2 Days on Florida’s Space Coast: A Fun Itinerary
Located just 45 minutes from Orlando, Florida’s Space Coast is a fun destination for rocket launches, beach vacations, delicious cuisine, and family-friendly attractions. Check out this itinerary for how to spend two days on Florida’s Space Coast.
Blast off to your next adventure on Florida’s Space Coast: 72 miles of fun on Florida’s east coast centered around Kennedy Space Center.
2 Days on Florida’s Space Coast Itinerary
Kevin and I recently visited the Space Coast for a trip to Kennedy Space Center. Here is our 2-day itinerary to help you plan your own trip.
Day 1: Food and Zoo
Lunch at Ako Sushi & Seafood
Our first stop upon arriving on the Space Coast was lunch at Ako Sushi & Seafood in Titusville.
Ako is a great Japanese restaurant serving sushi, hibachi, and fried rice and noodle dishes. They have a lunch special before 2:30 p.m.
Visit the Brevard Zoo
Next, we were off to the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne to see the animals.
This 75-acre zoo is home to more than 900 animals. Their habitats are separated into four loops: Expedition Africa; Lands of Change: Australia and Beyond; Wild Florida; and Rainforest Revealed.
The zoo has black bears (my favorite!), lions, red wolves, cheetahs, jaguars, monkeys, giraffes, and more.
They have cool experiences like animal feedings, kayak tours, train rides, and aerial adventures. I would love to come back and kayak through the Expedition Africa or Wild Florida exhibits.
Dinner at Mr. Submarine & Salads
For dinner, we headed back to Titusville for sandwiches from Mr. Submarine & Salads.
This local deli has been serving the community for more than 30 years. They have a huge menu offering cold subs and wraps, hot subs and wraps, vegetarian selections, salads, soups, desserts, and even Italian favorites like spaghetti.
Drinks at The Space Bar
If you’re looking for some after dinner drinks, head up to The Space Bar at the Courtyard by Marriott Titusville. Since this is the hotel we stayed at, a visit was a definite must for us.
The Space Bar is a rooftop bar overlooking the Indian River and the launch complexes at Kennedy Space Center.
In addition to their incredible views, they also serve delicious space-themed cocktails like a Causeway Cosmo and an Intergalactic Planetary.
Day 2: Space Exploration
Kennedy Space Center
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is our only stop on day 2 because it takes up the full day.
Located on Merritt Island, Florida, Kennedy Space Center is NASA’s primary launch center for human spaceflight, and the Visitor Complex is a museum dedicated to space history.
There are loads of space artifacts on display, from rockets to space suits. You can meet an astronaut, you can learn to land the space shuttle, you can see real rockets, and you can even experience a simulation of a shuttle launch yourself.
If you’re really lucky, you’ll find yourself on Florida’s Space Coast for a rocket launch. Kennedy Space Center has three rocket launch viewing areas, and the one at the Visitor Complex is included in your ticket if there’s a launch the day of your visit.
The behind-the-scenes bus ride is at the top of everyone’s list for visiting the space center. This takes you past the gates at NASA to see historic launch sites and operational spaceflight facilities. You’ll get to see the massive Vehicle Assembly Building, the crawler-transporter, and the massive Crawlerways used to transport rockets.
And then after the bus tour, you’ll stop at the Apollo/Saturn V Center where you’ll see the Saturn V, the largest rocket ever flown (and a personal favorite of mine).
There’s definitely enough to see to fill your whole day here. You are allowed re-entry into the park, but I’d recommend planning to spend the whole day and eat lunch at the complex.
Where to Stay on Florida’s Space Coast
For our trip to Florida’s Space Coast, we stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Titusville – Kennedy Space Center.
This space-themed hotel had fun galaxy murals in the rooms, an astronaut-shaped projector that played nebulas on the ceiling, and a resort-style pool perfect for relaxing in.
It’s also the closest hotel to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Read my review of the Courtyard by Marriott Titusville here.
Check out the options below for more places to stay on your visit to the Space Coast.
Where to Stay Near Kennedy Space Center
- Where We Stayed: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville KSC
- Top Hotel: Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront
- Great Value: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Port Canaveral
- Unique Stay: Cape Crossing Resort & Marina
Read next: Top 10 Things to Do in Fernandina Beach, Florida
More Things to Do on Florida’s Space Coast
- Why Kennedy Space Center is Worth It for Adults, Too
- Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Review: Best Hotel Near Kennedy Space Center
- A Guide to Visiting Kennedy Space Center
Ready to visit Florida’s Space Coast? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels on Florida’s Space Coast on Booking.com.
- Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.
Cheers!
Paige
Have you spent time on Florida’s Space Coast? Let me know in the comments!
