Cape Canaveral vacation rentals

Home to the iconic Kennedy Space Center, this small seaside community on central Florida’s Atlantic coast is best known as the seat of NASA’s crewed spaceflight missions. Even before America’s first moon shot, people have flocked to learn more about the journey to the final frontier. And there’s no better place to start than at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, a massive educational center dedicated to spaceflight, where you can meet an astronaut or simulate a lunar module landing.

Cape Canaveral is also a launch pad to a different kind of exploration. Outdoor recreation abounds in the sprawling Canaveral National Seashore with its miles of sandy beaches, protected ecosystems, and long fishing piers. Cape Canaveral’s small downtown is studded with 19th-century homes, and you’d be hard-pressed to find an open-air restaurant that doesn’t serve a delicious plate of freshly caught seafood or oysters. If you’re looking to amp up the adventure even more, Orlando and its embarrassment of theme parks is less than an hour away.

Florida’s subtropical climate keeps Cape Canaveral hot and humid throughout much of the year, with only minor variations between the seasons. The summer months are characterized by long, sunny days with soaring temperatures and often stifling humidity. This is also the rainiest time of year, with frequent showers and storms that coincide with the mid-Atlantic hurricane season.

While the winters cool down a bit and have minimal rainfall, conditions during this time can be excellent for visiting the area’s museums and cultural attractions. It can even be warm enough to swim — making the spring and winter popular times for vacation rentals in Cape Canaveral. Despite the town’s small size, plenty of events and festivals take place throughout the year, including the thrilling boat race in May and the ever-popular Fourth of July fireworks show over the ocean.

Playalinda Beach

This secluded beach in the middle of the Canaveral National Seashore is a popular swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, and surfing spot with pristine waters and beginner breaks. The rural stretch of golden sand is easily accessible and attracts more than just beachgoers, thanks to its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center launchpad. Visitors flock to the beach during scheduled flights for one of the best unobstructed rocket-viewing locations in the country.

Kennedy Space Center

From the beginnings of spaceflight to the race to the moon and beyond, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is the nation’s premier space-focused museum and education center. Take an official tour or self-guided exploration to glimpse Mars rover artifacts, iconic spacecraft, and the towering Saturn rocket boosters on-site. You can also hop on an official bus tour through the grounds to look at the centers and labs still in use today.

Canaveral National Seashore

One of Florida’s least developed shorelines, the Canaveral National Seashore is an expansive reserve with nearly 60,000 acres of protected ecosystems and 24 miles of waterfront with sandy beaches and mangrove forest swamps. You might even spot eagles, manatees, and loggerhead turtles as you hike, fish, kayak, and explore. The park’s beaches are all easily accessible if you’re just looking to lounge and play in the warm water.