The Kennedy Space Center has long been an iconic American tourist attraction that uniquely brings travelers behind the scenes of space exploration. But is it really worth the high price of admission? After spending most of a day checking out the various exhibits and tours – my conclusion may surprise you.
Kennedy Space Center is One Of Florida’s Top Attractions
Located near the town of Titusville, the region itself (sometimes referred to as the “space coast”) is historic for being the home base for many of NASA’s most important space shuttle and rocket launches. The most famous being Apollo 11 which took American’s to the moon for the first time in 1969. The Kennedy Space Center is one of Florida’s top tourist attractions as it’s easily accessible from popular destinations like Orlando and Daytona Beach.
Once you arrive, park, and pass through security checkpoints, you’ll have a wide variety of options to choose from. The Kennedy Space Center is laid out similar to an amusement park with large buildings housing different attractions. (You’ll still want to dress appropriately as you’ll be outside moving between places during the day. I was freezing with a short sleeve shirt on during a rainy winter day in Florida!)
After my visit I discovered there’s really not much of an advantage in racing to one particular area over another to start your day. (This may not be true if it’s during spring break or at the height of summer vacation!) The interactive exhibits at Gateway: Deep Space Launch and Space Shuttle Atlantis are most likely to have the longest lines on days when the place is packed. Otherwise, I found it was totally fine to casually explore at my leisure.
Things To Do At The Kennedy Space Center
I found it a little difficult to prepare for my visit to Kennedy Space Center as I couldn’t quite grasp what attractions were included with my ticket. Even the Kennedy Space Center’s website is a bit wonky and at first glance, makes it appear that everything is included with one price.
There are a handful of additional options (add-on experiences) like training in a micro gravity simulator. You can also sign up for various programs like spending the day as part of a team working on a mission to Mars. The majority of the programs are geared toward kids similar to Space Camp at the Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville.
See The Space Shuttle Atlantis
This thing is absolutely massive and you can walk right under it. Atlantis was used by NASA from 1985 to 2011 and orbited the Earth nearly 5,000 times. Inside the museum you’ll find lots of interactive exhibits and simulators. The introductory video welcoming you is outstanding.
Gateway: Deep Space Launch Complex
Inside this facility you’ll find an assortment of virtual reality exhibits that make you feel as though you’re traveling into and through outer space.
Heroes & Legends
A wonderful interactive exhibit that tells the stories of people that have contributed to space exploration. This building also has an astronaut’s hall of fame.
Universe Theater
A series of shows throughout the day (as many as four) that include an astronaut encounter and a speciality show for children.
Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted
You’ll find live shows every hour as well as a chance to see things like NASA prototypes and space vehicles that are being designed for journeys to Mars.
IMAX Shows
Two separate 40 minute films rotate throughout the day. The current presentations are: Deep Sky and Space: The New Frontier
Bus Tours To Apollo/Saturn V Center
This is probably the most popular attraction at the Kennedy Space Center. Visitors hop on a shuttle bus and travel through secured property to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Once you arrive, you’ll enjoy an interesting video presentation about the history of space launches. After that, you’re free to roam around the museum and see lots of artifacts including moon rocks; space suits; and a bus used to transport astronauts to launches.
The highlight is the gigantic Saturn V that hangs from the ceiling. The Saturn V is the largest rocket ever flown. Another cool highlight is seeing the actual Mission Control console where NASA commanded previous launches.
Rocket Garden Tour
As you walk through the gates, a garden of NASA rockets are on display in a “garden” of sorts. Fun for photo opportunities.
Astronaut Autograph Signings at Kennedy Space Center
The Kennedy Space Center has former astronauts on hand each day to answer questions and give presentations on various NASA and space travel topics.
World’s Largest NASA Store
The Kennedy Space Center claims to have the largest NASA themed gift shop in the world. Everything you’d want (and probably don’t need) including tee shirts; mugs; games; keychains; magnets; and toys.
Kennedy Space Center Videos Are Outstanding
As a producer of video content and a frequent editor of video – I was very impressed by the quality of video presentations throughout the Kennedy Space Center. If I’m being honest, many times I’ll skip the videos at museums because they’re often outdated or downright boring.
In this case – you should make sure to watch every single video presentation you can. They are not only engaging but include some great stories and inspiration.
Parking At Kennedy Space Center
One negative about the Kennedy Space Center is the fact that they charge for parking. It drives me crazy when places that have high admission prices also slap you with a parking fee. The current fee is $15 – so not atrocious but just enough to annoy me.
Conclusion
In total, I wound up spending about four and a half hours at the Kennedy Space Center. However, I could have easily spent the entire day. (I had other arrangements so I had to leave early.) They really do provide so much for a family to see and experience while you’re there. If you or your children are excited about space exploration or simply enjoy history – you’ll find more than enough to keep you busy.
So is the Kennedy Space Center worth visiting? It currently costs $75 for a one day admission to the Kennedy Space Center. I would say that if you want your kids to spend a day having fun while actually learning about technology and science – along with the great history of NASA and the space program, it’s worth the price. There are also discounts for children ($65) and seniors ($70). Two day passes are only about $10 more per ticket if you’re staying in the area.
The good news is that you truly can spend an entire day at the Kennedy Space Center and not be bored! I really enjoyed the incredible video presentations, seeing one of a kind artifacts from space explorations; and learning about NASA’s monumental achievements and history. Along with the talented people that helped make it all happen.