Launch Viewing Locations
Launch Viewing Locations
KARS Park | map | The best kept secret in the whole area, KARS park is a NASA-employees park and campground that offers public viewing for $5 per car. From here, you have unobscured pad views of all the major launchpads on CCSFS. Pad 39-A on KSC is partially obscured, but unless seeing the TEA-TEB flash at ignition is a huge priority to you, you'll have a great experience.
After hours, there is no way to drive a car in. You can park your car on the road and walk on in! Bring a flashlight and bug spray - regardless of what time of year you visit. Use caution and common sense, this area is home to snakes and alligators. Stay out of the water. Respect other people here, this is otherwise a private campground.
The main pier has room for lots of people!
SLC-36 - Blue Origin - 7.83 miles (12.9 km) In the image you can see the HIF (Horizontal Integration Facility - where the booster core is mated with the second stage and encapsulated payload) at the far right. To the left is the tallest water tower in the world at 353 ft, with a 1-million gallon (3.785-million liters) capacity. In the center is the launchpad with a New Glenn rocket standing in its Transporter Erector, flanked by giant lightning arrest towers.
SLC-37B - former launch site of ULA Delta IV, future home of SpaceX's Starship. The Mobile Service Tower and lightning arrest towers seen in the image above were torn down in the fall of 2024.
SLC-40 - SpaceX - 9.99 miles (16.08 km) In the image you can see the SMAB (SpaceX Payload Processing Facility, formerly the Solid Motor Assembly Building) on the left, the pad in the center with the launch tower and crew access arm surrounded by lightning arrest towers. At the far right is ULA's ASOC (Atlas Space Operations Center).
SLC-41 - ULA - 11.14 miles (17.94 km) In the center of image you can see the VIF (Vertical Integration Facility - where the booster core is mated with the second stage and encapsulated payload, and solid rocket boosters). Just to the left you can see the launch tower with crew access arm, surrounded by 4 lightning arrest towers.
LC 39-A - SpaceX - 12.3 miles (19.79 km) In the image you can see the main pad launch tower to the left, the water tower in the middle, and the Starship launch tower on the right.