Space Coast roads have been clogged with idling vehicles for generations as hundreds of thousands of spectators flock to watch high-profile launches — such as when up to 250,000 out-of-area visitors were predicted in November 2020 for NASA’s historic SpaceX Crew-1 astronaut mission. .
But overall, motorists’ affection has waned. Brevard County hosted a record 72 orbital launches last year. And that unprecedented pace has accelerated, with perhaps 90 or more launches by the end of the year.
“The launches are still so frequent. You don’t have that mad rush anymore. Because everyone’s like ‘Oh, there’s another one in a few days.’ So the initial increase of 40% to 55% (attendance) has definitely thinned out a little bit,” said Therrin Protze, director of operations for the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
“Obviously, when New Glenn or Starship takes off from here, it’s going to be crazy. And of course, Artemis will have a crew (mission) next year,” Protze said.
Despite the Cape’s frequent launch schedule, Protze said a “huge” crowd gathered at the KSC Visitor Complex on March 28 for the first launch attempt of United Launch Alliance’s latest three-core Delta IV Heavy rocket. Launches of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy have also attracted sell-out crowds of late.
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Elsewhere, Brevard’s rich shoreline and riverfront offer tremendous viewing opportunities for dozens of miles — “you don’t have to be at the space center,” said Brevard County Communications Director Don Walker.
But that still means traffic jams and overflow parking can cause headaches from Titusville to Cocoa Beach south to the Pineda Causeway.
What you should know before driving to see a rocket launch
Walker recommends that motorists monitor Brevard Emergency Management’s social media pages, which are updated with traffic information hours before launch.
Brevard emergency officials are working closely with the Florida Department of Transportation to alert motorists should there be accidents or road closures, Walker said. For example, FDOT sometimes creates one-way corridors out of streets to manage traffic before and after big launches.
Advice: Be patient when driving to the start
“Patience,” Walker said when asked what motorists should bring. He encouraged people to arrive and find a place to watch as soon as possible.
For viewers ambitious enough to venture near KSC or the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Walker advises packing water and a lunch, as it’s possible to get stuck in traffic for hours.
“A good rule of thumb is the closer to the launch window, the more traffic there will be and the fewer open spots to watch the launch. So please plan accordingly,” said Rachel Horst, Brevard County Public Information Officer.
“If you’re behind the wheel, watch out for fellow space enthusiasts,” Horst said.
Brevard has begun monitoring hot spots
- Jetty Park Beach and Pier, 400 Jetty Park Road, Port Canaveral. Parking fees are charged.
- Playalinda Beach, 1000 Playalinda Beach Road, Canaveral National Seashore. Please note that parking is subject to a fee and access to the Canaveral National Seashore is not always guaranteed depending on capacity and time of day.
- Max Brewer Bridge and Parrish Park, 1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, Titusville. Please note that parking is available on both sides of the Max Brewer Bridge.
- Space View Park, 8 Broad St., 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 that parking fees may apply.
- Cocoa Beach Pier, 401 Meade Ave. The parking fee varies.
- Lori Wilson Park, 1400 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Lori Wilson Park has a dog park by the way.
- Sidney Fischer Park, 2200 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. Please note that parking fees may apply.
- Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (admission fee)
The Space Coast Office of Tourism also maintains a rocket launch page with a searchable map of the main viewing locations. The site often includes information about parking and transportation, Horst said.
High traffic areas to avoid unless I’m watching the start
“Generally speaking, the closer you are to Kennedy Space Center, the more likely you are to encounter some amount of launch traffic,” Horst said.
She warned of congestion in high-traffic areas such as the Max Brewer Bridge, the NASA Causeway and State Road 528.
Horst said traffic generally begins to thin at those locations about an hour after launch. Elsewhere, South Brevard and Central Brevard are less likely to see such an increase in traffic.
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For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space.
Brooke Edwards is a space reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or X: @brookeofstars
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