Headout x Kennedy Space Center: Exclusive
Kennedy Space Center is partnering with Headout for an exclusive after-hours event!
What’s in store? A galactic glow party! You read that right. Mark your calendars because it’s time to experience the Kennedy Space Center like never before.
🌟 What are the highlights?
- A techno DJ dance party
- Cosmic Glow Miniature Golf
- Drinks at the Glowing Bar and Lounge areas
- Live entertainment
- A one-of-a-kind opportunity to interact with veteran NASA astronauts
🗓️ Date: August 31st, 2024
🕕 Time: 6:30pm to 10pm
A stellar experience awaits – get your tickets now!
Kennedy Space Center is not just NASA’s primary launch center but is also one of the most visited tourist hubs for education and entertainment!
When you plan a visit to Kennedy Space Center, you’ll need at least a day to explore the main highlights. The Center is also quite far off on the coast of Orlando, you’ll need to figure out transportation to get there too!
And that’s exactly what we’ll uncover in this blog for you. From main attractions and opening hours to amenities and accessibilities – read on to know more!
Before you visit Kennedy Space Center
This is your go-to experience to immerse in the history and future of space exploration! From iconic missions such as the Moon landing and Apollo launches, Kennedy Space Center is where all the magic began! Other highlights include the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, simulations through the Shuttle Launch Experience and behind-the-scenes tours that offer a look into the space missions. The Center is perfect for all families, couples, and solo adventurers to learn about America’s space accomplishments. The Center is also wheelchair accessible and provides additional assistance for those with hearing impairments to have a thorough experience too!
If you head to Kennedy Space Center on a launch day, you may even be lucky enough to witness a real-time launch of a mission!
Best time to visit
Florida buzzes with tourists throughout the year. So, when is the best time to visit? The spring and autumn seasons are the best months to visit to beat the heat. The best time of the week is to visit from Monday through Thursday, and the weekends get packed as queues line up, like any other major attractions. Arrive early to explore all the main attractions of Kennedy Space Center! You can check out the guided tours! If you want to experience every single attraction including the Bus tour, you’ll need 2 days for sure! But if you’re okay to skip some attractions, 1 day is enough.
Tickets to Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center opening hours
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is open from Monday to Sunday. The timings vary according to the seasons and are subject to change.
- January 1 - 7, 2024: 9am to 6pm
- January 8 - March 10, 2024: 9am to 5pm
- March 11 - April 14, 2024: 9am to 6pm
- April 15 - June 23, 2024: 9am to 5pm
- June 24 - August 18, 2024: 9am to 6pm
- Entry to the visitor complex shuts down an hour before closing time, so plan your visit well.
- Bus Tours stop 2.5 hours before the complex closes for the day.
Tips for visiting Kennedy Space Center
- Several attractions at Kennedy Space Center are time-based. This means you must plan your visit accordingly to experience the attractions at the complex to see the right thing at the right time! Otherwise, it’s easy to miss it!
- Make sure to arrive as soon as the Center opens. This is your chance to beat the crowds and explore as many attractions as you can during your visit.
- Carry water bottles and wear plenty of sunscreen! It’s best not to mess with the harsh Florida heat.
- Download the Kennedy Space Center app to get access to the map, and essential information about real-time updates. This ensures that you don’t miss out on any special events.
- Take the Bus tour, it’s a must-visit experience that will show you around NASA’s operational facilities and launch pads.
Getting to Kennedy Space Center
The most reliable way to reach Kennedy Space Center is by driving yourself, taking a taxi, or opting for bus transfers!
The Center isn’t the most easily accessible because it’s quite cut off from the rest of Orlando! There aren’t public transportation options you can rely on and the closest bus station is near Cargo Road.
Amenities and accessibility
- Auditory sensitivity: For guests with auditory/sensory impairments, Kennedy Space Center has adequate measures to ensure the guests can have a friendly experience. Headphones are provided to limit noise reduction. To avail of the headphones, head to the Information Center. It’s available on a first come first serve basis and must be returned by the end of the day!
- Telephone: The world today has access to smartphones, like never before. But, you may never know if you need one, in case of emergency! Pay Telephones are accessible all around the visitor complex.
[Text typewriter is also available for those guests who are deaf/mute.]
- Service Animals: Service animals are allowed at all exhibitions in Kennedy Space Center, bus tours, and presentations. You will not be allowed to use them inside the Shuttle Launch Experience, Spacesport KSC, and virtual reality experiences.
- Wheelchair accessible: The entire complex, bus, parking areas, and restrooms are accessible by wheelchairs, motorized wheelchairs, and electronic convenience vehicles.
What to see at Kennedy Space Center
Explore the living history of NASA’s space program from the time Mercury Redstone was launched in 1961! Hop on an expert-guided tour to take you through the Rocket Garden featuring NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs.
It’s not every day that you get to meet an astronaut! The Astronaut Encounter at Kennedy Space Center is one of the most important highlights of your trip. Visitors will get the chance to meet Veteran NASA Astronauts, Commanders, and Pilots who’ve successfully carried out missions that made a mark in Space history.
You will get an exclusive opportunity to visit NASA’s launchpads, encounter first-hand operational facilities, and the Vehicle Assembly Building!
Want a real-life experience of what it is like inside a space shuttle launch? Head straight to the Shuttle Launch Experience and strap in for a simulation. This 8-and-a-half-minute experience will give you all the energy and adrenaline that real astronauts get when they shoot into space!
Nearby attractions
Just a few miles away from Kennedy Space Center is Jetty Park. We know that Orlando is humid! Some of the best activities you can do to beat the heat are fishing, having a picnic or even going biking! The Park is open daily from 7am to 9pm, so if you’re done exploring Kennedy Space Center for the day and have room for more activities, the Jetty Park is your place!
Fans of the classic book or even the movie have always wondered what stepping into Dorothy’s shoes would be like. Well, here is your chance! The Wizard of Oz Museum features exhibits, interactions, costumes and props. You can also collect merchandise and other memorabilia from the Museum.
Military Buffs and Space Enthusiasts, you can’t miss this one. The U.S Airforce Space & Missile Museum which opened in the 1960s, displays unique exhibits that played an important part in creating space history! From rockets and missiles to learning about the first female astronaut, there is much to learn at the museum.
Golf is fun, but have you tried mini-golf? With 18-hole courses, people of all ages can engage for some downtime. And once you’re done with golf, head down to get a look at the alligators, snakes, spiders and even birds.
Perfect for a family-friendly evening!
Situated in Cape Canaveral, Florida – Head to Manatee Sanctuary Park for a variety of outdoor activities like walking trails, picnics, and a boardwalk that provides stunning views of the river and its wildlife. It's a good place to enjoy the scenery or simply even your evening.
