Kennedy Space Center

The campus comprises several “mission zones,” all accessible with admission. See the Rocket Garden, filled with historic engine replicas and full-size Titan rockets; the Space Shuttle Atlantis; and the Early Space Exploration Hall, where you’ll find hands-on exhibits highlighting the pioneers of spaceflight and the global race to the moon.

Narrated bus tours depart every 15 minutes on 2-hour routes to several launch sites, including those used by the techy space explorers at SpaceX and the Apollo/Saturn V Center, where you can navigate astronaut artifacts and walk beneath a 363-foot (110-meter) rocket from the Saturn V mission. Visit on a day trip from Orlando, or opt for an Ultimate Space Pass that includes a tour of NASA’s launch headquarters, lunch with an astronaut, two IMAX movies, the Shuttle Launch Experience, and free time to experience the center’s exhibits and galleries.

• There’s lots to see and do at Kennedy Space Center, so plan on spending a full day here.

• The space center is one of the most popular family attractions in Florida.

• The general admission bus tour stops running 2.5 hours before closing time.

• Choose a helicopter tour over the Kennedy Space Center for a bird’s-eye view of the sprawling facility.

• Visitors can purchase day admission tickets or 2-day admission tickets.

The Kennedy Space Center visitor complex is adjacent to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Titusville, 45 minutes from Orlando by car, on the eastern side of the Intracoastal Waterway. There is no public transit to the center, but several tours include transport to the Space Center from Orlando. There’s on-site parking for cars, motor homes, and RVs, though only multi-day tickets include the cost of parking.

Because there’s so much to do, it’s best to arrive as close to the daily 9am opening time as possible. Closing times vary seasonally between 6pm and 8pm. The center is seldom crowded (except on launch days), but you can avoid large field trip groups by visiting on a weekend.

To count down and feel the rumble of lift-off just a few miles away from a real launching rocket, you’ll have to time your visit just right, as only a handful take place each year. The visitor center offers the closest viewing stations for shuttles and rockets blasting off from the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, and has four designated spots for lawn chairs (some of the spaces require tickets, which typically go on sale two weeks prior to launch).

1-day tickets to Kennedy Space Center cost $75 for adults and $65 for children; 2-day tickets cost $89 for adults and $79 for children. You need two days to see all the attractions and exhibits, including the KSC Bus Tour, Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, the Apollo/Saturn V Center, astronaut appearances, and more.

No, you cannot visit Kennedy Space Center for free. Tickets—which you can buy in person or online—are $64–$75 for 1-day access and $79–$89 for 2-day access. You should take 2 days to explore the vast visitor complex, which includes the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, KSC Bus Tour, and more.

No, you do not need to book tickets to Kennedy Space Center in advance; you can simply walk up and purchase tickets at the entrance kiosks—they’ll be the same price as if you bought them online. However, if you book online, you can skip any queues and proceed directly to the entrance turnstiles with your ticket barcode in hand.

At 100,000 square feet (9,290 square kilometers), Kennedy Space Center recommends 2 days to go through all the fantastic attractions and exhibits, from the KSC bus tour and the Apollo/Saturn V Center to the IMAX theater and astronaut meet-and-greets (and beyond). If you only have one day, bank on spending your entire day at this space-age wonder.

Many consider the best day to visit Kennedy Space Center to be any weekday, especially when school’s in session—that way, you’ll avoid both the weekend crowds and the family vacationers. Come early during the day (around 9am) to avoid any lines, get better parking, and have the best, most crowd-free experience.

No, parking is not free at Kennedy Space Center. Rates are $5 for motorcycles, $10 for cars, and $15 for oversized vehicles, motorhomes, and RVs. If you opt for an annual pass, free parking is one of the perks. To avoid parking, rideshares and taxis are permitted in Lot 4 with proof of fare.