Rocket Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral

The best locations to see Atlas 5, Falcon 9, Delta 4-Heavy



In this very wide-angle view, a Delta 4 rocket launches into space at sunset, as

seen from a riverside spot near Port Canaveral.



KEEPING UPDATED



Up to date information on launch countdowns can best be found at the following

places online. You should continue to check the status of the launch up until you

leave your home, as well as after you leave on your smartphone.



LIVE BLOG UPDATES



www.SpaceflightNow.com has a "mission status center" they normally provide on

launch day for all Cape launches. ULA has a live update blog for Atlas and Delta

launches.



WEBCASTS



You can watch a live webcast of every launch on your smartphone. They can be

found at 1) the Spaceflight Now mission status center page, 2) at s pacex.com for

Falcon launches; u lalaunch.com for Atlas and Delta launches, or 3) on NASA TV

for launches of any rocket if it is carrying a NASA payload. Keep in mind the

webcast is usually on a delay of anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds or more, so the

launch may take place while they still appear to be counting down.



TWITTER



Twitter may be the best place to stay updated these days. Follow:

@SpaceflightNow , @ULAlaunch , @Space X and a few other accounts such as

@torybruno .



Finally, you can keep track of future Cape Canaveral launch dates right here on this

page, or on the Spaceflight Now launch schedule . If you have further questions, or

want to know how to photograph launches, please ask .



Crowds at Playalinda Beach watch as an Atlas 5 lifts off. This version had no solid strap-on boosters

and therefore no smoke trail coming from the rocket. This photo was taken with a telephoto lens.



A daytime Falcon 9 launch from pad 40 as seen from the NASA causeway.



LAUNCH VIEWING SUMMARY



Reference photos and videos, and a map showing the Cape Canaveral area with viewing sites, are located below



This first section gives visitors an overview on the best places for each type of rocket and launch pad. The second section further down this page gives more details on and more of an

overview based on the viewing sites specifically. Just make sure you know what rocket it is that you are planning to go see lift off, because the first thing to learn is that each one is different

and takes off from a different location, with each of these launch pads separated by miles in a south-to-north direction. This is the only completely accurate launch viewing guide on the

internet. I have personally verified all details over my 20+ years and 200+ launches of experience and have accurately measured all distances to within less than one-tenth of a mile. Please

note that other, closer locations you may seem to find on a map and which are not mentioned are either not open to the public, are on private property or are in an unsafe viewing location.



From south to north at Cape Canaveral are landing zone 1 (Falcon first stage landings) and active launch pads 37B (Delta 4 rockets), 40 (Falcon 9 rockets), 41 (Atlas 5 rockets) and 39A

(Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets). I frequently get asked which is the best rocket to come see. Unfortunately, the answer is more complicated than you might expect, as each of the three

rockets can alternate for the winner of 'best viewing' depending on the time of day they are launching and whether the KSC Visitor Complex is offering tickets to get to a closer spot, which is

not the case for every launch. Further complicating things these days are Falcon landings, which take place many miles south of the pads they launch from, so getting closest to launch can

mean being farthest from landing, or vice-versa. Read the sections below for more information and check back again for new launches in the coming years. In 2021-22, for example, the

company Blue Origin will bring launches - and bigger rockets - back to pad 36, which is closest to Port Canaveral and Jetty Park and will have great viewing options from down there.





ATLAS 5 LAUNCH VIEWING



Atlas 5 rockets launch from Pad 41 ( 28.583 N, 80.583 W ). The closest possible launch viewing of any rocket launch from Cape Canaveral is offered for Atlas 5: just 2.3 miles away at the

LC-39 Observation Gantry, by buying tickets sold by the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex . Keep in mind this site could deemed off-limits at the last minute due to wind direction (a

safety concern) because of the short distance to the pad, but this has only happened a couple of times so far. This is by far the best place to view and the closest viewing of any kind for any

launch here. Playalinda Beach is the next closest place, and also is the best spot outside the space center, at just 4.8 miles from the launch pad once you walk down the beach (5.7 from the

first parking lot area). It is also the closest free or low cost ($10) viewing site for any rocket. However, it is not open for night launches (operating hours are 6am-8pm during daylight savings

time summer months, and 6am-6pm during standard time winter months). Should it be offered again, the NASA causeway is the next best, offering viewing at 5.0 to 5.2 miles from Pad 41

with a great view across the water. As with the other ticketed options, this site is not always available. The Saturn V Center (5.4 miles), another stop on the KSC Visitor Complex tours, is an

excellent option as well for Atlas 5 launches, accessed by taking the bus tour at the Visitor Complex with launch day tickets. The Visitor Complex itself is 7.1 miles away, but offers no direct

line of sight to the pad itself, which is behind the tree line. You'll see it once it lifts off. For off-hours/night launches, when no tickets are being sold by the Visitor Complex and Playalinda

Beach is closed, the best option for Atlas 5 launches is Port Canaveral on Route 528, at 12.9 miles from the pad. In that case it is the 'furthest closest' viewing site of any rocket.





FALCON 9 LAUNCHES FROM PAD 39A



Falcon 9 rockets launch from two pads. One is pad 39A ( 28. 608 N, 80. 604 W ), formerly the home of the Space Shuttle from 1981 to 2011 and the Apollo Saturn V from 1967 to 1973. The

closest place to view a 39A launch is Playalinda Beach at 3.6 miles, when open for daytime launches. It was first open for Falcon launches from this pad beginning in June 2017. Spectators

are allowed to watch from the beach parking lot areas (3.6 miles distance), but may not walk down the beach to get closer or park along the road leading to the beach. Playalinda Beach is

normally open from 6am to 8pm during daylight savings time summer hours or 6am to 6pm during standard time winter months. Next closest is the Saturn V Center, accessible with KSC

Visitor Complex ticket s , at just 3.9 miles away. This used to be the VIP site for space shuttle launches and has an excellent view clear across the water. Tickets are not sold for every launch,

however, and are usually available only for late-night launches when the launch is deemed a significant one. (Note for photographers: From the Saturn V Center, the Falcon Heavy's three

side-by-side cores cannot be seen in the initial liftoff photo, as they are aligned west-to-east, the same direction you face from here.)



The NASA causeway, if ever offered, would have viewing from as close as 6.5 miles away on the western end. At 7.4 miles but with no direct view of the pad, is the Visitor Complex itself,

available with tickets. When Playalinda Beach is closed and no tickets are offered by the Visitor Complex, such as for many night launches, Titusville is the best place to view Falcon 9

launches from pad 39A, at 11.3 to 12 miles away. The best spot, specifically, is on top of the Max Brewer Bridge (Rt. 406) which leads towards Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and

Playalinda Beach. It is slightly closer (11.3) on the east side of the bridge. Anyplace along the river in Titusville is also good, with clear views; one popular spot is Space View Park, just south

of the bridge. There are other parks farther south along the river in Titusville as well, but I recommend the bridge above all for an elevated view.



Finally, Port Canaveral (Rt. 528), at over 14 miles away, is the last option to recommend (more so when the Falcon first stage is coming back to land), though it is unnecessary to view

launches from here when Titusville will get you a little closer. When the Falcon 9 first stage is scheduled to make a land-based landing back at the Cape, however, you should consider

watching from Port Canaveral because it has a much closer view of the landing and therefore is a good spot for both, even though it may be significantly farther from the launch pad. More

information can be found below. (Note: The LC-39 observation gantry, at just one mile away from 39A, will never be an option for 39A launches as it is too close).





FALCON 9 LAUNCHES FROM PAD 40



Falcon 9 rockets also launch from Complex 40 ( 28.562 N, 80.577 W ).



For Pad 40, the best spot for Falcon 9 launches is the LC-39 Observation Gantry, at just 3.4 miles away, via tickets sold through the KSC Visitor Complex. Similarly, if offered, the NASA

causeway offers viewing at just 4.0 miles from the pad. Playalinda Beach (6.3 miles, at least partially obstructed view in most places) and the Saturn V Center (also 6.3 miles but clear view)

are also options. Playalinda is obstructed depending on what spot you are in. If you walk down the beach to get to the 6.3 mile mark, you cannot see the pad. If you stay back by the parking

area or along the road to the beach, you have a clearer view but are 7.1-7.3 miles away. The Visitor Complex itself is 6.7 miles from the pad but offers no view of the pad itself (obscured by

the tree line as with Atlas 5). Port Canaveral's Route 528 (11.6 miles) is the closest and best spot otherwise, and the best place to go for off-hours launches.





FALCON 9 FIRST STAGE LANDINGS AT LANDING ZONE 1



For some launches, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket will attempt to return and land back at Cape Canaveral about eight minutes after liftoff. Landings take place at Landing Zone 1, which

used to be called Launch Complex 13 ( 28.486 N, 80.545 W ), used from the 1950s-70s. It is right next to where John Glenn and three other Mercury astronauts became the first Americans to

orbit the Earth starting in 1962. As the pad is about 5.6 miles south of Complex 40 and 9.2 south of pad 39A, the best viewing is different than for launch. The best place to see the landings

(if you want to focus on this instead of launch for your viewing location) is Jetty Park (see below), which is 6.0 miles from the landing site (but from which launch pads 40 and 39 are not

directly visible themselves). Alternatively you can stick with Port Canaveral (Rt. 528), and be 8.3 miles from landing and have a clear view of both launch pads even though they are 10-13

miles away. The NASA causeway (4 to 5 miles from landing depending on the area) is also good, if ever offered, and the best place for both launch and landing combined. From the Saturn V

Center (11 miles), landings are mostly visible but will come down behind or between buildings on the horizon. Playalinda Beach (12.8 miles) and other northern areas are not recommended if

viewing landing is your concern due to their distance. For photographers looking to get a great photo of the landing specifically, it is rather difficult to achieve a clean shot from any location,

but Jetty Park is the best location on land. Port Canaveral (Rt. 528 or Exploration Tower) is the best place for a photographer to get a decent shot of both launch and landing combined. NEW:

Beginning in 2019, it is now possible to view landings from off-shore on a boat. Star Fleet Tours is offering viewing from what appears to be the best location yet. The distance to the landing

zone from the boat may differ for each launch, but appears to offer a much better view at a similar if not closer distance than on land.





DELTA 4-HEAVY LAUNCH VIEWING



Delta 4-Heavy rockets (there are just three remaining from the Cape starting in 2020) launch from Pad 37B ( 28.531 N, 80.564 W ). The closest possible viewing for Delta 4 is from the NASA

causeway (2.7-3.0 miles away) or the LC-39 Observation Gantry (5.5 miles away), through tickets sold by the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex . As with the others, tickets will not be

offered for all launches, especially if the launch time is outside of normal business hours. The NASA causeway is only offered on rare occasion. Next best with tickets is the Saturn V Center,

at 8 miles away and with a clear view. The KSC Visitor Complex, another option, (again during business hours only) is a distance of 7.1 miles, and the view, while not as good, is also not

quite as bad as the other pads. From the grass lawn behind the Atlantis exhibit, in the area closest to the corner of the two main roads, the pad is ever so slightly out of view looking up route

405, and the rocket visible as soon as it lifts off. In other areas of the Visitor Complex, it will be obstructed. The best free view, and the place to go during other times, is Port Canaveral on

Route 528 (10 miles clear across water). There really is no major advantage to viewing Delta 4 launches from other locations.



As seen from the NASA causeway 5.0 miles away, an Atlas 5 rocket speeds into orbit in the late afternoon. This version of the Atlas 5 had solid rocket motors attached, and thus a smoke trail

(only Atlas 5 rockets with SRBs currently display a smoke trail). This view shows almost exactly what you will see with the naked eye from this location. To the right (the other four lightning

towers) is Falcon 9 pad 40, at 4.0 miles away. Pad 39A is just out of view to the left and further away.



Night launches can be spectacular, lighting up the entire area for a brief minute or two. On the left, a very wide angle photograph of an Atlas 5 launch from the NASA causeway. The short

'beam' of light is the result of the moving rocket after exposing the photo for a few seconds to capture the light properly. The sky is a blue hue here because of the full moon. On the right, the

space shuttle, which put out far more power and flame. Usually, the naked-eye color of the flame and night launches is a golden off-white color.



REFERENCE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS



The following section contains links to photos, mostly from other viewers but some of my own on this website, showing the view of each of the rockets from each of the various viewing

locations. This should help you get an idea of what to expect, and help photographers get a good idea of what kind of photo they can get from each place. In general, 'wide angle' means the

camera makes it look farther away and smaller than it looks when you are there, in person; while of course telephoto shots are zoomed in a lot. Views from route 401 are similar to 528.

(SRBs = smoke trail, no SRBs = no smoke trail).



MORE DETAILS ON EACH LOCATION



WITH TICKETS: LC-39 OBSERVATION GANTRY, SATURN V CENTER, NASA

CAUSEWAY & VISITOR COMPLEX



First, make sure you sign up for email alerts so you know when tickets are going on sale.



The LC-39 Observation Gantry ( 28.595 N, 80.618 W ), a viewing tower that is one of the

stops on the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex bus tour, is the newest viewing

location now being offered. And it is the best ever, allowing you to get as close as just 2.3

miles for an Atlas 5 launch, 3.4 miles for a Falcon 9 launch from pad 40, 5.5 for Delta 4

from pad 37, and 8.9 for Falcon landings at LZ-1. This is the closest viewing of any launch

ever offered to the public. If you get the chance to buy tickets for the LC-39 gantry, GO

FOR IT! The three-level tower offers slight elevation for some, or you may find yourself

on the grass in front of it, both with a clear view across the water to any of the launch

pads. This location will not be offered for 39A launches.



The NASA Causeway ( 28.509 N, 80.605 W ) is an excellent viewing option, but only

occasionally available in recent years. It is just 2.7 to 3.0 miles for a Delta 4 launch, 4.0 for

Falcon 9 from pad 40, 5.0 to 5.2 miles for Atlas 5, and 6.5 for Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy

launches from pad 39A. The view is excellent, too, with nothing but water between you

and the launch pad in all cases. It also has the best possible view of Falcon landings at 4-5

miles.



The Saturn V Center ( 28.605N, 80.669 W ), a stop on the Kennedy Space Center Visitor

Complex (VC) bus tour, offers a great view of Falcon 9 launches from Pad 39A at just 3.9

miles away, a clear 5.4 mile view of Atlas Pad 41 and a 6.3 mile view of Falcon Pad 40. At

8.1 miles from Delta 4's Pad 37B, while a clear view, there is no great advantage over

watching from Port Canaveral unless you want to do a tour on the same day as launch.

Photo-wise, the Port view is the better option. For LZ-1 Falcon landings, it is 11. 2 miles.

The Saturn V Center is a beautiful museum housing one of the only three Saturn V moon

rockets still left. It was beautifully restored and opened to the public in 1996. This is a

sight not to be missed on any visit to KSC, as with the newly-opened Space Shuttle

Atlantis exhibit at the Visitor Complex.



The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex ( www.KennedySpaceCenter.com ) is the

independent museum and tour operator for the Kennedy Space Center. I highly recommend

taking at least the main bus tour to see, up close, this incredible and historical place. Other

tours to see different facilities up close are also offered, and each includes the main bus tour

and Saturn V Center in addition to the Visitor Complex itself & Space Shuttle Atlantis

which is now on display there. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC)

itself ( 28.523 N, 80.682 W ) offers viewing (again, when open), but with no truly clear view

of the pads themselves. You will only see the rocket once it has launched and cleared the

trees and buildings in front of you. Between the three rockets, Delta 4 is a tiny bit better

than the others from here in terms of the view, but only from one area of the complex as

noted: The corner of the lawn behind the new Atlantis museum, which has a view up State

Route 405 towards the pad, which is itself just barely hidden. As noted, other areas of the

visitor complex have the view blocked like the other pads. Distance from the Visitor

Complex to Pad 37B is 7.1 miles; to Pad 40 is 6.7 miles; to Pad 41 is 7.2 miles; and to Pad

39A is 7.4 miles. LZ-1 is 8.8 miles. Bottom line: If you are a photographer in search of a

nice liftoff photo, this is not the place to go.



FREE VIEWING: PLAYALINDA BEACH, PORT CANAVERAL, JETTY PARK & BEACHES, TITUSVILLE



Route 401 ( 28.419 N, 80.630 W ) was the best spot for viewing at Port Canaveral, however, since April 2019, this spot is now off-limits permanently, with the possible exception of a

bleacher area adjacent to the main gate to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. However, these bleachers consist of a limited parking area, and may be reserved for employees, their family and

guests. You may be turned away from here. In addition, the view from here is not as clear as it is from farther down 401, with trees obstructing the view of pad 37, and buildings that of pad

41. The Beachline, route 528 ( 28.405 N, 80.645 W ) on the Banana River, is now the clearest view in the Port Canaveral area. Distances from Route 528 to each pad vary from 10 miles to pad

37B, 11.6 to pad 40, 12.9 to pad 41, and 14 to pad 39A. LZ-1 landings are 8.3 miles away.



In 2013, a new observation tower, Exploration Tower , opened at the Port with an outdoor viewing deck on top, providing a slightly higher aerial view of the Cape. This tower can provide a

different, elevated view for a launch, but the view is only good for some launches (40 and 39A are best for photos). The view from the top is mostly obstructed for Delta 4 launches (the pad

is blocked by another structure in the Port in all but one small corner of the tower) and partially so for Atlas 5 launches as well. It offers the best line of sight for Falcon 9 launches from pad

40 at least. Exploration Tower is not always available for launch viewing. When available , tickets are now sold for viewing. However, the tower is often rented out for VIP parties and not

open for launch viewing.



Playalinda Beach: The closest and best spot for Atlas 5 launches and now for Falcon 9 launches off pad 39A as well, as well as a decent option for Falcon 9 pad 40 launches, is Playalinda

Beach ( 28.655 N, 80.630 W ), but only when it is open. The beach is open from 6am to 8pm during summer daylight-savings time, and 6am to 6pm during winter standard time. Closures for

some daytime launches are possible, and the road leading to the beach also closes early, once parking lot capacity is reached and no later than one hour before launch normally. The closest

parking at the beach ( 28.655N, 80.632 W ) is located 3.6 miles from Falcon 9 pad 39A, 5.8 miles from Atlas 5 Pad 41 and 7.2 miles from Falcon 9 Pad 40. You can then walk down the beach

and get as close as 4.8 miles (for Atlas 5) and 6.3 miles (for pad 40 Falcon launches) to be even closer at the KSC security fence. They have not been allowing people to walk down the beach

for pad 39A Falcon launches, however, which would be 2.7 miles away. Playalinda Beach is 8.5 to 9.3 miles from Delta 4's Pad 37B, and the view is partially or completely obstructed from

here. It's also not a great location for Falcon first stage landings, which are 12.8 miles away. The entrance fee to Playalinda Beach is $10 per car, or is included with a National Park Service

annual pass, since it is part of Canaveral National Seashore.



Jetty Park ( 28.4083 N, 80.5873 W ) is currently not the best place to watch any rocket take off from Cape Canaveral, as the view of the pads themselves are hidden by a berm. This will

change in the future as Blue Origin's big rocket resumes the use of Pad 36. It is, however, the best place to watch the Falcon 9 first stages land back at Landing Zone 1. You could happily view

the launches from here or on the beach down the seashore as well, and it is still a beautiful place to watch in general, but the rocket will not become visible upon launch until it has cleared the

tower and risen above the launch pad and berm directly across the inlet. If you are a photographer aiming for launch photos from here, be sure to plot out which way to look on the horizon

using a program such as Google Earth. The park has a $15 entrance fee per car ($5 for Brevard county residents). As you go farther south along the beach, the launch pads do become a little

more visible on the horizon, but you are also getting farther and farther away from them. As mentioned, Jetty Park is, however, the best place to watch the Falcon first stage landings, so there

is a tradeoff for Falcon launches from pads 39A or 40 that are then going to come back and land. Jetty Park is just 6.0 miles from the landing pad, the closest possible viewing site.



Titusville ( 28.620 N, 80.800 W for the Rt. 406 Max Brewer bridge) is the best free, off-site location to watch Falcon 9 launches that take place from Pad 39A. Space View Park ( map ), just

south of here, is also good. Elsewhere in Titusville, anywhere on the Indian River along US 1 or Rt. 406, can be used to view these or any of the other rocket launches as well, but is

significantly farther than Port Canaveral is for all three other launch pads (minimum 13 miles, maximum 16 miles, to Pad 41, 40 or 37B).



A very tight shot of an Atlas 5 rocket launching near sunset, as seen from the

LC-39 observation gantry just 2.3 miles away.



A wide angle photo of a morning Atlas 5 launch (with SRBs and smoke trail) as seen from the

LC-39 observation gantry 2.3 miles from pad 41. Pad 40 is just out of view to the right.



A telephoto shot of a Delta 4 medium version rocket launching at dusk, as seen from the Port

Canaveral area, 8.6 miles away.



A telephoto view of a daytime Falcon 9 launch from pad 40 which is nearly identical to the

shot you can get from the LC-39 observation gantry.



UPCOMING LAUNCHES



Delta 4-Heavy / Sept. 26 @ between 12:01-1:35am EDT (pad 37B): Port Canaveral will be the

closest place to view this launch. Clear views can be found along route 528 at 10 miles distance.

You can be slightly closer but without a view of the pad at Jetty Park or the beach south of

there, at 8.6 to 9+ miles.





Falcon 9 / late Sept. TBA @ mid-day EDT (pad 39A): Playalinda Beach (2.7 miles at fence line

which you can now walk to again, 3.6 miles at parking lot one) is the closest and best place to

view this launch. Access from the east side of the Max Brewer bridge to the beach will close

when parking lots reach capacity, or about 90 min. before launch at the latest. The KSC Visitor

Complex (7.4 miles, no pad view) is the next closest. Titusville on the Max Brewer Bridge or

along the river shore (11.5-12 miles) is the next closest with a clear view of the pad.



-------------



ATLAS 5



The next United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, flying with three solid rocket

boosters, will launch NROL-101 for the National Reconnaissance Office on TBA . Other upcoming

Atlas 5 launches include the second test flight of Boeing's Starliner on December TBA .





FALCON 9



The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the thirteenth batch of Starlink

internet satellites from pad 39A on late September TBA, in the m id-day EDT . A Falcon 9 from pad

40 will launch the fourth Block III GPS satellite on September 30, sometime between 8pm and

midnight EDT . A Falcon 9 will launch the fourthteenth Starlink batch from pad TBA on October

TBA . And a Falcon 9 will launch the fifteenth batch of Starlink satellites on October TBA . Other

upcoming Falcon 9 launches are TBA. The next Crew Dragon, Crew-1, is scheduled for launch from

pad 39A on October 23 at 5:47am EDT . The launch window is instantaneous (sunrise is not until

7:28am). The launch time gets 22-26 min. earlier each day.





DELTA 4-HEAVY



The next Delta 4-Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch NROL-44 for the National

Reconnaissance Office on September 26, sometime between 12:01 and 1:35am EDT .



As seen from the parking lot 3 dune stairs at Playalinda Beach (approx. 4 miles away), a Falcon 9 launches from pad 39A. The view is close to what you would see with the naked eye.

Photo courtesy Walter Scriptunas II / ScriptunasImages.com



Watching a pre-dawn twilight launch of an Atlas 5 from Titusville.



Above, the view of a pre-dawn Atlas 5 launch from the Rt. 406/Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, 13 miles away.



Telephoto view of an Atlas 5 at sunset from Playalinda Beach, at the fence line.

