[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I can see it from my house. We have to walk out in the road to see it. I remember when it went off on July 4th if memory serves. People were pulling over on the side of the road to watch.

We also go outside to listen for the sonic booms when it re-enters. I'm sure the closer you are the better.

I had always wanted to plan a beach day at New Smyrna or Ponce Inlet when it was supposed to blast off and watch from there. I couldn't stand getting caught in all that traffic.

[Denise in Fla]

Originally Posted by Lindsey_Mcfarren

I can see it from my house. We have to walk out in the road to see it. I remember when it went off on July 4th if memory serves. People were pulling over on the side of the road to watch.

We also go outside to listen for the sonic booms when it re-enters. I'm sure the closer you are the better.

I had always wanted to plan a beach day at New Smyrna or Ponce Inlet when it was supposed to blast off and watch from there. I couldn't stand getting caught in all that traffic.

I can see it from my back yard, it's about 20 miles east of me. I thought about getting closer but don't want to deal with traffic either!

[sponger42]

I've never seen a launch from anywhere but the edge of the 3-mile minimum safe zone. From there it sounds like the end of the world. Especially when the shuttle rolls over and heads downrange. At that point, the booster nozzles are pointing right at you. If sound alone could push your hair back (like in the old RCA commercial) mine would've been flapping.

Friends of mine with a beach house in New Smyrna were the one's who recommended that viewing location. .

[skiier]

sponger42, so the shuttle will fly up north after lift-off? then daytona and new smyrna are definitely the right place to go if not titusville. I really want to see this coming one, May 31st. I need you local guys's advice. I googled a bit, found those guides for viewing the launch, but I still dont get the answer for my case.

I live at Tampa bay area. It would be a 2-3 hour drive, but my friends and i are determined, no matter what, we will go there and see this one. We have 2 options, now 3 if considering new smyrna beach, either titusville or jetty park. one of my friend, who has seen the launch before, told me that he drove 2 hours from Tampa and ended up 5 miles west from Titusville on 528 and pulled over there and waited antoher 2 hours.

so just how early should we arrive titusville in order to get a spot that can see the launch pad? as I know the launch will be at 502p if on time. I will reserve 4 hours on the way. the second option is that if we wont get to a spot that let us view the launch pad then why not we go straight to jetty park and spend a day on the beach, and wait for the launch. again how early should we get there to find a parking spot? I know that we wont see the shuttle until seconds after it lifts off from there. but we wont get bored just waiting hours. is there any other good option?

Thank you

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by skiier

sponger42, so the shuttle will fly up north after lift-off? then daytona and new smyrna are definitely the right place to go if not titusville. I really want to see this coming one, May 31st. I need you local guys's advice. I googled a bit, found those guides for viewing the launch, but I still dont get the answer for my case.

I live at Tampa bay area. It would be a 2-3 hour drive, but my friends and i are determined, no matter what, we will go there and see this one. We have 2 options, now 3 if considering new smyrna beach, either titusville or jetty park. one of my friend, who has seen the launch before, told me that he drove 2 hours from Tampa and ended up 5 miles west from Titusville on 528 and pulled over there and waited antoher 2 hours.

so just how early should we arrive titusville in order to get a spot that can see the launch pad? as I know the launch will be at 502p if on time. I will reserve 4 hours on the way. the second option is that if we wont get to a spot that let us view the launch pad then why not we go straight to jetty park and spend a day on the beach, and wait for the launch. again how early should we get there to find a parking spot? I know that we wont see the shuttle until seconds after it lifts off from there. but we wont get bored just waiting hours. is there any other good option?

Thank you

We got there 3 hours before lift off and had no problems getting in but people seem to start rolling in shortly after we got there.

[skiier]

Thank you Daniellefort! you meant we can get into the space view park area 3 hours before, well i will give it 4 then. if i come from I-4, should I take 528 or 406? which is easier?

[daniellefort]

Originally Posted by skiier

Thank you Daniellefort! you meant we can get into the space view park area 3 hours before, well i will give it 4 then. if i come from I-4, should I take 528 or 406? which is easier?

From I-4 we took 528 the Beeline Expressway to I-95 and went north on I-95 exiting on 406 Garden St. It's not too far off I-95 so traffic wasn't too bad. I'd say avoid the small back roads as long as possible. they do close off some of the roads too. If you stay on the main highways as long as you can, traffic won't be so bad when you need to exit.