We want to watch the launch on Wednesday. I just discovered today Playlanda Beach is closed, and Jetty Park is annual pass holders only. Is there a place where we can watch the launch and either stay in the motorhome, or at least very close to it?

For one of the last shuttle launches I got there very early (7pm for an 11am liftoff) and was able to get a standard parking spot in the parking lot at the causeway for my truck camper. Would have needed to get there earlier in the day for a motor home. If it had gone off I would of had great views. Kicking myself now for not waiting for the next attempt which would have been late that night as it went off.One thing to keep in mind is there is about a 40% of having good enough weather for the launch on Wednesday with the next attempt on Saturday.

jspringator, Playalinda Beach is likely closed because the launch is from pad 39A which is the closest pad to the beach. We spent the winter in Mims, FL and watched all of the launches while we were there. We watched several on U.S. 1 at Rt. 50 (Cheney Highway) There's a Wahlgreens at that intersection that's large enough for your motorhome. Or there's Space View Park in Titusville. There's also parking along side A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway but sometimes that gets closed. Wherever you choose to watch from, looking at the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) at KSC, your view will be to the North side of that building.Normally, I would say to get to a location 90 minutes ahead of a launch but since this is the first manned launch in several years, arrive a good 3 hours ahead of the launch time. There will be thousands of people there to watch!

I don't know how close you need to be to get a good view of a rocket launch. But a couple years ago we camped at Manatee Hammock Campground near Titusville. There were no launches while we were there, but I have a mental note to try to go back there when there are launches to watch. It is almost directly across the Indian River from Cape Canaveral. You can see the larger structures of the Kennedy Space Center complex from the campground. I think it would be a great place to watch a launch. Not too close; not too far away. I think you'd have a great view of the rocket as it gets farther up in the atmosphere than you would if you were as close as possible to the launch site. Of course, if what you are looking for is the ground-rattling, up-close-and-personal experience, that's something else.-Speak

NASA has asked the public not to attend for what it’s worth.

November '08, we watched the last night launch from a parking lot across US1 from the McDonalds. Didn't see the actual lift off from the ground, but we knew it was coming as the entire sky on the island lit up orange as the engines roared to life, and the shuttle cleared the treeline a few seconds later. Doesn't work as well, or impress as much, for a daylight launch.

Where to watch rocket launch in or near motorhome?

RobWNY
Explorer
May 26, 2020
jspringator, Playalinda Beach is likely closed because the launch is from pad 39A which is the closest pad to the beach. We spent the winter in Mims, FL and watched all of the launches while we were there. We watched several on U.S. 1 at Rt. 50 (Cheney Highway) There's a Wahlgreens at that intersection that's large enough for your motorhome. Or there's Space View Park in Titusville. There's also parking along side A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway but sometimes that gets closed. Wherever you choose to watch from, looking at the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) at KSC, your view will be to the North side of that building.
Normally, I would say to get to a location 90 minutes ahead of a launch but since this is the first manned launch in several years, arrive a good 3 hours ahead of the launch time. There will be thousands of people there to watch!
kohldad
Explorer III
May 26, 2020
For one of the last shuttle launches I got there very early (7pm for an 11am liftoff) and was able to get a standard parking spot in the parking lot at the causeway for my truck camper. Would have needed to get there earlier in the day for a motor home. If it had gone off I would of had great views. Kicking myself now for not waiting for the next attempt which would have been late that night as it went off.

One thing to keep in mind is there is about a 40% of having good enough weather for the launch on Wednesday with the next attempt on Saturday.

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Where to watch rocket launch in or near motorhome?

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