Kennedy Space Center Travel Tips

Florida’s Space Coast is so named because of its famous Kennedy Space Center, which is must for Florida vacationers and locals alike! On Florida’s East Coast, Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island have been the hub of space innovation and exploration since the 1960s. A trip here is fascinating and patriotic as you discover how our Space Program launched and has evolved over the decades.

Kennedy Space Center is a MUST, whether you are a space techie or just a casual observer of exploration beyond our beautiful Earth. It’s at least a full day exploring this aeronautic facility which has been the forefront of Space exploration since its inception. It’s fun for kids, educational for all, and spectacular for space cadets. You can opt for the one-day ticket to Kennedy Space Center, but since its only $10 for an additional day, you may enjoy a more leisure space race pace, and spread your visit and the exhibits out.

President Dwight Eisenhower founded NASA in 1958 which launched this original NASA facility. In 1963, President Lyndon Johnson announced that the Merritt Island facility would be named “Kennedy Space Center” honoring the late President John F. Kennedy and his commitment to go to space as promised in his speech in 1962. This huge facility, over 144,00 acres with 700 buildings, sits on an otherwise pristine peninsula with the Indian River to the west, Banana River and the Atlantic to the west.

Kennedy Space Center is multi-faceted, its an engineering and launch facility first and foremost, and also a vibrant astronaut training school. Kennedy Space Center later became a visitor attraction in 1965, due to the popularity of people coming to witness launches and wanting to learn more about space exploration. The compound is also home to aeronautic companies of Boeing, Blue Origin, Northup Grumman, and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Today, Space exploration and Kennedy Space Center are even more interesting with NASA and SpaceX innovations, frequent Space mission launches, and Blue Origin moon trips – as Elon Musk and Bezos compete in the final frontier.

Our Kennedy Space Center Visit Tips:
~Arrive and park prior to the 9am gates opening, you’ll have time to get tickets, have a photo with an astronaut, and reserve VR Hyperdeck Mission times, and hear the patriotic opening National Anthem.
~Pick up the KSC daily schedule so you know Imax show times, Astronaut chats, and special events. Take an early Shuttle Bus out to the massive VAB and Apollo/Saturn Center as this gets busier later.
~Atlantis, Journey to Mars, and Heros and Legends, and the IMAX shows, are all worthwhile back at the Welcome Visitors Center.
~Don’t miss the virtual Blue Origin for your 11-minute trip to Space in a capsule that some are paying Jeff Bezos over $200k for, its included “virtually” at KSC, just sign up.
~The IMAX “Deep Sky” is a gorgeous and fascinating journey to galaxies far far away with stellar imagery captured by the powerful James Webb telescope that took three-decades for NASA to perfect, and over $10 billion! This JWS Telescope that finally launched Christmas day 2021, eclipsing the preceding 1990 Hubbel Space Telescope.
~ Experience the 5 Mission Zones inside KSC’s Visitor Complex – Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Shuttle and Beyond in sequential order. The Race to the Moon is a fun competitive virtual reality game, and a Journey to Mars was among our favorites!

~ The Astronauts Hall of Fame is humbling, seeing the tribute to the brave men and women that dedicated their life to bold, and great unknown, space exploration. Statutes of Alan Shepard, John Glenn, to homage and remembrance of the crews of seven lost aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger 1986 and Columbia 2003, and three astronauts aboard the 1986 Apollo 1.
~Kennedy Space Center campus seems huge at first, with over 60 displays, but its do-able in a day – 9-5pm. But, another fun option, its only $10 more for a second day at Kennedy Space Center when you purchase a two-day ticket. So consider a two-day visit and pace yourself from the “space race.”
~Your Kennedy Space Center ticket to ride, witness and marvel at the dedication, and nearly $650 billion, that the US and NASA have invested in Space exploration and innovation is so worth it! Special Guided Tours, Chat with Astronauts, and Astronaut Training Experience are unique opportunities you can reserve for additional fees.
~You are allowed to bring refillable water bottles and snacks into the Park.
~ Kennedy Space Center has several basic, casual eateries on premise as well. The Starbucks has a commanding outdoor patio view of the Rocket Garden.
~ Check for launches while you are visiting, then get a close as you can to the launch site, which are most spectacular at night. We drove to the 528 Causeway to watch a night launch – the flash – feeling the earth move from the rumble – the sonic boom – incredible! The Space Launch app is free and informative right down to the countdown.

Discover the Space Coast and enjoy Cape Canaveral for a few-day getaway. You could even visit here before or after getting on board a cruise ship from Port Canaveral. There’s plenty of beautiful beaches, parks and preserves to explore around the Kennedy Space Center as well. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Canaveral National Seashore are federally preserved natural environments set aside to protect the local wildlife and shoreland to balance out the impact of the Space Center buildings and launches nearby. Visiting the Space Coast and a tour of Kennedy Space Center is inspiring, educational and “vacational” which is that wonderful state of mind you achieve when on vacation!