Logistics of going to watch a rocket launch?

[Kalamazoo2]

There is a rocket launch scheduled while we are in town and it has been on our bucket list to experience this up close. It is a midnight (or, rather, just before then) launch. Have found a lot of information on where to view it from for free but not really anything about how early to get there or how long it would take for traffic to clear afterward. Recommended viewing spots are the 528 bridge over the Banana River and Port Canaveral.

Wondering if anyone has any experience with this and can give some tips.

I know that the dates and times of these missions can be fluid so trying to walk the line between making plans but not too firm plans.

 

[Chupaca bruh]

I can't help with the where or how to get there as I watched it from the 4th floor at Coronado Springs. I was given the advice that if you have lots of park plans do not drive over to watch the lift off as it can easily be postponed. Lift of was at sunrise and I got u[ three mornings in a row to se it and indeed was. postponed two times. Third time it went and was spectacular. If you have lots of freedom in your schedule it would be awesome to be closer.

 

[Narcoossee11]

It is less than a 50% change it will go off.
if weather is clear, you should be able to see it from your hotel. Nights make it easy to see.
If you want to drive over, leave about 2 hours ahead of time. Keep following the news for updates.

 

[Capt_BJ]

launches do not typically draw huge crowds anymore - they happen TOO routinely. If it is just a small Space-X launch there is barely noticable increase in traffic. Only something new or large or manned draws any extra crowd but NOTHING like apollo / shuttle days ..... I'm a local

 

[Kalamazoo2]

Thanks everyone - all useful information. This is the first time in a long time that a launch date actually coincides with our dates - normally we miss it by a day or two on either side. One time a launch happened just after we took off to fly home (of course we were on the wrong side of the plane to see it). We did once see the space shuttle climbing in the sky from the parking lot of MK - years ago obviously. Even before that, once our hotel was offering a shuttle to bring guests out to the area to watch an early morning space shuttle launch but one of us was feeling off the night before so we decided not to go.

Still undecided if we will try, though. I wish it was a bit more of a sure thing. You'd think to scratch something off your bucket list you'd go to great lengths, but I have to say that the thought of driving back to Orlando in the middle of the night after a scrubbed launch is weighing heavy. I sure wouldn't be looking to try again the next night. On the other hand, sure would be cool to feel and hear the rumble of a blast off. Ah well, I'll see how I feel when the time comes and see if the mission is still a go at that point. At least there is the chance of a distant view from where we will be staying with little investment in time and effort.

 

[Anna131517]

Rocket lunches get delayed all the time. For that reason I wouldn’t go out of my way to view one. If you want to go to Kennedy Space Center anyway then do it, just know the launch may or may not happen that day or at the scheduled time. We got to see one once and it had been rescheduled from the day before and was five hours late. There were cars pulled over on the side of the road all over the place on the way to the Space Center, so if those people saw it then it was have been two days of waiting for them - on the side of the road. Since your launch is at midnight you could waste the whole night.

 

[Kalamazoo2]

Anna, that was my conclusion exactly. Funny, given how common rocket launches are these days, how elusive they can still be to the average visitor. Maybe the stars will align one day...