Hotels near Kennedy Space Centre / Seeing a Rocket Launch

[1972]

We are going up to Kennedy Space Centre for the day and was wondering if anyone had any hotel recommendations within about a mile of the space centre.

We are looking at Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach but can't decide.

Also, there is a rocket launch due while we are in Orlando and we were wondering whether to drive up and find a spot to watch it.

Has anyone ever done this before? Was it worth it?

[wed2ared]

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho... php?t=1120800

Didn’t stay over but here are some observations from when we saw a launch in April - well worth it if you can.

[Wee_Red]

Not recommended for safety reasons but we went in July 2016 and drove down for the launch (around midnight) and then back up. We didn’t manage to get to where we planned for the viewing due to the time and as we approached the area, we did the same as everyone else - pulled over on the freeway. There were police sitting in the middle of the two directions just keeping an eye on things (seems to be something they’re used to).
Well worth the drive, it’s truly an experience you can’t replicate.

[1972]

Originally Posted by wed2ared

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/sho... php?t=1120800

Didn’t stay over but here are some observations from when we saw a launch in April - well worth it if you can.

See more...

Thank you.

Do they tend to be in the evening? I thought they were early morning.

[School teacher]

We saw one 2 years ago. It was during the day. We left really early to go and as we got close the traffic was pretty much standstill. We just made it. They directed us to a grassed area to watch. After we went around the space centre. It was a great experience.

[Sew109]

We had a launch in 2017 on the day we went to KSC but we didn't know and turned up an hour after it had happened

Years and years ago we went to a shuttle launch arrived at 4am at 8 am it was cancelled.

Guess I am not meant to see one

[1972]

Originally Posted by School teacher

We saw one 2 years ago. It was during the day. We left really early to go and as we got close the traffic was pretty much standstill. We just made it. They directed us to a grassed area to watch. After we went around the space centre. I
t was a great experience.

See more...

We are at the space centre a couple of days before the planned launch. It is a pity it isn't then as we will have to go back up from our days at the parks.

[1972]

Originally Posted by Sew109

We had a launch in 2017 on the day we went to KSC but we didn't know and turned up an hour after it had happened

Years and years ago we went to a shuttle launch arrived at 4am at 8 am it was cancelled.

Guess I am not meant to see one

See more...

Missing it both times must have been so annoying!

[Endeavour]

We were in Orlando for the final shuttle launch, would have loved to have seen it up close but we left organising a trip too late and so only managed to see it from a distance by driving about halfway to the cape. Got our hopes up for a launch on our last but one trip, until we realised that the NASA launch schedule has details of all launches, so ones from e.g. Kazakhstan were on the list as well, which included the one whilst we were in Florida.

[wed2ared]

They vary the times according to expected conditions I think. We still follow SpaceXNow on the app and watched one live from home a couple of weeks ago on YouTube which was great having been there ourselves.