Kennedy Space Center Guide

Contents

A visit to Kennedy Space Center Florida provides a fascinating insight into NASA and the American space program.  The Kennedy Space Center is located on Cape Canaveral Island, off the east coast of Florida.

KSC is approximately 45 mins drive from Orlando, which makes it a great place for a day trip! On this page you’ll find information and photos of all the highlights and things to do at the KSC.

Kennedy Space Center Map – Including KSC address, directions, telephone number and opening hours. We have also compiled a special map of Cape Canaveral Florida and all the major highlights of the Kennedy Space Center.

Kennedy Space Center Tickets – ticket information and discount tickets to KSC.

The Rocket Garden
Photo courtesy of R. Lughermo

At Cape Kennedy you’ll find there’s enough to do to fill a whole day or more! This really is a huge site spread over an area 4 times the size of Manhattan.

The Kennedy Space Center Florida showcases many of the greatest shuttles and rockets of our time. Above you’ll see the ‘Rocket Garden’ with many famous rockets on display such as the Redstone, Atlas and Titan. You’ll be amazed at how big they are in real life!

kennedy space center florida
Saturn V Rocket Photo courtesy of Bill Lile

Above is a Apollo Saturn V rocket – the real thing! In this huge facility you can see up-close the very rockets that launched man into space and even on to the surface of the moon.

You can get a bird’s-eye-view of two of the launch pads that are still in use today.  As part of the Space Center Tour (which is included in your admission), you will be able to view launch pads 39A and 39B.

The photo shows the shuttle launch pad as viewed from the 60 ft high observation tower. There are special binoculars provided to get a good up-close view.

The massive Vehicle Assembly Building
The massive Vehicle Assembly Building

The photo on the right is the enormous VAB or Vehicle Assembly Building.  This is where NASA engineers put together all the components of a shuttle together ready for launch.

This iconic structure is what many people think of when visiting the Kennedy Space Center Florida. This building is one of the largest in the world. It’s as high as a 52 story skyscraper, but it’s volume is staggering.

This building also houses many high-tech labs where detailed research is carried out on space missions and launches by NASA staff. All the different parts are shipped in from New Orleans, LA and they are brought to this building to be assembled.

You will see this building on the Kennedy Space Center Tour and is included in you admission. (Although you won’t be able to go inside). Once a shuttle has been put together ready for launch, it must be carefully moved to the launch pad. Below is a picture of the ‘Crawler Transporter Vehicle’.

Facts about this mega mover

  • Weighs around 6 million pounds or 2,721 tonnes
  • It moves at 1 mile per hour along a long runway leading up to the launch pad.
  • It can take 8 hours to transport a shuttle to the launch pad
  • The runway is around 6.5km or 4 miles long.
  • 131ft long and 113ft wide
  • First developed in 1965 and still in use today at Kennedy Space Center Florida

You can often see this vehicle parked along the runway on your KSC Tour.

The Crawler Transporter. A 6 million pound vehicle used to move shuttles to the launch pad
The Crawler Transporter. A 6 million pound vehicle used to move shuttles to the launch pad

….and finally a shuttle is launched!

The launch of Space Shuttle Discovery from launch site 39B in 2006
The launch of Space Shuttle Discovery from launch site 39B in 2006 Photo courtesy of Mocr

Kennedy Space Center Map

Below is an interactive Kennedy Space Center map. It highlights all the key attractions and NASA launch sites of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The KSC and Cape Canaveral sites are dotted across a wide area. You will see many of these sites on your Kennedy Space Center tour which is included in the admission price.

You can use the top left navigation buttons to zoom in and zoom out of the map. you can also use your left mouse button to click into the map and drag.

The blue markers will show you the most well-known parts of Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.

KSC is approximately 50 miles east of Orlando. It will take about 45mins to 1 hour to drive there, depending on traffic. The Visitor Center is very well sign posted, so you are unlikely to get lost once you get closer to Titusville. The main road that runs out to Cape Canaveral is called Nasa Parkway West or State Road 405.

Kennedy Space Center Address

Kennedy Space Center SR 405,
Kennedy Space Center
FL 32889

Opening Times: Daily 9am – 5.30pm

Phone number: 321 449 4444

Kennedy Space Center Tickets

Looking for Kennedy Space Center tickets and prices? We have put together this handy guide to the ticket options at Kennedy Space Center Florida.

You can buy tickets in advance which could save you money and help you skip the long lines at the gate!

Luckily, the ticketing options aren’t too complex. You can buy Kennedy Space Center tickets that cover the main attractions. You can also purchase ‘add-on’ experiences which are additional to the regular ticket price

KSC Regular Admission

Tickets include access to:-

  • IMAX Films
  • Rocket Garden which showcases life-sized space rockets and shuttles
  • Visitors Center exhibits and interactive activities
  • U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
  • Shuttle Launch Experience simulator

These tickets can be purchased direct from the Kennedy Space Center website.

Kennedy Space Center Discounts

Online Discounts

You can find Kennedy Space Center discounts online. There are number of online ticket brokers who sell genuine discounted Kennedy Space center tickets.

UnderCover Tourist currently have Kennedy Space Center tickets with $6.00 off the gate price. You can book online and have the tickets delivered to you at no extra cost.

They are offering these discounted tickets with a second days admission free when used within 7 days of the first.

Maximum Experience Tickets includes the following:-

  • IMAX Space Films
  • Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour
  • Apollo and Saturn V Center
  • U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
  • Rocket Garden
  • Shuttle Launch Experience Attraction
  • 2nd Day Free Within a 7 Day Period

Save $6 Per Ticket – Compare Prices Now  (Scroll to the very bottom of the page for KSC discounts).

AAA Discounts

If you are an AAA Member you can save money on your Kennedy Space Center tickets!

AAA Auto Club South currently has the best discounts on both adult and child tickets. Discounts are approximately $4-5 off per person.

AAA tickets also allow you to return to KSC for a second visit within 7 days of the first. (Remember to get your ticket stamped as you leave on the first day).

AAA Auto Club South Tickets

You must be an Auto Club South member to take advantage of this offer. If you live in Florida, Georgia, middle & west Tennessee and Puerto Rico you can get a free AAA Member Card.

You must be a AAA Auto Club South member to purchase tickets. You can register online or call 1-877-537-7283 .

All other AAA clubs have different savings depending on where you live. Visit the AAA website and type in your zip code to find out what special savings you could make. AAA Club Finder

KSC Additional Ticket Options

Cape Canaveral Tour: Then & Now

This is a special in-depth tour of Cape Canaveral’s most famous launch sites. You’ll visit the launch site of the Gemini, Mercury and Apollo space programs of the 1960s. The tours takes in many of the old launch sites which made history at the beginning of America’s space discovery program.

The tour includes the Launch Pad 34 of the fateful Apollo 1 and also the site of the first human launch into space.

Tours last approximately 2.5 hours.

Tours buses are air conditioned.

Tours leave twice per day at 11.40am and 12.50pm.

These tours are very popular, so make sure to book in advance!

Cape Canaveral Then & Now Tour Tickets

NASA Up Close Tour

This tour will give you a more in-depth look at NASA’s space shuttle program with an expert guide. You be able to get the closest possible view of the launch pads used today. You will see the gigantic Vehicle Assembly Building where shuttles are made. If you’ve ever wondered where the astronauts and crews train and prepare for launch, you’ll discover that on this tour too.

Tours run daily subject to NASA timetables! That means it’s best to check ahead of time when tours are running. Tickets do sell out quick, so to avoid disappointment, book ahead for this tour.

NASA Up Close Tour Tickets

Annual Passes: Commander’s Club

An annual pass to Kennedy Space Center is not as expensive as you might imagine!

These Kennedy Space Center tickets are valid for 12 months from purchase and are only $10-12 more than regular one-day admission.

Annual Pass holders get 10% off shop merchandise too.

Leave a Comment