Shuttle Launch?

[Tony P. IL.]

I posted this on the Strategies board also.

I'm at OKW right now but I will be going to Vero saturday. If they scrub the launch the 7th and pick saturday how early do the roads get congested? Can I go from a more southern route and if I can which way. And this is only if this scenario happens. Thanks.

 

[mbhoxsie]

On Mapquest, I see two options... (Though I haven't done either..)

One, take 192 southeast until you get to Melbourne... Catch I-95 South from there...

Two... Take Florida's Turnpike (SR-71) Southeast until you get to 60 (Yehaw Junction), then head east until US-1... Go approximately 7 miles north..

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Looks like this may be a real possibility. I missed the launch in August due to a delay.

I think if you are considering trying to get close to the KSC then you have to be there a good 6 hours before the launch. If it does turn out to be Saturday then there will be a much higher turn-out than a weekday when most people are at work.

After talking to some locals and hearing how crazy the traffic really is, I just decided to take in the launch from Vero Beach. People said it is still an awsome sight from there. And since it was delayed anyway, I was really glad I didn't spend most of a day to see nothing.

Whatever you decide to do, I sure hope you get to see it launch. good Luck

EDIT: I think I misunderstood your question. I thought you were looking for a southern approach to KSC. We left from Sanford (near Orlando) at around 10 am on Saturday and the shuttle was due to lif-off at 4pm. We didn't encounter any backup in traffic and we took Rt 1 south from Titusville.

 

[Tony P. IL.]

On Mapquest, I see two options... (Though I haven't done either..)

One, take 192 southeast until you get to Melbourne... Catch I-95 South from there...

Two... Take Florida's Turnpike (SR-71) Southeast until you get to 60 (Yehaw Junction), then head east until US-1... Go approximately 7 miles north..

Thanks mbhoxsie. I will probable take the turnpike route. I heard now that their is a 70% chance of it not taking off saturday and they are looking more at sunday and I hope this is the case. I had asked a few cast members about traffic as you get closer to the east coast area during a launch and a couple of them said their will be heavy traffic with cars pulled over on the side of the roads. Thanks again.

 

[Kycha]

I don't think the traffic is as bad as I have heard on launch days. DH and I were there for the September 9th launch of Atlantis. We drove over to Space View Park in Titusville on Saturday. We left around 9am for the 11:15am launch. We had no trouble finding parking and we had a great viewing spot of the launch pad. We got there with an hour to spare. This was the second day we made the trip. We drove over on Thursday, but they ended up delaying the launch for 24 hours. There was a noticeable increase in traffic from Friday to Saturday, but it was manageable and only took an hour and 15 minutes.

You will be headed in the opposite direction of any launch traffic and Vero is about 80 miles south of KSC so I can't imagine you will encounter any traffic problems on Saturday. Have a great time!!