Kennedy Space Center Day Trip from Kissimmee

Why it is worth a day away from the parks

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is the one big Central Florida outing that has nothing to do with theme parks, and it holds the attention of nearly every age in a group. Grandparents who remember Apollo, teenagers who follow SpaceX and young kids who just like rockets all find something.

It also gives a group a rest from park crowds and park prices without giving up a full day out. The complex sits on Merritt Island on the Space Coast, on the far side of the state's busiest tourist corridor, so the drive itself gets you away from International Drive and the park traffic.

If your group wants more ideas for non-park days, our guide to things to do in Kissimmee besides theme parks covers the options closer to home.

The drive from Kissimmee

The drive is simple: head east to SR 528, follow it toward the coast, then take SR 407 and SR 405 to Space Commerce Way. The visitor complex's official directions give these steps from Orlando:

1. Travel east on SR 528 for about 50 miles.
2. Take the SR 407 exit on the left toward Kennedy Space Center and Titusville, and follow SR 407 to its end at SR 405.
3. Turn east on SR 405 and follow the Kennedy Space Center signs for about 7.5 miles.
4. Turn right onto Space Commerce Way and go about 1.2 miles. The visitor complex is on the left.

From Kissimmee, plan on roughly an hour to an hour and a half each way, depending on where you start and the time of day. SR 528 is a toll road, so set up your toll payment before you leave. The official site says there is no public transportation to the visitor complex, so a group needs its own cars or a private shuttle.

Hours, tickets and parking

Plan around three numbers from the official site: opening at 9am, last entry an hour before closing, and the last bus tour 2.5 hours before closing.

Ticket prices change by date and ticket type, so check the current price on their site. The complex sells one-day and two-day tickets and annual passes, and recommends buying online ahead to save time at the gate. For a group of 12, buy everyone's tickets in one order so nobody is stuck at the window.

What to see in one day

Do the bus tour first, then spend the afternoon at Atlantis, the Rocket Garden and whatever your group picks from the rest.

Behind the Gates bus tour. The bus takes you through NASA's gates to the gantry at LC-39 and the Apollo/Saturn V Center. This is the part of the day you can't do anywhere else, and with the last tour leaving 2.5 hours before closing, it is the easiest thing to miss if the group arrives late. Head there first.

Space Shuttle Atlantis. The complex describes Atlantis as the only space shuttle displayed in flight. The building also holds the Shuttle Launch Experience, a simulated launch with an astronaut.

The Rocket Garden. The official FAQ says the Rocket Garden and its daily tours are included with admission, and many of the rockets there are genuine. It is outdoors, so it suits the morning or late afternoon on a hot day.

Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex. Exhibits on current and future launches, including Spaceport KSC.

Heroes and Legends. Home to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

For younger kids. The complex lists a Fraggle Rock show about the space program, which is a good indoor break for small children.

For older kids and adults. The Astronaut Training Experience offers simulations of training for Mars missions. Check whether it needs a separate booking on the day you go.

A sample plan for a group of 12

Example: eight adults and four kids, one day, no launch scheduled.

How launch viewing works

You can watch a launch from the visitor complex, but the way you get in depends on when the launch is and how much interest it draws. The official launch viewing page sets out three options.

The complex is plain about the risk: "Purchasing a launch viewing opportunity does not guarantee the launch will occur." Launches slip for weather and technical reasons, often with little notice.

The scrub policy differs by ticket type:

• Launch Transportation Tickets are tied to one mission and can't be moved to another. If the launch is postponed, the ticket is valid for the next attempt from your viewing site, or you can ask for a refund if it is unused. If you board the bus for a later attempt and that one is postponed too, the ticket counts as used in full.
• Launch packages are tied to the mission, not the date and time. Refunds can be requested only for unused packages, and the official page sets out further conditions for scrubs announced less than 3 hours before launch.

We don't list launch dates here because they change so often. Check the official site for this year's schedule and for the current terms before you buy.

Tips for a group

A few habits make the day easier with 10 to 20 people.

• Name one ticket buyer. One person buys every ticket in a single order and holds the confirmation.
• Set a meeting point. Pick one landmark near the entrance and a time to regroup after lunch.
• Pack lunches. Soft-sided coolers are allowed, which saves money and lines for a big group.
• Watch the sky. Central Florida afternoons bring storms. The complex uses a lightning alert and asks guests to shelter indoors until it passes, so plan the outdoor parts for the morning.
• Bring layers and sunscreen. You move between air-conditioned halls and open sun all day.
• Leave buffer time on launch days. Roads around the Space Coast fill up before a launch, so leave earlier than usual and expect a slow drive home.

Where to stay

A large home in Kissimmee gives a group one place to leave from in the morning and one table to come back to at night. See our homes in Kissimmee, including the Kissimmee 6-bedroom group home. For a reunion, our Kissimmee family reunion guide and family reunions page help with the rest, and if you are deciding where to base the trip, read our comparison of a Kissimmee vacation home vs. a Disney hotel.

Bringing the dog? Our homes allow up to 3 pets with a $100 pet fee per stay, and service animals are always free.

The bottom line

Kennedy Space Center is the best non-park day out from Kissimmee for a mixed-age group. Leave early, arrive at the 9am opening, do the bus tour first, and finish with Atlantis and the Rocket Garden. If you want to see a launch, check the official schedule, read the scrub policy for your ticket type, and keep a spare day in your plan.