Planning Your Trip

Located on the east coast of Florida approximately midway between Jacksonville and Miami, the Center represents a marriage of technology and nature at its best. Kennedy shares its property with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and in 1975, nearly half of the Space Center was designated by Congress as part of the Canaveral National Seashore.

Image to left: A full-size replica of a Space Shuttle Orbiter and genuine solid rocket boosters and external tank are on display at the Visitor Complex. Credit: NASA

When you explore Kennedy, you will get a good look at how the Space Shuttle is processed today. A trip to the Air Force Museum at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will take you back to NASA's beginnings and past the launch structures that were used to launch the Mariner, Explorer, Viking, and Voyager spacecraft to the planets. And as you watch future launches and landings, you can remember back to the day you explored Kennedy Space Center. If you would like to receive Shuttle Status Reports and Kennedy news releases via e-mail to aid in planning your trip, join our electronic subscription service.

A Journey through Time
Already rich in history, the Kennedy story continues unfolding with each Space Shuttle and International Space Station mission. You can witness history in the making as NASA plans and prepares for returning humans to the Moon and sending robotic explorers deep into our galaxy. See the stories unfold on our gigantic five-and-a-half story IMAX movie screens. Walk through a full-scale replica of a Shuttle orbiter. See real Moon rocks and rockets used to launch man and machine into Space.

Image to right: A popular exhibit at the KSC Visitor Complex, the Mad Mission to Mars 2025, is a live-action stage show that combines stereoscopic 3-D computer animation and spectacular theatrical effects. Credit: NASA

The Space Coast
Kennedy Space Center is located about 35 miles east of Orlando International Airport in Brevard County, Florida. We've provided maps and directions to KSC from Orlando, Miami, and Jacksonville.

Attractions
Visitors can expect to dedicate at least one day exploring the Visitor Complex, enjoying its Rocket Garden, IMAX movies, space history exhibits, a full-sized walk-through Space Shuttle display, bus tours, restaurants, gift shops, the Apollo/Saturn V facility and the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Other space-related attractions available nearby include the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory at Brevard Community College in Cocoa and the U.S. Space Walk of Fame in Titusville.

Launch Viewing
If you will be in Florida during a Shuttle launch, you have two options for launch viewing. You may purchase Launch Transportation Tickets from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. There are also many prime viewing areas outside of the space center. For more details, visit our special sections for viewing Space Shuttle launches and landings and viewing rocket launches.