA Central. (Check out the map on your app or follow signage throughout the park.) If you hit the IMAX theater you’ve gone too far.

You don’t need to pre-book anything, but the park only got more crowded as the day went on. This is why I’m telling you to start with the bus tour.

On your bus tour, you’ll drive by the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB. You can’t enter the building, but it’s impressive nonetheless. It’s over 500+ feed in every dimension and looks like a massive cube of concrete!

This is where the largest components of NASA’s space program are assembled, including space shuttles and the Saturn V. You’ll learn all about it on your bus tour, so take the earbuds out and listen up.

Apollo/Saturn V Center

Upon arrival at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, you’ll be ushered into a room as a whole bus group for an informative video, then to a second room to watch the Apollo 8 launch. 

The simulation comes complete with vibrating seats, and the spectacle was one of my favorite bits from the day.

After this, you’ll be dumped out into the main room, dominated by the Saturn V. The powerful rocket was an essential piece of the success of the Apollo program. 

If you’re new to all of this, the Apollo program was the space program responsible for the first moon landing and subsequent missions to the moon. The last flight through the program was Apollo 17 on December 19, 1972.

The Treasure Gallery is on one side and where you’ll find expected treasures, in this case, artifacts of the Apollo program. You’ll also see an exhibit on the Hubble Space Telescope while you’re here. Seriously, there’s a lot to see, so take your time.

While you explore the exhibits, you’ll hear a call to head to the Lunar Theater. Follow the call. You can always return to the exhibit spaces later, as those aren’t timed. The theater is where you’ll get to see the dramatics unfold around the Apollo 11 launch. 

The last exhibit at the Apollo/Saturn V Center is Ad Astra Per Aspera, a memorial to the astronauts who lost their lives on a test rehearsal of the first expected moon launch on Apollo 1. Three crew members lost their lives that day: Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee.

We spent about two hours at the Apollo/Saturn V Center before reboarding the bus. You can check out the launching pads outside before you go. If you’re hungry, stop into Moon Rock Cafe for a snack or lunch.

To get back to the boarding station, exit through the main gift shop. Don’t miss the Moon Tree Garden on your way out. You’ll see a statue there of the Apollo 11 astronauts in a lovely green space of trees that are direct descendants of seeds that were taken to the moon.

Read that last bit again to get blown away once more.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

As you leave the bus back at the main visitor center complex, you’ll be close to the entrance of the exhibits dedicated to the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Your visit there will start with video clips about the Atlantis program. 

You’ll likely need to wait for a few minutes for the first round of visuals, but we only stood in line for about 10 minutes. 

For a more in-depth education on the space shuttle once you’ve made it past the video clips, timed tours run by a center guide are included with your ticket. 

One of the more sobering exhibits in the main exhibit space is Forever Remembered, a tribute to the crews of the Challenger and Columbia disasters. That exhibit includes personal items from the crew members and pieces from both shuttles.

The main exhibit space is where you’ll access the Shuttle Launch Experience, a simulation of the shuttle’s ascent into orbit. This is also included with your admission, but expect a wait to get inside. You can’t bring bags with you, but there are locked cubbies available for storage right next to the experience.

If you’re traveling with young children who don’t make the height requirement — you have to be 44” tall for the simulator — there are additional astronaut training simulators on the same level. It’s fun even watching kids try to achieve their mission objective on the simulators.

Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted

Explore attractions like NASA’s plans for Mars and how to get yourself into the next round of NASA hires in this building dedicated to deep space exploration. 

Sit in on the “Explorers Wanted” talk led by a very enthusiastic staffer before checking out the different rovers in the exhibit space. High-five the spaceman walking around the building. Don’t miss the Mars Rover Vehicle Navigator outside the building. 

Astronaut of the Day

Every day, veteran NASA astronauts make themselves available for autographs and question-and-answer sessions at the Kennedy Space Center. 

We upgraded our ticket to include Chat With an Astronaut, and I highly recommend you do the same. It’s pricey at $50/person, but if you’re at all interested in a more personal experience at the Kennedy Space Center, this is a great way to do that.

Our Astronaut of the Day was Don Thomas. I got to ask him who his favorite astronaut was — it’s Neil Armstrong, by the way — over a selection of wine, cheese, and other snacks that blew the rest of the park’s food options out of the water.

Yes, you can drink at this event, but there are sodas and water available if you’re not indulging.

The Q&A is open to kids, too, and I must say that the kids at our session asked some very intelligent questions. 

Seriously, it was a great time. You also take home a NASA patch and autographed photo to remember the day, on top of any to-go snacks you want for the rest of the afternoon.

Book this ticket enhancement ahead of your visit. There are two sessions per day at 10am and 2pm, but the 10am was sold out during our visit. There is limited seating for the chats. We probably only had around 20 participants during our booked time, which made for a very intimate experience.

Note: The daily astronaut guests also make themselves available for big presentations in the larger theater space.

Gateway: Deep Space Launch Complex

One of the newest exhibits at Kennedy Space Center is the huge Gateway: Deep Space Launch Complex. This area highlights (far) future innovations in space travel and exploration and includes recent commercial ventures. There are plenty of interactive stations downstairs and four simulator “rides” upstairs offering different journeys into deep space – the lines can be long for these since they’re really popular and keep in mind the 39″ minimum height.

Space Mirror Memorial

This memorial from the Astronauts Memorial Foundation is worth a quick visit to pay your respects to NASA’s fallen heroes. It’s beautifully done on polished black granite. 

You can also see much of the park from here, including the tips of the rockets within the Rocket Garden, our next stop.

Rocket Garden

The Rocket Garden is an outdoor exhibit of, you guessed it, giant rockets. Tours are available throughout the day as part of your general admission, but you can also just read the signage available if you haven’t timed things right. 

The Delta II is my personal favorite because of those shark teeth. 

This is likely the most photographed section of the park, so I hope you get a sunny day to capture all of the rocket magic.

Heroes & Legends

The Heroes & Legends is dedicated to big names in space travel and what it takes to make a hero. Your entrance is timed to this one, but it’s all included in your general admission.

You’ll watch two short videos once you’re inside. One was a little disorienting, as it was one of those that include lots of moving visuals happening all around you. 

You’ll then be dropped into the main exhibit space that details the heroic qualities required of astronauts and more clips from former astronauts on their personal NASA experiences. The last exhibit is the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Additional Activities at the Kennedy Space Center

If you only have one day at Kennedy Space Center, the highlights above with the optional enhancement of an astronaut chat will make for an excellent day. With more time, you can add more enhancements to your ticket or explore more attractions at the Kennedy Space Center.

Families with kids can easily fill up full two days here if they truly take their time. Here are a few additional ideas for making that happen.

IMAX Building Space Movies

IMAX movies at the Kennedy Space Center are included with your regular admission. You’ll need to pay extra for the obligatory snacks and drinks before you have yourself a seat. 

Films run about 40 minutes and are typically narrated by some cool cats, like Sir Patrick Stewart’s Journey to Space .

Planet Play

Planet Play is a kiddie playground with space-themed educational opportunities for the little ones. Kids can climb a wormhole and slide through an asteroid field…under the supervision of parents, of course.

Astronaut Training Experience (ATX)

Treat the space lover in your life to this immersive experience where they’ll learn more about what it takes to live and work on Mars. The full program takes up to five hours to complete, so this is truly for someone with several days dedicated to the Kennedy Space Center.

If you just want a taste of the simulations involved, you can also book ATX Training Stages, a piecemeal approach. None of these were available during our visit, but we were eyeing the Microgravity Simulator.

Mars Base 1

Mars Base 1 is another immersive NASA experience that will set you up for success if you ever find yourself on the Red Planet. This one requires even more time. Expect to spend up to seven hours managing the Base Operations Center on Mars with other rookie astronauts.

Where to Stay Near Kennedy Space Center

There are a few area hotels in Titusville and Merritt Island, the closest towns to the Kennedy Space Center. Hotels on Cape Canaveral are another option – it’ll take you about 20 minutes to drive around the cape to the visitor’s center. Be mindful not to book a hotel too close to Port Canaveral on the day of a major cruise ship departure, as morning traffic can be intense in that area.

Cocoa Beach is about half an hour away, and driving from Orlando will take about an hour. If you’re planning to visit theme parks and spend only one day at Kennedy Space Center, you may as well just base yourself in Orlando the entire time – be sure to check out the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress review .

Need specific recommendations? Here are a few hotels with easy access to the Kennedy Space Center:

• Hyatt Place Titusville/ Kennedy Space Center ~10 minutes from KSC *This top-rated Kennedy Space Center hotel starts at just 6500 points per night when you transfer from a Chase Sapphire credit card
• Cape Crossing Resort & Marina ~15 minutes to KSC, located on Merritt Island
• Hampton Inn Titusville/I-95 Kennedy Space Center ~20 minute drive to KSC
• Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral ~30 minutes to KSC but walking distance to the beach

Is the Kennedy Space Center worth going to?

The Kennedy Space Center is worth going to for a primer on space exploration history and its many interactive experiences. If you time things right, you even have an opportunity to meet real astronauts. 

I was certainly impressed and wouldn’t mind a return to check out The Deep Space Launch Complex is, a new planned exhibit there. I’d even plan a visit around a space launch, especially if it was run by NASA’s Artemis program. 

This one is a must for even casual fans of all things outer space.

Check these reputable sources for discounted tickets:

Planning your trip to Florida

Check out more awesome places to explore on your trip to Florida:

• Transportation From MCO to Port Canaveral
• Fantastic Things to do in Orlando With Tweens
• Disney All-Star Music Resort Reviews: A Repeat Visitor’s Inside Scoop
• Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Review: Is It As Good As You’ve Heard?
• 25 Essential Tips for Universal Studios Orlando
• 25 Tips for Disney World That Won’t Make You Crazy
• Hyatt Regency Sarasota Review: Family-Friendly Fun
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• Attainable Bucket List Item: Swim With Manatees in Crystal River, Florida
• Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Review: A Weekend Getaway Wrapped in a Bow
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Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Home » A First-Timer’s Guide to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

A First-Timer’s Guide to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

The minute you step through the gates at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex , you are transported to an out-of-this-world experience with limitless possibilities, and a showcase of what humankind has achieved in its travels to space – and beyond.

If it’s your first time at the visitor complex, we understand it can be a little overwhelming with so much to do. That’s why we’ve put together a guide for first-time visitors

One-day and two-day tickets for adults and children ages 3-11 are on sale, with senior and military discounts also available.

Save time ahead of your visit by purchasing tickets online at KennedySpaceCenter.com, and heading directly to the front gate! Tickets can be purchased on-site, too.

If you want to spend multiple days at the visitor complex (and why wouldn’t you?) then consider getting an annual pass for you and your family. Having either a two-day ticket or an annual pass allows you to visit the complex more than once and really take in all we have to offer! Click here for all the ticket details .

ENJOYING YOUR DAY

With so much offered, here’s a breakdown of what you can do at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

At Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex®, see the visionary designs paving the way of human deep space travel while also discovering the current cutting-edge innovations of space exploration from NASA and commercial partners. And while at Gateway, don’t forget to take experience Spaceport KSC, where you’ll launch aboard one of four unforgettable journeys during an immersive ride. Guests must be 39” minimum to enjoy the attraction.

Experience the dawn of the space age and get up close with actual artifacts at Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame® presented by Boeing®.

At Universe Theater, meet a veteran astronaut and hear their stories at Astronaut Encounter, learn about the matter in It’s A Matter of Fact, and hear about recent and upcoming NASA missions in Mission Status Briefings. Check the Daily Schedule for show times.

At Space Shuttle Atlantis®, see the real Atlantis orbiter, which flew to space 33 times and traveled 126 million miles. You can also interact with more than 60 exhibits and simulators about what it’s like to live and work in space! And don’t forget to strap in for the Shuttle Launch Experience®. If you have motion sensitivities, you can still enjoy the mission briefing pre-show. The attraction has a 44” height minimum. A non-motion viewing area is also available.

Little ones can enjoy Planet Play, a fully immersive play experience for the next generation of space explorers.

Don’t miss the Apollo/Saturn V Center, where you’ll explore the Apollo Program’s worldwide impact – all while standing underneath the tallest rocket ever flown. You can also touch a Moon rock, watch first-hand accounts of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, and more. The Apollo/Saturn V Center is accessible through the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour, where you can go behind NASA’s gates to see the past, present, and future of America’s multi-user spaceport.

Also, don’t forget to explore the Rocket Garden, visit Journey To Mars launched by United Launch Alliance, and see a space-themed film at IMAX®.

ENHANCE YOUR VISIT

The fun doesn’t stop there.

More enhancements are available for purchase in addition to admission. They are:

– Astronaut Training Stages: The experience for guests ages 10 and older allows you to practice your docking skills, navigate the Mars terrain, experience the sensation of performing a spacewalk, and more.

– Chat With An Astronaut: Enjoy a sampling of food and beverages while getting the chance to ask a real veteran astronaut your most pressing questions in a small-group setting. Purchase tickets online or at Guest Services.

– KSC Explore Tour: Go beyond the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour! Make several stops to capture once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities of spaceflight icons. Tickets are available for purchase online or at Information. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your tour departure time.

BE YOUR OWN GUIDE

Use your smartphone to create your own customized multimedia tour. The KSC SmartGuide app is available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and American Sign Language. Download the app for free from the App Store and Google Play.

Also, the visitor complex has partnered with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, creating a welcoming space for people with autism and sensory needs. Sensory Guides are established at each attraction entrance. Don’t forget to download the Sensory Guide as well.

COME HUNGRY

You’ll probably work up an appetite while you’re at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Luckily, there are plenty of food and drink options available.

Enjoy pizza, salads, burgers, pulled pork at Orbit Cafe, acai bowls and choose-your-protein dishes at Space Bowl Bistro, hot dogs and other classics at Red Rock Grill, and more. For a quick pick-me-up, enjoy Starbucks®, ice cream at Milky Way, traditional movie favorites at IMAX Snax, and more.

If your first visit is this fall, then it’s the perfect time to partake in our annual Taste of Space Fall Bites! Celebrate the taste of the season from Oct. 2-Nov. 5, 2023, with brand-new menu options throughout the visitor complex. Click here for more information.

During the holiday season, you can enjoy Holidays in Space across the visitor complex. There is a nightly projection show, and festive holiday décor throughout the grounds including six-foot-tall astronaut nutcrackers and a 50-foot tree with more than 61,000 pixels of light and so much more.

PICK UP A SOUVENIR

Don’t forget a piece of memorabilia to commemorate your trip to the visitor complex when you visit The Space Shop, the world’s largest collection of NASA merchandise. Gifts and souvenirs are also available at Shuttle Express, which features gifts and souvenirs about the Atlantis orbiter and NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. At The Right Stuff at Apollo/Saturn V Center, pick up products that celebrate the Apollo missions.

Also, take the memories home with you with Astropass, powered by Storibox, which includes all your digital photos from all of the visitor complex’s photo locations. It’s available for purchase online or at Guest Services.

What are YOU most excited about for your first visit ?

17 Spectacular Kennedy Space Center Tips (Your Ultimate Guide)

When you think of the John F. Kennedy Space Center you think of the illustrious history of the space program here in America.

From the first man on the moon to the mission to Mars, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has been a cultural staple for many of us.

This American launch site has been used by NASA for human space flight since December 1968.

Because of this, I thought it would be great to bring you the best tips to conquering your day.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY  DISCLOSURE  FOR MORE INFO.  Which means if you click on certain links, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

1. Buy Your Kennedy Space Center Tickets Online

I always recommend buying your tickets online for any attraction in Florida.

I say this because it starts your day off on a good note since you won’t have to wait in the line to purchase your KSC tickets.

Your tickets can be bought on the official website where you’ll be able to print them out at home or pick them up from Will Call at the Visitor Complex.

Once you have your printed ticket from home, all you have to do is walk directly to the turnstiles and start your space adventure!

Can I buy tickets at Kennedy Space Center?

Yes you can. However, if you’re going on a busy day, then I recommend purchasing them online first.

How much does it cost to go to Kennedy Space Center?

Single day admission cost:

• Children $65 (age 3-11)
• Adults $75 (Ages 12+)
• Annual Pass $149 (Ages 12+) and $120 (age 3-11)

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2. Know Where to Buy Kennedy Space Center Discount Tickets

The prices on the official website are pretty good, but you may luck up on possible Kennedy Space Center discounts and deals using Groupon.

Groupon Kennedy Space Center Florida

KSC is pretty good about running great deals, but on Groupon you can find additional excursions to spice up your trip.

Ventures such as, the Space Coast Slingshots which will give you the opportunity to explore this beautiful coast of Florida with the wind in your hair!

If you’re vacationing in Orlando and you don’t have a vehicle, you can look up day tours that will take you over to KSC for a small fee.

Recommended: Ultimate Florida Packing List: What to Pack for Your EPIC Trip!

3. Download the App

Map out the day prior to your visit by downloading their app.

This is a great way to make a note of your must do’s and it’s also a wonderful way to help you see and experience as much as you can if you’re only there for a short visit.

Hipster Power Tip: Having the park app will allow you to view the map and get familiar with the layout of the Visitor Complex.

Kennedy Space Center App Features:

• Available for free in both the App Store  and  Google Play
• Has the Visitor Complex map in the app
• Answers your frequently asked questions
• Has descriptions of the shows and attractions
• Gives information on guest services, dining and shopping
• Keeps you updated on rocket launches
• Allows you to maneuver your way around the Visitor Complex and the Apollo/Saturn V Center

Downloading the app is one of the top Kennedy Space Center tips I wish I knew before my trip.

4. Have the Kennedy Space Center Address Handy

Before you leave your destination, it’s always good to have the address on hand.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex address is Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953.

Is Cape Canaveral the same as the Kennedy Space Center?

The Visitor Complex is located in the city of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Therefore, Cape Canaveral is not the same as Kennedy Space Center.

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5. Use the Map to Plan Your Day

It can be overwhelming stepping foot into this incredible visitor complex, that’s why I recommend going over the KSC map before you get there.

Kennedy Space Center Map

It will help you:

• Get familiar when the layout of the Visitor Complex
• All you to map out your day
• Plan what time you want to do the bus tour and when you want to have lunch

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6. Know the Kennedy Space Center Hours

The Visitor Complex opens at 9 a.m. EST every day of the year and closes at 6 p.m. This time can go up to an 8 p.m. closing time, depending on the season.

7. Map Out How to Get from Orlando to Kennedy Space Center

Here are my most basic Kennedy Space Center directions from Orlando.

If you’re coming from the theme park area or Orlando, then you’ll want to:

• Get on the FL-528 E from I-4 to FL-3 N/N Courtenay Pkwy in Merritt Island (about a 45-minute drive or 47.5 miles)
• Take exit 49 from FL-528 E
• Continue on N Courtenay Pkwy. Drive to Space Commerce Way (about a 10-minute drive…or 8 miles)

Does Kennedy Space Center provide transportation?

The visitor complex does not provide transportation to and from Orlando.

You can use one of the tours mentioned earlier that provides transportation by searching Viator.

8. Be Prepared to Pay for Parking at Kennedy Space Center

The parking lot is adjacent to the Visitor Complex. It will take you about a 5 to 10-minute walk from the lot to the front gate depending on where you parked.

It was an easy walk for me and a much simpler process than the theme parks.

How much does it cost to park at Kennedy Space Center?

• Motorcycles – $5.00
• Automobiles –  $10.00
• Oversized vehicles, motor homes or RVs –  $15.00

9. Know Exactly What the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Is

The Visitor Complex is an out-of-this world experience dedicated to showcasing the major accomplishments made through the space program.

It is divided into Mission Zones where the attractions and the tours are organized by chronological era.

What to do at Kennedy Space Center

• Astronaut Encounter
• Free Bus Tour
• IMAX Theaters
• Planet Play
• Lunch with an Astronaut
• Rocket Garden
• Space Shuttle Atlantis Attraction

It is here where you’ll get a hands-on interactive treat as you go through attractions and experiences presenting the many periods of time and achievements.

How long does it take to go through Kennedy Space Center?  

You should expect to spend at least 6 hours at Visitor Complex. I recommend the full day (9 hours) if you truly want to see everything.

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KSC Mission Zones

As mention above, KSC is split into Mission Zones. Let’s go through them all.

Heroes & Legends

This area allows you to learn about the pioneers of NASA’s early space programs along with the famous Rocket Garden.

It’s one of the newest additions to the Visitor Complex and has an amazing exhibit that walks you through each era of a typical astronaut’s life.

Hipster Power Tip: Be sure to stand on the second row to get a great view of the amazing film that you’ll watch in the second portion of the attraction in the Heroes & Legends building.

There’s even a spectacular U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame® for you to explore.

Also, make sure you walk around the majestic Rocket Garden to view the actual rockets of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo.

Time needed for Heroes & Legends zone: 30 minutes

Behind the Gates

This area is where you get to see the historic launch sites and working spaceflight facilities. You do this by jumping on the  Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour .

Hipster Power Tip: Sit on the right side of the bus to get the best views of the tour, including those famous Florida alligators.

Don’t worry about any additional costs, the bus tour is included with your admission.

Time needed for the Behind the Gates zone: 1.5 hours

Race to The Moon

This is my favorite area of KSC . Once your bus tour of the historic launch sites is over, you’ll be dropped off at the Race to the Moon area.

The bus tour is the only way to get to this area which showcases the July 20, 1969 celebration of when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

This whole section is dedicated to legends of the Apollo era. It is here where you’ll be able to see the actual size of the Saturn V moon rocket!

It’s one of the most breathtaking things to witness.

You’ll also be able to learn more about the Apollo history with real artifacts and interactive games that will blow your mind.

Make sure you plan to spend at least one hour inside the Apollo/Saturn V Center, basking in all of the history.

Time needed for the Race to the Moon zone: 2 hours

Shuttle: A Ship Like No Other

My other favorite area of the Visitor Complex takes you on a journey through NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.

Outside the Atlantis complex is a 184-foot space shuttle stack, with an external tank and two solid rocket boosters.

You actually have the opportunity to revel at the awe-inspiring American icon, shuttle Atlantis.  

The shuttle Atlantis now has a permanent home at the Visitor Complex and you can see it up close!

The way the Visitor Complex presents Atlantis to you will send chills up your spine.

So, I will not spoil the big moment for you!

Hipster Power Tip: If you’re brave enough, then experience what an astronaut goes through on an actual shuttle liftoff on the Shuttle Launch Experience . This is a must do attraction!

This zone also has some amazing hands-on simulation and games to help you truly become an astronaut.

Activities such as:

• a gigantic slide to mimic a space shuttle landing
• the opportunity to test your skills at performing a spacewalk
• hearing stories from the Space Shuttle Program workers
• exploring modules and microgravity of the International Space Station

Time needed for the Shuttle: A Ship Like No Other zone – 2 hours

NASA Now + Next 

This is the area where the two main IMAX theaters are. Here you can watch Journey to Space 3D  and  Touch the Stars: The Journey Has Begun 3D.

The goal of this zone is to teach you the lessons learned of NASA’s past missions and where the space exploration program is going next!

Hipster Power Tip: Be sure to get a photo in front of the Mars Rover Vehicle Navigator®

Get the FULL list for all of the attractions here!

Time needed for the NASA Now and Next zone: 2.5 hours

10. Keep Track of the Kennedy Space Center Launch Schedule

If you’re super luck, you may be able to catch a one-of-a-kind launch experience. There’s nothing like watching an actual rocket launch so close by you.

The power of witnessing an actual launch rumbles your soul! No theme park attraction can compare to this world class adventure!

Kennedy Space Center Rocket Launch Schedule for 2024

Listed below are the rocket launches scheduled for 2024.

ULA Delta IV Heavy NROL-70

• Where:  Space Launch Complex 37 Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
• Mission: A ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket will launch the NROL-70 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office from space launch complex 37 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
• Learn more here.

Rocket Launch: SpaceX Falcon 9 Eutelsat 36D

• When:  Spring 2024
• Where:  Launch Complex 39A Kennedy Space Center
• Mission: SpaceX will launch a new generation of multi-mission geostationary telecommunications satellite for Eutelsat.

Rocket Launch: ULA Atlas V Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight Test

• When:  May 2024
• Where:  Space Launch Complex 41 Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
• Mission: The Crew Flight Test (CFT) will demonstrate the ability of Starliner and the United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket to safely carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

Hipster Power Tip: Remember that all launch times and dates are subject to change without notice. Be sure not to plan your whole trip around a shuttle launch date as it is always changing.

Kennedy Space Center Launch Viewing Areas

Listed below are the view options for you on your visit to Kennedy Space Center.

LC-39 Observation Gantry

This is the historic area where Apollo astronauts launched to the moon and is the closest viewing area to the launch pads of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

For an additional cost, you’ll get outdoor bleacher seating plus a shaded area if you don’t want to be directly in the sun. The Lc-39 Observation Gantry is 2 to 5.5 miles from launch pads.

Includes: Live launch commentary, snacks and refreshments

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Banana Creek Launch Viewing Area

This viewing area is 5 to 8 miles away from the launch site and is adjacent to the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

A great perk about the Banana Creek location is that if the Apollo/Saturn V Center is open , then you’ll be able enjoy the theaters, dining and shopping experiences inside. Plus, you can view the Saturn V up-close.

Hipster Power Tip: Kennedy Space Center recommends that you bring sun and insect protection for this location.

Main Visitor Complex

Viewing a launch from the Visitor Complex is included with your admission ticket. The viewing area is located next to Space Shuttle Atlantis®, which is 7 miles away from the rocket launch area.

Here you’ll get bleacher and lawn seating, so sun protection is recommended.

Cost is included with your admission ticket . Please keep in mind that all prices mentioned in this guide are subject to change without notice.

11. Stop by Kennedy Space Center Gift Shop

The Space Shop is absolutely incredible!

I pride myself on leaving theme parks with my money still in my pocket, but not at this Kennedy Space Center Gift Shop.

…and probably not you either.

The newly renovated shop opened on June 29, 2018 and is “The World’s Largest Space Shop” at 15,372 square feet!

I spent a lot of time walking throughout the massive store filled to the brim with space memorabilia and NASA gear.

There are so many things to see and do inside this interactive shopping adventure such as, walking in the steps of NASA astronauts across the original Apollo 11 gantry located on the second floor.

You can find the space shop at the center point of the Visitors Complex.

Other Places to Shop at Kennedy Space Center:

• The Right Stuff located at the Apollo/Saturn V Center
• Shuttle Express ®   located inside Space Shuttle Atlantis®
• Information (yep, that’s the shop name) is located right at the visitor complex entrance

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12. Try Space Food at Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center offers four restaurants and three snack stands at the Visitor Complex. I will say that the food is not anything to brag about.

It’s pretty much your standard amusement park fare, which will hold you over while on your trip.

Hipster Power Tip: There are vegetarian, gluten-free and healthy choices available at all restaurants.

Kennedy Space Center Restaurants and Dining Experiences

• Dine with an Astronaut – This is one of the key highlights at Kennedy Space Center where you can dine with an astronaut. I wasn’t able to do it, but it is on my must do list for my next visits.
• Rocket Garden Café – Serves standard breakfast and lunch sandwiches.
• Moon Rock Café – Offers standard sandwiches and burgers. This café is located in the Apollo/Saturn V building.
• Orbit Café – Serves salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, and desserts.
• Red Rock Grill – Offers hot dogs and beer in an outdoor lunch stand next to Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted.
• Rocket Fuel Food Truck – Serves snacks and coffee near the entrance of the Visitor Complex.
• Milky Way – Probably the highlight of my day. Here you can get a delicious waffle covered with all of the tastiest sweet treats your heart can imagine. This is the ice cream shop of the Visitor Complex that serves soda, ice cream and Space Dots ® .
• Space Dots ® – You can get the famous ice cream dots right next to Space Shuttle Atlantis.

13. Have Your Kennedy Space Center Itinerary Ready to Go

• 9:30 a.m. – Arrive at Kennedy Space Center
• 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. – Explore Heroes and Legends Area
• 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. – Watch the IMAX 3D space films (be sure to arrive 15 minutes before showtime)
• 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Have lunch with an Astronaut (or Explore the Gateway: Deep Space Launch Complex)
• 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. – Do the Bus Tour and Apollo/Saturn V Center (a must do)
• 1:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Discover the Space Shuttle Atlantis with the Shuttle Launch Experience
• 3:05 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. – Visit the gift shop
• 3:30 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. – Get an ice-cream waffle at Milky Way, relax, or revisit your favorite areas
• 4:55 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. – Take any last-minute photos

I hope you like my one day visit guide. You can read the recommended itineraries from Kennedy Space Center here!

14. Do a Kennedy Space Center Tour

There are a variety of different Kennedy Space Center tours that range from day trips from Orlando or helicopter rides.

Kennedy Space Center with an Airboat Tour

On this tour you’ll get a great view of Kennedy Space Center.

This includes the launch pads area, Visitor’s Complex, Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit, and airboat ride up the St. John’s River and so much more! 

You can learn more about this tour here!

Kennedy Space Center Tours from Orlando

Viator also offers a variety of day trip tours from Orlando to the Visitor Complex just in case you don’t have a vehicle on your Disney vacation.

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15. Know the Best Days to Visit KSC

You may be thinking, “when should I go to Kennedy Space Center?”

The best time to visit KSC is in October, November, December, January, February, or May during the weekday.

What are the Crowd levels?

The worst time to visit Kennedy Space Center is on launch days, on major holidays, during the spring and summer break season.

16. Know What to Pack

While preparing for your day at the Visitor Complex, you should know what basic items to bring with you.

• Disposable Rain Ponchos   or rain jackets
• Download Kennedy Space Center App
• Small Backpack
• Reusable water bottle
• Simple first aid supplies
• Small snacks
• Hand sanitizer
• Downloaded Park Map
• Hat for sunny days
• Portable Phone Charger
• Personal Hygiene Products
• Cash/Debit Card
• Water mist sprayer

Is food allowed in Kennedy Space Center?

Per the website , food and beverages packed in small, soft-sided coolers are permitted. Glass bottles or containers are also not permitted.

Beer is for sale at select locations and no outside alcoholic beverages are permitted.

Are backpacks allowed at Kennedy Space Center?

You are allowed to bring in your own backpack. Just remember that all backpacks and bags will be inspected by security.

What should I wear to Kennedy Space Center?

Lightweight clothing such as shorts, leggings, comfy shoes,  a t-shirt,  a hat, and sunglasses are all perfect for your trip.

17. Know What Hotels are Near Kennedy Space Center

When planning your KSC trip, you’ll need a hotel that’s close to all the Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach action!

There aren’t too many hotels or resorts I can recommend that are near the Visitor Complex, but these are my picks for now.

• Homewood Suites by Hilton Cape Canaveral – Cocoa Beach
• Hampton Inn Titusville I-95 Kennedy Space Center

My Final Thoughts and KSC Review

There you have it! My top Kennedy Space Center tips. Overall, I had one of the best days ever visiting KSC.

Before you decide to go on your own space journey, I want to give you some pros and cons of my visit.

• Easy layout to navigate
• Wonderful to view the Atlantis up close
• Love the tribute to all of the wonderful people of the space program throughout the years
• The Rocket Garden is visually intoxicating and enchanting
• A super fun bus tour (line looks long, but goes fast because the buses are large and are constantly going)
• Lots of indoor attractions ( great for beating the Florida heat)
• Amazing IMAX 3-D presentations and the NEW Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex
• The Shuttle simulation is phenomenal
• Food and drinks are reasonably priced
• Not too many shaded areas to sit under outside
• Food is average
• The bus tour takes out a big chunk of your day
• No exhibition showing the contribution of Black Americans or women to the space program

I hope you enjoyed this complete guide to doing Kennedy Space Center like a pro.

Remember to arrive early, explore space, and capture your own adventure!

Have you ever been before? If so, let me know what your favorite memory is in the comments section below.

If you enjoyed this article, then you’ll love these:

• 5 Adventurous Things to do in Orlando Besides Theme Parks
• Why You Should Visit the Alligator Capital of the World: Gatorland
• How to Find Cheap Flights to Orlando
• Magic Kingdom for Adults the Complete Guide
• How to Find a Vacation Home Near Disney World
• 18 Tips for Going to a Theme Park Alone

Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!

About the Author

My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor , and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!

Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.

Connect with me on Instagram!

(Original Article Date: May 20, 2019/Updated March 29, 2024)

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2024 complete guide to hersheypark season pass: new benefits, discounts, and more, 6 thoughts on “17 spectacular kennedy space center tips (your ultimate guide)”.

NikkiJ, these tips are awesome. Thank you!

Glad I could help. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions 🙂

This helped so much. I went so long ago. Much has changed.

I so happy that I could help. I hope you have a wonderful visit. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions 🙂

Thank you so much for your indepth report. I’m going next month and cannot wait. (I don’t know why it took me so many years to plan a visit!). Looking forward to using your advice. Thanks again!!

My pleasure! I hope you had a wonderful time 🙂

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• Park Overview Explore Missions Zones
• Heroes and Legends Space Pioneers
• Behind the Gates Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour
• Race to the Moon Apollo Moon Landing
• Shuttle: A Ship Like No Other NASA's Space Shuttle Program
• NASA Now + Next Preparing for Journey to Mars
• All Attractions
• Plan Your Visit
• Hours Of Operation
• Hotel Packages
• Travel Information
• Events Overview
• Event Calendar
• See A Launch
• Groups Overview Plan Events and Tours
• Youth Groups Programs and Field Trips
• Scouts Adventures for Scout Troops
• Private Events Events and Custom Tours
• International Programs and Custom Tours
• Camp KSC Day Camp for Students
• Educators Resources for Teachers
• Programs Educational Programs at KSC
• Accessibility Information

IConic views at kennedy space center

Ride along with a space expert as they take you on a tour of America’s multi-user spaceport. The KSC Explore Tour goes beyond the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour, making several stops to capture once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities.  Get a photographic view of numerous spaceflight icons like the Vehicle Assembly Building and NASA Press Site, disembarking to capture photos along the way to the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

Enhance your experience by adding the Explore Tour to your day, available in addition to admission.

Multiple tours are offered daily, so choose your preferred date and time at the link below.

Please note:

• Please arrive at bus embarkation about 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
• It is not necessary to take the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour in addition to the KSC Explore Tour. Both tours end up at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Explore on your own before taking any visitor complex tour bus back to the main visitor complex. We recommend allotting about an additional hour for the Apollo/Saturn V Center and about 15 minutes for the return journey.
• If you purchase another timed experience (like Chat with an Astronaut), please be aware that timing may overlap.

*Tour availability and routes may be altered at any time with or without any notice due to operational requirements.  Safety protocols require an alternate tour bus route during launch days. 

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Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour

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18 Unique Things to Do Near Cape Canaveral on the Space Coast (2024)

If you're heading to Florida's east side of the state, a visit to the Space Coast should be on your must-visit list. There is plenty to do and see there, and we're happy that we can share unique things to do near Cape Canaveral with you.

You'll have a blast as you enjoy a fun-filled weekend or weekdays, spending time at a space complex, dining at waterfront restaurants, browsing the items for sale at the largest surf shop in the world, and doing things like seeing Space Coast monuments and unusual museums.

This post is broken down into things to do that pertain to space and air travel, things to do if you like the ocean and beach, and additional unique things to do near Cape Canaveral.

Disclosure: This post has affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase at no cost to you . We thank the Space Coast for hosting our visit. We truly only recommend experiences, hotels, products, and services we personally use and believe in.  As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Unique Space and Air Travel Things to Do Near Cape Canaveral

➜ 1. visit kennedy space center.

No vacation in the area is complete without a visit to the famous Kennedy Space Center (KSC). If you've been in the past, it's worth another trip there as new things to do and experience periodically emerge. I hadn't been to KSC in over a decade, and wow, it blew me away! Dan had never been, and he was in awe of it too.

You need an entire day to see all that Kennedy Space Center offers if not two.

That said, if you only have a few days in the area, be sure you leave time for all the other unique things to do on the Space Coast that we mention here, and opt for the one-day pass to KSC. If you have more time, you may want to consider the two-day pass to KSC.

You can learn about the space missions (past and present), see IMAX films about space, take a tour of the Kennedy Space Center property on coach buses that also educate visitors about the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge where KSC is located, and even sign up for additional experiences like meeting an astronaut.

You can buy tickets onsite or ahead of time for a chance at discounted tickets on Undercover Tourist , a reputable ticket website.

🚀 Secure Discounted Tickets to Kennedy Space Center and Head Directly to the Gate

➜ 2. Stop by the American Space Museum and Walk of Fame

In a little building that almost looks like someone's renovated home is a museum worthy of a visit. The American Space Museum and Walk of Fame greatly supplemented our time at Kennedy Space Center. (To clarify, they are not owned by the same companies or people.)

We recommend going to Kennedy Space Center first, then visiting the American Space Museum. If you can't get to Kennedy Space Center at all or beforehand, it's still worth visiting this small museum that shares so much about space travel.

What's different about the American Space Museum?

While Kennedy Space Center provides an overarching view for visitors to understand the purpose of various space missions, we felt that this museum in nearby Titusville really gave those missions a human connection. It tells the story of the people behind the missions and delves deeper into the physical items that supported them all.

One example is some Florida license plates on display, which have a graphic of the Challenger space shuttle on them. Fees from these license plates went towards benefitting the Astronaut Memorial Fund after the disastrous accident that cost the Challenger astronauts their lives.

Another example is a small Snoopy doll on display. This museum explains how Snoopy became a temporary mascot for NASA during its early years, which is something we did not learn about at KSC.

What Else You'll See and Learn at American Space Museum

As we mentioned, we learned different things here than we did at KSC. For example, at KSC we learned that the first living being sent to space was a Chimpanzee named Ham. (Ham survived the Mercury space flight and lived out the rest of his life at the North Carolina Zoo after a few years at the Washington DC Zoo!)

But we didn't learn what his name, “HAM” stood for until we read about it at the American Space Museum, or learned that he was rewarded with banana pellets for successfully accomplishing tasks in space training. This Space Coast museum even has one of Ham's banana pellet treats on display!

There are several rooms to explore at the American Space Museum. Interesting things we saw and interacted with include handprints in bronze of six of the original seven astronauts (including Neil Armstrong), one of the original space command center station setups, the huge computers used to record data in the 1960s, and a Women in Space gallery.

In the Women in Space Gallery, we learned about Wally Funk. She was an astronaut during the 1960s. Learning about her helped our minds bridge the gap between space travel back in the 60s and present-day missions in the 21st century.

In 2021, she bought a $200,000 ticket to space with Blue Origin. She crossed the 100km Karman line, the internationally recognized line at the edge of space, making her the record holder for the oldest woman in space at age 82.

American Space Museum Founding

As the “legend” goes (also known as: the story told to us by one of the employees at the museum), in 2001, a local Space Coast physician went to California. Here, like many visitors to the west coast , he saw the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This gave him the idea to create something similar for the space missions closer to home.

He called for people who worked on the missions to come forward so he could add their names to the monuments and memorials that would make up the Space Walk of Fame and Space View Park. When these people came forward, they also brought him memorabilia from their space jobs.

He wanted to display these things for the public to see – and that’s how the museum started. Everything you will see in the museum has been donated.

There's also a beautiful mural in the parking lot next to the museum that's worth a photo stop that shows the wildlife of Florida, even if it doesn't showcase space.

Plan to spend approximately one hour at this museum.

Gift Shop at the American Space Museum

If you are interested in purchasing some space-themed gifts while you're in town, this is a good place to do it. They sell NASA calendars, t-shirts, hats, space mission patches, and dehydrated space ice cream.

Perusing the gift shop does not require museum entry.

⬇︎ Don't miss any unique things to do on the Space Coast! Download our Free Printable Checklist!

Don't miss a single unique thing to do on the Space Coast! ​ Download our free printable checklist that will help you plan your vacation like a champ.

➜ 3. stroll along space view park and see the space mission monuments.

Space View Park is just a few blocks from the American Space Museum. Monuments tower above the ground into the horizon commemorating several missions to space: Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the shuttle launches.

There is also an “In the Line of Duty” monument that remembers workers and astronauts who lost their lives during the space program.

We parked in Veterans Memorial Park off of Broad Street and easily walked to the monuments. The first monument we visited was Mercury. When we viewed it, we were facing the Indian River, looking out to the launch pads at Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island.

➜ 4. Visit the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum

Speaking of transportation, whether to outer space or the skies above, if you like air travel consider visiting the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum.

The museum is mostly run by volunteers and veterans. Inside, you'll find 53 planes from various wars and missions, including WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. These airplanes are in pristine condition; many are restored onsite.

A lot of these airplanes still fly and are taken out a couple of times a month.

There are three categories of planes in the Warbird Museum:

• Airplanes on loan (one example is an Air Force jet on display)
• Some have been purchased by the museum, so they own them. For these planes, if it can fly, they fly it. If it's unable to fly, it’s for display only.
• Privately owned airplanes that park at the museum hangars and allow the museum to show them off. The owners are obviously allowed to fly these planes if the planes are in flying condition.

We've been to similar museums around the United States but didn't know several things that our guide, veteran Ron, informed us about. One such thing is that all planes for the Navy have wings that fold for storage purposes.

Another thing was that you can know the purpose of a plane from the letter before its numbers. For example, “F” is for a fighter plane, and “C” is for combat. You may even have a plane with “FA” meaning it's a dual-purpose Fighter/Attack plane.

There was a great tie into the space program at the Warbird Museum when we saw a shuttle chase plane on display.

More Unique Planes You'll See at the Warbird Museum

You'll see so many interesting airplanes at the museum, which span decades of history.

Some especially unique planes on display include:

• C-47, which flew in Normandy and Berlin. It is still flown three times a month.
• The only flyable P-82 in the world. Only two were ever built and they have one of them! This incredibly rare “Twin Mustang” plane from 1949 is one of the most unique airplanes we've ever seen. It's also for sale if you have $12M to spend on it!
• Nose cone of a B-52 that you're allowed to go in with a museum guide.

Set aside at least an hour and a half for the museum.

What's Unique about the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Titusville

Not only can you see the planes here, but you can also touch them. No stanchions are partitioning off the planes from a visitor's touch.

It was cool to be able to feel the cloth around cloth-clad planes, for example, to understand what our guide told us about how bullet holes don't affect them during combat because of the material. If you're a tactile person like me, this is a valuable part of the experience.

Another unique thing about the museum is that you can watch the planes being restored and repaired. One of the three hangars is dedicated to this purpose. If you're lucky, you may even get to see a plane take off or land on the runways in front of the hangars behind the buildings.

We noticed that there was a disco ball hanging from the ceiling in one of the three hangars; we learned that you can rent space here for events. They've hosted everything from graduations to weddings!

➜ 5. Watch a Space Launch

If you are on the Space Coast, it's worth looking to see if there's a space launch while you're there. There are many areas where you can easily see across the river toward Merritt Island, where Kennedy Space Center launches take place.

We first saw the launch schedule when we checked into our awesome space hotel, the Courtyard Marriott in Titusville. Then the bartender clued us into a very useful free app that shares space launch information called “Next Spaceflight.” The app has a website too.

You'd be surprised by how many mini launches surround the “bigger” ones that are more likely to make the news.

Here are three great places to watch space launches along the Space Coast:

The Space Bar

This is the best place to watch a launch if you ask us. It's located on the top floor of the Courtyard Marriott in Titusville, which is also the best place to stay on the Space Coast .

You'll be close to the comforts of things like a bar with food (including appetizers, entrees, and desserts), near bathrooms, enjoy free parking, and not have to wrestle with crowds. It's also inland, so you won't have to deal with driving over bridges and such to get there and subsequent traffic to leave the island after the launch.

What's more, is the cool space-themed cocktails they have at The Space Bar!

If you stop by the front desk, you'll be able to pick up a complimentary diagram that shows you the location of various launch pads in the distance, including who they belong to (like if it's one of NASA's versus SpaceX).

➜ Book at Stay at the Courtyard Marriott in Titusville, a Tastefully Themed Space Hotel ✨

Veterans Memorial Park

Another great place to watch shuttle launches with free parking is Veterans Memorial Park. This is where the monuments to space missions are located in Titusville, which we mentioned above.

Here, at the waterfront park, you'll see clear views across the river towards Merritt Island, where the launches take place.

Cocoa Beach

When we walked onto the sand by downtown Cocoa Beach, we noticed that it's an excellent place to watch a space launch! There is a clear view across the shore, over the water towards Kennedy Space Center's launch pads.

Kennedy Space Center

If you can get tickets to a launch event at Kennedy Space Center, it's sure to be amazing. Sometimes they specially sell tickets to launches, like for Artemis I, and have different tiers of tickets to purchase.

The tiers vary based on the viewing location (the closer it is to the launch pad, the more expensive the tickets are) and includes things like a commentary on what's happening during the launch prep and liftoff.

You might also get lucky with a daytime launch that you can see from within the complex, which is already included in Kennedy Space Center tickets .

While seeing a launch from Kennedy Space Center will get you closest to the launch site, if many people are expected to drive there to see the same launch, you'll want to consider traffic into/out of the island depending on your schedule.

If you don't want to deal with traffic, we recommend one of the other three launch viewing areas, listed above.

Unique Waterfront and Ocean Things to Do Near Cape Canaveral

➜ 6. watch the cruise ships sail away as you dine at port canaveral restaurants.

We happened to have gone to Rising Tide Tap & Table at around 5:15pm in Port Canaveral. Not only was it happy hour time (who doesn't love happy hour?), but it was the perfect time to hear the horn of a nearby cruise ship blow before it slowly sailed away a few minutes later.

We were so glad we were sitting on the restaurant's outside deck, where we had a perfect view of MSC Divina as she sailed out from Port Canaveral.

The food, beer selection, and drinks are great at Rising Tide. Expect to spend about $20 to $30 per entree, depending on your order. They have large portions, so if you're game to split one dish between two people, you may want to consider doing so.

We very much liked what we got: the Ahi tuna entree and their version of fish and chips. Try the local beer on draft too; it's especially refreshing on a hot Florida day.

➜ 7. Go Deep Sea Fishing

If you like to be on the water on a small boat that you can fish from, not just on the shore looking at the ocean, then signing up for a deep sea fishing experience is a must on the Space Coast.

➜ 8. Go Kayaking by Day to See Marinelife

If kayaking is more your style than a motorized boat ride out to sea, and you want a chance to see more dolphins and manatees than search for fish, sign up for a guided kayaking tour.

By day, you can paddle out to see the manatees and dolphins that live in Florida's warm waters, depending on the season. These two-hour afternoon tours leave from just north of Kennedy Space Center.

➜ 9. Kayak by Night to See the Water Glow

You'll get a totally different kayaking experience at night if you sign up for a bioluminescence kayaking tour , one of the most unique things to do in Cape Canaveral.

If you've never done this before, you'll be in awe of the glowing water as you paddle and “excite” the microbes that illuminate the water in the dark. It's really fascinating!

The tour leaves from Banana River Park and lasts approximately two hours, beginning around 8:00 pm.

🐠 Book Cocoa Beach Experiences Here 🐬

➜ Head to Cocoa Beach

There are several things to do and see near Cape Canaveral in Cocoa Beach, a well-known area of Florida's Space Coast.

➜ 10. See the Impressive Murals in Downtown Cocoa Beach

We recommend getting breakfast or lunch downtown and walking around before or after seeing the colorful, huge murals in downtown Cocoa Beach. It's fun to do any time, including before sunset at the end of the day.

If you want to grab breakfast in the area, we recommend Cafe Surfinista or Java ‘N Juice Cafe .

Walk around to see the murals near Minutemen Causeway (the main street downtown), many of which are painted during the annual Space Coast Mural Festival .

Afterward, grab a drink and some food at one of the local establishments, like The Tiny Turtle , or nearby Long Doggers , just a short drive away.

There is also easy beach access by Coconuts on the Beach in downtown Cocoa Beach if you want to put your toes in the sand or the ocean.

Downtown Cocoa Beach has limited street parking without meters and additional street parking with meters.

➜ 11. Visit Cocoa Beach Pier

Another fun area in Cocoa Beach is its pier. It's currently owned by Westgate Resorts and has a long history dating back to the 1960s.

The pier opens at 11:00 am every day. You can have a drink at one of the bars here, shop at the little gift shops, and head to the end of the pier for a view above the ocean. There's a cute little bar at the end of the pier too.

Parking is either $15 cash at a monitored lot, or you can find metered parking on either side of that lot for $3.50 an hour. With some patience, we were able to grab a spot there.

You don't have to visit the pier to sit on the public beach, though walking on the pier is fun thing to do in the Cape Canaveral area. It's an entertaining spot to people-watch and enjoy a sunny day on the Space Coast. (Don't forget your reef-safe sunscreen !)

➜ 12. Take a Surf Lesson

A cool thing to sign up for in Cocoa Beach is a one-hour surf lesson if you're feeling sporty.

Dip into the Atlantic ocean with a pro who can teach you how to duck dive, surf the waves, and simply enjoy being one with the ocean for a little while.

➜ 13. See the Space Coast from Up Above on a Helicopter Tour

If you want to view the area from above, looking down, book a helicopter tour with Cocoa Beach Helicopters . The reviews are great, and pricing starts at just $19.99, with optional upgrades.

➜ 14. Learn About Surfing History at the Florida Surf Museum

If you want to learn a little about how the area, including Cocoa Beach and Sebastian Inlet, tie into the history of Florida's Space Coast , head to the Florida Surf Musem. You'll find it inside the rental building of Ron Jon Surf Shop. The small museum is free and explains a little bit about the area's surf culture.

It can't be more than 1,000 square feet, but various photos and news clippings are displayed. You'll certainly learn a thing or two.

You can even see Kelly Slater's first big paycheck from a competition in Treatles, CA, in September of 1990. The oversized check, which was likely used for a photo opp, was for $39,600 and “signed” by Body Glove.

Slater's first big win trophy, which was awarded at Pipeline, is also on display. It's a large clay vessel that was glued back together after it broke during shipping and was thrown to the curb for trash. Slater's neighbor, Sean O’Hare, put it back together. He also founded the museum.

We learned that the Space Coast used to be known as the “Platinum Coast,” thanks to an enlarged hand-drawn map that ran in Surfing Illustrated magazine that is on display. It's dated 1965.

The Florida Surf Museum is free to enter when the building is open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, every day.

Set aside around twenty to thirty minutes to go through the small museum. There are restrooms inside the building.

➜ 15. Shop at the Space Coast's Most Famous Surf Shops

If you like to shop, you're a surfer, or someone who likes water sports, you must stop by two famous shops in Cocoa Beach: Ron Jon Surf Shop and Cocoa Beach Surf Company.

Ron Jon Surf Shop: The Largest Surf Shop in the World

Ron Jon is currently the largest surf store in the world; it's 52,000 square feet. Here, you'll find anything you can imagine for surfing. We also saw the biggest and best selection of sandals we've ever seen from brands like Havaianas, Reef, Van, BillaBong, Toms, Teva, Under Armour, Rainbow, and more.

They also have a ton of sunblock (including a whole “ Baby Bum ” section for baby suncare), boogie boards, and surfboards. They have an entire section for children's apparel and kids' sunglasses, areas for adult shopping, and towels. You will even find a limited amount of NASA-themed space gifts.

We loved seeing some of our favorite ocean items that give back:

• 4ocean bracelets, made from recycled plastic
• Pura Vida bracelets , founded in Costa Rica with proceeds benefitting various charities around the world

There is a restroom on the second floor of the shop.

Cocoa Beach Surf Shop

This store is next to Ron Jon Surf Shop. The two share a free parking garage behind the shops.

Cocoa Beach Surf Shop has some of what Ron Jon carries (not all of it – the store isn't as big even though it's has two levels) but we noticed they also have a lot of Cocoa Beach-themed gifts, like what you might find in boardwalk souvenir shops.

Additionally, perhaps because Four Points Sheraton Hotel is connected to the shop, there is a bar inside with food and drinks happy hour specials from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Other Unique Things to Do On Near Cape Canaveral on the Space Coast

➜ 16. visit the wizard of oz museum.

A somewhat unassuming museum stands out in green paint with a blue roof and a yellow-painted, glittery “brick road” leading to its entrance. If you blink, you may miss it. But you'll surely see it if you are looking for it while driving along N. Atlantic Avenue.

Once you're inside, you'll realize there is more to The Wizard of Oz than you ever knew (unless you're an uber fan, of course). You may not know all the treasures inside the museum firsthand, but you will certainly understand them more by the time you leave.

One of the goals of the museum, as described to us by the founder and owner, Fred, is to educate people about The Wizard Oz beyond the movies.

You can even sign up for a personal tour with Fred , which we highly recommend. (Our visit was definitely enhanced with Fred as our tour guide.)

We didn't realize there are approximately 40 books about the Wizard of Oz until we visited the museum! And the memorabilia inside supports the books, including first edition prints, signed copies on display from the original author, Frank L. Baum, and things like Wizard of Oz puppets and figurines.

Be sure to take a photo with the famous flying monkeys and the Wicked Witch, like Dan did!

There is also a Wizard of Oz immersive experience inside and an artist experience (currently Van Gogh) that will bring you into scenes from the books, like when the Tin Man proposed to the Munchkin girl. (Again, this is a story from one of the 40 books of the Wizard of Oz, not necessarily the movie from 1939 though you'll recognize the famous characters.)

This is an especially wonderful thing to do on a rainy day in Cape Canaveral, Titusville, or Cocoa Beach.

➜ 17. See the Kelly Slater Statue, an Homage to the Greatest Surfer of All Time

Did you know Kelly Slater is from Cocoa Beach on Florida's Space Coast ? He is heralded as the greatest surfer of all time.

There is a bronze statue of him on a surfboard when you first enter Cocoa Beach, welcoming you into town just after you officially drive in.

From the plaque in front of the monument, we learned that as of 2010, Slater was the youngest and oldest person ever to win world titles in 1992 and 2010 at ages 20 and 38.

Though not impossible, getting to the monument by foot is a little difficult if you want to stop and get out of your vehicle. We parked nearby at the Chevron gas station, filled our car, played the Florida lottery, got some cold drinks, and walked the few steps from the gas station to the brick area where the statue is to see it up close.

➜ 18. Go On a Cruise

While you're planning your trip, why not book a cruise from Port Canaveral ? You can book a cruise on various cruise lines, from MSC to Royal Caribbean, Disney to Norwegian. Choose from cruises anywhere from three days to more than 8 days.

Conclusion for Unique Things to Do Near Cape Canaveral on Florida's Space Coast

We hope this article expands your knowledge of unique things to do near Cape Canaveral. Florida's Space Coast, as it's called, encompasses Titusville, Port Canaveral, Merritt Island, and Cocoa Beach as well. And there's so much to see and do there!

Plan to stay a while, book a space-themed hotel , look up the launch schedule and enjoy the area's extensive options, day and night.

Don't forget to sign up for our free printable download so you can easily check off these cool things to do when you're on the Space Coast (it's helpful for your vacation planning too).

Read this next:

• Kennedy Space Center Tickets: Info for a Successful Visit
• 12 Fun Adult Things to Do in Orlando
• Space Hotel Near Cape Canaveral with Rocket Launch Pads Views

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Florida Tech, KSC Visitor Complex launch astronomy partnership featuring portable telescope

Astronomy events and scientific talks will be offered to thousands of future visitors at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, courtesy of a new partnership featuring faculty and students from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Announcing the partnership, Florida Tech President John Nicklow evoked the words of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking: "Look up at the stars, and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious."

Monday afternoon, Nicklow and Therrin Protze, chief operating officer of the KSC Visitor Complex, signed documents and shook hands to cement the astronomy agreement during an on-campus ceremony at the Homer R. Denius Student Center. SpacePerson, the visitor complex's astronaut mascot, and Florida Tech’s Pete the Panther mugged for photos.

Ortega Observatory: Years after Florida Tech's research telescope breaks down, students working to repair damages

Florida Tech's Ortega Observatory personnel will gain use of the KSC Visitor Complex's portable telescope to track asteroids, Nicklow said. The building at the tourist attraction that houses "Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex" was constructed with an elevated platform to house the telescope, Protze said.

Researchers with Florida Tech and the Orlando-based Florida Space Institute will use the telescope, which can fit inside an enclosed trailer for transport.

For example, the telescope could have been driven to swampy areas outside Miami to detect the shadow of the asteroid Leona passing in front of the red supergiant star Betelgeuse during a celestial event last December, said Luis Quiroga-Nuñez, assistant professor of astrophysics and director of Florida Tech’s Ortega Observatory.

Protze credited the late Sam Durrance, a retired NASA astronaut and Florida Tech professor emeritus, with helping spark the vision of the telescope partnership. A planetary astronomer, Durrance served as a payload specialist aboard Columbia during STS-35 in 1990 and Endeavour during STS-67 in 1995.

"The Ortega Observatory will coordinate educational programs for observational astronomy at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, providing events, observational events and scientific talks given by the faculty of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences here," Quiroga-Nuñez, the master of ceremonies, said during Monday's event.

Meanwhile, Florida's Tech's research telescope — which is featured on the home page of the university website — remains damaged and deteriorated after failing five to seven years ago inside the Ortega Observatory atop the F. W. Olin Physical Sciences Center.

A team of students and faculty is laboring to try to resurrect and upgrade the damaged optical instrument, which sports a 32-inch primary mirror. If all goes well, the malfunctioning device will resume detecting light by year's end, Quiroga-Nuñez said.

For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit  floridatoday.com/space .

Rick Neale  is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at [email protected] . Twitter/X:  @RickNeale1

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👨‍🚀kennedy space center featured in new movie ‘fly me to the moon’, vehicle assembly building, astrovan and rocket garden featured in scenes, crystal moyer.

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – If you’re headed to the movies this summer, one flick may have you doing a double-take with some familiar scenes.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex played set to the movie “Fly Me to the Moon.”

Many artifacts from Apollo missions are used in the film, including the Astrovan that was actually used to transport astronauts to the launch pad in the 1960s.

“The movie company said, ‘We want to use that and use it for the ride out to the pad with the astronauts,’ so they went and borrowed it from the visitor complex and took it out there. It doesn’t have an engine, so they had a bunch of people with ropes pulling it to make it look like it was driving. It’s all part of the movie magic,” said NASA Launch Commentator Derrol Nail.

[ENTER TO WIN 4 TICKETS TO KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX]

Nail had the unique opportunity of escorting comedian Ray Romano and his family on set about a year ago, sharing photos from his experience.

“I asked him what role he was playing and he said, ‘I’m an assistant flight director and I don’t know anything about space,’ and he then said, ‘So how does this all work?’ We talked basic rocketry,” said Nail. “We’re in awe of them as actors and actresses and [Ray] was in awe of this place. He was looking around with his jaw dropping.”

“Fly Me to the Moon” is a “rom-com” drama about characters played by Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum surrounding the high-stakes space race and NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Nail said the movie, while fiction, incorporates many historic moments and landmarks from Kennedy Space Center.

“It was a really cool scene that they featured the Rocket Garden and what they did was bring in a lidar scanner and set it up and this thing meticulously scanned all of the rocket garden and, in the movie, they put it right next to the VAB... That’s movie magic there,” said Nail.

“You see movie vans traveling down the road and some vehicles had some stars in them. It was an exciting time,” said KSC Visitor Complex COO Therrin Protze.

Protze said when the movie was shot, it was originally called “Project Artemis.” Protze said it took a lot of coordination while KSC played set to the movie for about a month with 200 production staff and hundreds of extras for some scenes.

“Pride is an understatement. We’re on hollowed ground. Some amazing engineering has been done here, the women and men who have made the space program what it is today.... Words just can’t describe how it felt to be a part of the film highlighting that,” said Protze.

Protze said the movie also has some comedic moments, including speculation on whether we actually went to the moon.

“There’s always the question ‘Did we actually go to the moon?’ and this movie plays around with that and even does more in the movie that I was not expecting. It plays to the conspiracy theorists regarding the Apollo mission, but it hits on the heartstrings of us going to the moon and how we actually did it,” said Protze.

“It’s interesting, they used real footage for the moon landing, but they used a fake moon for the moon light on set. It was this gigantic LED panel that was suspended from a 300-foot crane so it can cast this soft moonlight on the actors faces. They needed nine semis and two cranes in order to have this fake moonlight,” said Nail.

So will Kennedy Space Center be the backdrop of a future movie? Protze says he hasn’t heard of anything in the works currently - but it’s possible.

Travelers who have been inspired by the movie can get a real “space fix” at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The attraction allows guests to uncover the past, present and future of space exploration, immersing themselves in authentic and original experiences, displays, artifacts and activities.

Tickets to the visitor complex start from $75 per adult and $65 per child for single-day admission. A two-day ticket, which can be used for up to six months from purchase and averages a cost of less than $45 per day, is available for $89 per adult and $79 per child.

For more information on Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and to book tickets, visit kennedyspacecenter.com .

“Fly Me to the Moon” is in theaters now. If you’ve seen it, give us your review of the movie and tell us what your favorite parts are in the comments below.

Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Crystal Moyer is a morning news anchor who joined the News 6 team in 2020.

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Home » Home » Florida Tech, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Partner for Space Education and Community Impact

Florida Tech, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Partner for Space Education and Community Impact

By Space Coast Daily  //  July 18, 2024

education spotlight

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – An agreement finalized this week between Florida Tech and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will bring the heavens just a bit closer to Earth for the denizens of Central Florida and beyond.

Florida Tech President John Nicklow and KSCVC Chief Operating Officer Therrin Protze signed an agreement on July 15 flanked by their respective mascots, Pete the Panther and SpacePerson.

Through this partnership, led by the university’s Ortega Observatory, organizers plan to create new and expand existing educational opportunities in space sciences for researchers, students, and the general public.

“This partnership demonstrates the trust in Florida Tech and the Ortega Observatory team to coordinate an educational program that will impact thousands of people in the future who visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex,” Nicklow said at the signing.

Protze said the new partnership is meaningful for the popular tourist attraction.

“We’re thrilled with the interest by Florida Tech to potentially use a brand-new telescope we acquired for outreach programs. This is the best and only place it should be,” Protze said.

“One year later, what started as a spark is lighting the way for the Visitor Complex and Florida Tech to reveal the field of astronomy to guests and inspire the next generation to consider the studies in this discipline and, better yet, to pursue their dream career at Florida Institute of Technology.”

The partnership includes two key outcomes:

Educational program coordination: The university’s Ortega Observatory team will lead the educational program for observational astronomy at KSCVC, organizing observational events and scientific talks in the new Gateway building at the complex.

Portable observatory: Florida Tech will operate a portable robotic observatory, enhancing research, educational and outreach opportunities for Florida Tech students and the Space Coast community.

The partnership, noted Luis Quiroga-Nuñez, assistant professor of astrophysics and director of the Ortega Observatory, “will open a broad range of opportunities for researchers, students and the general public in the field of space sciences.”

“We’re very pleased to launch this new educational and research effort. Glad to see this come to fruition,” Nicklow concluded. “As I often say, the sky is not the limit at Florida Tech. It’s really only the beginning.”

Protze added, “Our powerful partnership brings new dimension to educational events to inspire our mutual audiences. We look forward to working with you to realize these new programs through the expertise of Florida Tech’s astronomers and astrophysicists.”

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