For generations, Space Coast roadways have been lined with stationary vehicles as hundreds of thousands of spectators gather to watch high-profile launches — such as when up to 250,000 out-of-county visitors were predicted for NASA’s historic SpaceX Crew-1 astronaut mission in November 2020.
But in general, the infatuation with motorists has decreased. Brevard County hosted a record 72 orbital launches last year. And that unprecedented pace has accelerated, with perhaps 90 launches or more by the end of the year.
“The launches are so frequent. You don’t have that crazy rush anymore. Because everyone says, ‘Oh, there’s another one in a few days.’ So that initial increase of 40% to 55% (attendance) has definitely tapered off a little bit,” said Therrin Protze, Chief Operating Officer of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
“Obviously when the New Glenn or the Starship launches from here, it will be an absolute madhouse. And of course the Artemis will be manned next year,” Protze said.
Regardless of the Cape’s frequent launch schedule, Protze said a “huge” crowd descended on the KSC Visitor Complex for the first launch attempt on March 28 of United Launch Alliance’s latest Delta IV Heavy triple-core rocket. The SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches have also been drawing a lot of sellout viewers lately.
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Elsewhere, Brevard’s bountiful beach and riverfront shorelines offer great viewing opportunities for dozens of miles — “you don’t have to be at the Space Center,” said Don Walker, Brevard County communications director.
But that still means traffic jams and overcrowded parking lots could cause headaches from Titusville to Cocoa Beach, south to the Pineda Causeway.
What you need to know before driving to see a rocket launch
Walker recommends that motorists keep an eye on Brevard Emergency Management’s social media pages, which will be updated with traffic information hours before launch.
Brevard emergency officials work closely with the Florida Department of Transportation to alert motorists if accidents or road closures occur, Walker said. For example, FDOT will occasionally create one-way corridors of streets to control traffic before and after major launches.
Advice: Bring ‘patience’ when driving to a launch
“Patience,” Walker responded when asked what motorists should bring. He urged people to find a viewing spot early.
For spectators ambitious enough to get close to KSC or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Walker recommends that they bring water and a lunch, as it is possible to be stuck in traffic for hours.
“A good rule of thumb is that the closer to the launch window, the more traffic there will be and fewer open areas to view the launch, so plan accordingly,” said Rachel Horst, Brevard County Public Information Officer.
“If you’re behind the wheel, beware of fellow space enthusiasts,” Horst said.
Brevard launches viewing hotspots
- Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Parking fees will be collected.
- Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Please note: parking charges apply and access to Canaveral National Seashore is not always granted depending on capacity and time of day.
- Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Please note: parking is available on both sides of Max Brewer Bridge.
- Space View Park, 8 Broad Street, Titusville
- Sand Point Park, 10 E. Max Brewer Causeway, Titusville
- Rotary Riverfront Park, 4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville
- Alan Shepard Park, 299 E. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach. Please note, parking fees may apply.
- Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. The parking rate varies.
- Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. By the way, Lori Wilson Park has a dog park.
- Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Please note, parking fees may apply.
- Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (entrance fees apply)
The Space Coast Office of Tourism also maintains a rocket launch page with a searchable map of the best viewing locations. This page often includes parking and traffic information, Horst said.
High traffic areas to avoid when not watching a launch
“Generally speaking, the closer you are to the Kennedy Space Center, the more likely you are to encounter some amount of launch traffic,” Horst said.
She warned of traffic congestion in high-traffic areas such as the Max Brewer Bridge, the NASA Causeway and the State Road 528 Causeway.
Horst said traffic at those locations generally starts to taper off about an hour after launch. Elsewhere in South Brevard and Central Brevard, this traffic is less likely to increase.
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Visit floridatoday.com/space for the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Brooke Edwards is a space reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or at X: @brookeofstars
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