Florida's Space Coast
Watching a launch from the dock
You do not need a viewing ticket or a parking spot. From the end of the dock, the rocket comes up over the water in front of you.
Merritt Island sits between the Banana River and the Cape. That is the whole appeal: the launch pads are close enough that a liftoff is an event you watch rather than a light on the horizon, and you can do it from the backyard instead of from the shoulder of a causeway with ten thousand other cars.
“It is such a relaxing space. We really enjoy spending our days in the pool and sitting on the dock watching launches, dolphins, and manatees!”
Katie · St. Augustine, Florida · via Airbnb
Coming up
Next launches from the Cape
Times are Eastern, as scheduled on September 1, 2026. Treat every one as provisional — windows move and counts stop, sometimes at the last second.
- Tue, Sep 29 8:00 PM EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Crew-13
- Tue, Sep 29 8:00 PM EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | O3b mPower 11-13
- Tue, Sep 29 8:00 PM EDT
Vulcan VC6L | Amazon Leo (LV-01)
- Fri, Oct 30 8:00 PM EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Bandwagon 5 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare)
- Fri, Oct 30 8:00 PM EDT
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Dragon CRS-2 SpX-35
From the dock
The dock points at the Cape
The 100 ft dock at Banana River House runs out into open water facing the launch site, with nothing built up in front of it. There is no drive, no parking and no crowd between you and the view — you walk out of the house and you are there.
Night launches are the ones guests remember. The water throws the whole thing back at you twice over.
Planning around one
Book the stay, not the launch
Launch dates move. A window slips a day, weather closes in, a count stops at T-minus seconds and everyone goes home. Anyone who tells you to build a holiday around a specific date has not watched many.
The way to do it is the other way round: book the stay you want, then watch the schedule as it approaches. A longer stay stacks the odds in your favour, and Merritt Island is worth the trip whether or not anything flies while you are here.
Both homes are minutes from Kennedy Space Center. Bamboo House is inland with a pool and a fire pit and takes stays of 30 nights and up; Banana River House is the one on the water with the dock.
Launch questions
What guests ask
Can you really see rocket launches from the property?
Yes. The private 100 ft dock at Banana River House looks out across the water toward the Cape, and launches rise over the river with nothing in front of you. Guests regularly watch from the end of the dock.
How close is the house to Kennedy Space Center?
Both homes are on Merritt Island, minutes from Kennedy Space Center, and minutes from Cocoa Beach and Port Canaveral as well.
Should I book my stay around a specific launch?
Launch dates move — slipping a day or several is normal, and scrubs happen minutes before liftoff. Book the stay you want for its own sake and treat a launch as a bonus. A longer stay makes catching one far more likely.
Is a night launch worth staying up for?
A night launch over the water is the one most guests talk about afterwards, and you can watch it from the dock without leaving the property or finding parking.