Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral is a city in Brevard County, Florida, most famous as the home of America's launch pad, Kennedy Space Center. Cape Canaveral is part of a region known as the "Space Coast", since all of the manned United States spacecraft are launched from the Space Center on nearby Merritt Island.
The city of Cape Canaveral sits at the northern end of a barrier island on the Atlantic coast of Florida, south of the geographical Cape Canaveral.
Falcon 9 (pictured above), the first rocket to land its first stage, takes off from the Kennedy Space Center.
Get in
By plane
- Melbourne International Airport (MLB IATA), just 27 miles south, is the closest airport to Cape Canaveral. It is served by Delta Air Lines with six daily arrivals (note that Flight 5197 does not operate on Saturday, and Flight 5049 does not operate on Tuesday or Wednesday) from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and American Airlines with 3 daily arrivals (2 on Saturdays) from Charlotte, N.C.
- Orlando International Airport (MCO IATA), from which Florida State Route 528 goes straight to Cape Canaveral, is the largest airport serving the area. The drive takes a little less than 1 hour, but SR 528 requires tolls. Tolling is $2.00 from the Airport, and even more from Orlando's other tourist areas.
- Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB IATA) is about an hour and 15 minutes north by way of Interstate 95.
By train
The nearest Amtrak station is in Orlando, 50 miles west.
By car
Cape Canaveral is at the eastern end of Florida State Route 528 from Orlando. Interstate 95, a primary north-south route on the Atlantic Coast, intersects FL-528 near Cape Canaveral.
By bus
There appears to be no public transportation service to Kennedy Space Center.
However, many companies offer organized bus day tours from the Orlando area to KSC. For example:
By boat
Get around
Map of Cape Canaveral
By bus
- Space Coast Area Transit is the name of the local Brevard County bus service. It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. The website provides maps and timetables. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. $1.50 per ride, or $42 for a monthly pass.
See
- 1 .
- 2 Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (Just to the west of Orsino on Florida State Road 405, between Range Road and East Avenue SW), toll-free: +1-866-737-5235. Daily 9AM-6PM; some holidays -7PM or -8PM. This busy tourist attraction offers museums, movies, a rocket garden and bus tours of former shuttle preparation and launch facilities. This is an official federal site — however, the visitor complex is run by contractors for a profit, so prices are comparable to private tourist attractions, not a typical national park. Basic admission (a 1 day pass) includes an excellent bus tour (including the complimentary bus tour of Launch Complex 39 and the Apollo/Saturn V Center), the museums (including the exhibit featuring the Space Shuttle Atlantis), and the IMAX movies. Additional special tours or programs should be booked in advance since they sell out quickly. NOTE: this facility may *sometimes* be closed on launch days! 1-day adult $50, children (3-11) $40. Discounts and other passes available. Parking $10.
- 3 Air Force Space and Missile Museum (Tours leave from the AF Space and Missile History Center just outside the south gate of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station), ☏ +1 321 853-9171, airforcespaceandmissilemuseum@patrick.af.mil. M-F 8AM-4PM W-Th 9AM (launch and operations schedule permitting). The three-hour tour includes stops at the Air Force Space and Missile Museum, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and several historic launch complexes. Reservations are required and seating is limited. Adults must be able to present one form of official ID, such as a driver's license, military ID and/or passport, when checking in at the History Center. Bus and most facilities are NOT handicapped accessible. Note that these sites can be seen daily via a fee-based special KSC bus tour of Cape Canaveral. Free.
- 4 Air Force Space and Missile History Center (Just outside the south gate of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station), ☏ +1 321 853-9171, airforcespaceandmissilemuseum@patrick.af.mil. Tu-F 9AM-2PM, Sa 9AM-5PM, Su Noon-4PM. The History Center is an extension of the Air Force Space and Missile Museum. It is located outside of the gates of the Air Force Station and does not require entry onto the station. Free.
Do
- View a rocket launch: NASA keeps a list of Brevard County parks where rocket launches can be viewed. They also provide limited opportunities to view launches through the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The best places off-site are to the south from Jetty Park near Port Canaveral, or across Indian River in Titusville.
- Go on a Cruise from Port Canaveral - Evening and extended cruises offered. These are especially popular for their casino facilities which are not available on land.
- Victory Casino, 180 Christopher Columbus Dr, ☏ +1 321-799-0021. Relax and gamble for a night on the water. Ages 18+.
- Zero Gravity Corporation, toll-free: +1-800-937-6480. Parabolic flights on a modified 727, offering brief periods of weightlessness. $3675.
- Cocoa Beach Sportfishing Charters, 800 Scallop Dr, ☏ +1 321 848-2662. Deep Sea Fishing Charters leaving from Cocoa Beach and Port Canaveral. Catch Dolphin,Wahoo,Sailfish,Grouper and many others. Children Welcome.
- A1A Beach Rentals, 6811 N Atlantic Ave, ☏ +1 321 505-7455. Surfboard rental, paddleboard rental, kayak rental, bike rental, beach gear rental. Rentals are by the day, 2-day, and weekly, and the company delivers everything to you. Activities include kayak fishing, kayak manatee and wildlife viewing, surfing lessons, stand-up paddle boarding lessons, cruise shore excursions, surf fishing, flats fishing.
- Anglers Envy Fishing Charters, 726 Scallop Drive #1001, ☏ +1-321-333-5700, info@anglerenvy.com. Deep sea fishing charter experience.
- 1 Sea Leveler Sport Fishing Charters (Sea Leveler), 505 Glen Cheek Dr, ☏ +1 321-794-3474, captain@sealeveler.com. 7:00AM–10:00PM. Deep sea fishing charters. Full, half day and specialty fishing charters to catch mahi, king mackerel, sailfish, tuna, barracuda, wahoo, grouper, snapper, and cobia to name a few. Evening shark fishing charters. Price varies.
Buy
Kennedy Space Center's Gift shop is a treasure trove of astronaut autographs.
- Fin Freak Offshore Charters (Obsession Fishing Charters), 505 Glen Cheek Dr, Cape Canaveral, ☏ +1 321 631-3474. Cape Canaveral fishing charters
Eat
- 1 Rusty's Seafood, 628 Glen Cheek Drive, ☏ +1 321 783-2033. Great surf and turf, in a relaxing setting on the water, with live entertainment, and seating both inside and outside over the water.
- Grill's Seafood Deck &Tiki Bar, 505 Glen Cheek Drive, ☏ +1 321 868-2226. Fresh seafood and great atmosphere.
- 2 Fishlips, 610 Glen Cheek Drive (At Port Canaveral), ☏ +1 321 784-4533. Unique food and drinks, live entertainment, great nightlife.
Drink
- Causeway Diner, 3700 N Courtenay Pkwy, ☏ +1 321 454-9898. Diner serving breakfast, lunch and dinner all day long.
Sleep
- Cape Winds Resort, 7400 Ridgewood Avenuel (A1A to city hall turn toward beach), ☏ +1 321-613-3958. 1 and 2 bedroom fully equipped beachfront condos with pool, tennis court and covered parking.
- 1 Country Inn & Suites, 9009 Astronaut Blvd, ☏ +1 321-784-8500. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 12PM. Closest hotel to Port Canaveral, with packages that include shuttle service to Port Canaveral. Complimentary hot breakfast.
- 2 Residence Inn, 8959 Astronaut Blvd, ☏ +1 321 323-1100, toll-free: +1-800-331-3131, fax: +1 321-323-1029.
- , 1000 Shorewood Dr, ☏ +1 321 784-4922, toll-free: +1-888-933-3030.
Connect
Go next
- Disney World is 1-1/2 hours by car due west in Lake Buena Vista.
- Baikonur - The Russian equivalent launch site.
- Space - The launch facility is a gateway to low Earth orbit and beyond, although extremely expensive.
| Routes through Cape Canaveral |
| Daytona Beach ← Titusville ← | N  S |
→ Cocoa Beach → West Palm Beach |