Cape Kennedy port?

[D Berube]

I have always heard there is a port near Cape Kennedy,(officially still Canaveral), where you can anchor your boat and watch launches! Can anyone tell me the port of call, and have you been there? I would like to take my sailboat down there to see a shuttle launch!thanks

 

[Paul Mieszczenski]

Titusville is your spot

You are correct about there being a Port Canaveral, but it is more south of the launch pad than Titusville. The Titusville Marina is one of the nicest on the east coast and is directly west of the launch pad. There is dining, groceries, and a car rental that does day rentals if you wanted to drive to the spaceport for the tour. We haven't made it there for a launch yet, but it is certainly "on the list". 5,4,3,2,1...PM

 

[Wanderer138]

Actaully there are more places

From the docks of the Kennedy Point Yacht Club (where I keep my boat) you have a clear view of the two launch complexes used for shuttle launches. It's right on the ICW. There is also a huge anchorage on the eastern side of the Indian River Lagoon about 4 miles away where you can get even closer. KPYC welcomes visitors, but like all Florida marinas they fill up pretty quick in the winter.Titusville Municipal Marina is about 4 miles further north. It is a larger facility and much closer to downtown Titusville. There's also a large, popular anchorage there that's close in to shore. If you're heading this way, Claiborne Young's "Cruising Guide to Eastern Florida" is an excellent reference.These marinas are on the Indian River, which is separated from the Atlantic by the Banana River and Merritt Island. Port Canaveral is on the Atlantic coast south of Cape Canaveral. It is a large commercial and military port and offers the best all-weather ocean access between Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale) and the St Johns River (Jacksonville). You can get there from the ICW/Indian River in about half a day by way of the barge canal.PeterH23 "Raven"