LC-36 is Blue Origin’s home on the Space Coast, sitting on the south end of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station where Atlas and Titan rockets once flew. Because it’s considerably further south than SLC-40 and SLC-41, the best place to watch the launch shifts. Places that are great for LC-39A and 39B aren’t as good for LC-36. Port Canaveral options move to the top of the list, and the Titusville spots that work so well for 39A and SLC-40/41 launches drop further down.
Unfortunately, KARS Park does not open to the general public for Blue Origin launch viewing. For the three New Glenn launches so far, BO has rented out the park for its employees. Regular members may enter as well, but if you are neither a Blue employee nor a KARS member, you’ll need other options.
The Best of the Best: Star Fleet Tours
If you want to see LC-36 from an angle no land-based spot can give you, Star Fleet Tours runs launch-day boat trips out of Port Canaveral that put you roughly 5-10 miles offshore — closer than any Titusville vantage point and positioned along New Glenn’s easterly flight path.
This is no fly-by-night outfit. Star Fleet Tours started when a small group of space enthusiasts chartered a boat for the Falcon Heavy demo launch and since they’ve grown Star Fleet into a regular operation working with a rotation of vessels departing from The Cove and Sunrise Marina at Port Canaveral.
You’ll have a clear view of every active pad on the Cape — LC-36, LC-39A, LC-39B, SLC-37B, SLC-40, and SLC-41. Unless you have your own ocean-going boat, this is as clear as it gets.
Tickets include free parking and a guaranteed spot (no need to arrive hours early), and remain valid for the rescheduled attempt if a launch scrubs before check-in. They usually stock water, drinks, sunscreen, and Dramamine on board, too, which tells you they’ve done this enough times to know what matters.
Expect to pay more than any land-based option — roughly $100–$175 per seat depending on the boat and deck — but for an LC-36 launch window where you have flexibility, it’s one of the only ways to experience liftoff from directly along the trajectory. For ticket drops and launch-day updates (both of which move fast), follow them on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Threads. They also run a WhatsApp community linked from their current trip page that often gets tipped off about availability before the public feeds do.
That said, here is a list of viewing spots for LC-36 (Blue Origin’s New Glenn), ranked by approximate distance to the pad. New Glenn’s booster is currently recovered at sea on the drone ship Jacklyn rather than landing back at the Cape, so there’s no dedicated RTLS viewing advantage for Blue Origin the way there is for SpaceX returns to LC-40.
There are only three good options in our opinion: Jetty Park, the beaches near Jetty Park and the State Road 528W pullouts. We’ll list Playalinda and the southern Titusville parks too, but they are pretty far away, making them a last ditch or really casual stop for launch watching.
Best Views: Jetty Park (Port Canaveral) – ~5 miles
This one jumps to the top of the list for LC-36. Of all the publicly accessible viewing locations on the Space Coast, Jetty Park is the closest to Blue Origin’s pad, and the view across the water toward the south end of the Cape is essentially unobstructed. You’ll hear the seven BE-4 engines clearly and see the ascent from the moment of liftoff.
Beachfront access, family amenities, a campground, and a fishing pier are all on site. Jetty Park Passes are required for entry. Arrive early — this is a popular spot for Blue Origin launches and parking fills up well before T-0. If and when Blue Origin begins landing first stages back at the Cape, Jetty Park will have the best view of any public location.
Next Best: Beaches Near Cherie Down Park (Cape Canaveral) – ~6 miles
A bit south of Jetty Park, Cherie Down is a small beachside park that is not well-known. Parking can be limited, but as always, the early bird gets the worm…head out a couple hours before liftoff, enjoy the beach, and then enjoy the launch. There are facilities (restrooms) and the same open Atlantic view as Jetty Park, just further south. This site is ideal for families and a far less crowded alternative to Jetty.
If the lot is full, you can head either to Jetty Park or south to the next public parking area, probably at Float Beach.
State Road 528W (Beachline Expressway) – ~7 miles
Roadside pull-off areas along 528W offer respectable long-range views of the south end of the Cape. The Banana River Bridge over 528W is the best spot here, and it’s a convenient choice for travelers driving in from Orlando. Be aware that it is an unimproved off-road pull-off, so drive slowly. This site is also great for landings at LC-13 if a SpaceX return-to-launch-site happens to line up with your visit.
Playalinda Beach (Canaveral National Seashore) – ~13 miles
Playalinda is the closest dry-land option from the north, and while it’s a lot further from LC-36 than from SLC-40 or LC-39A, the view is still good and the beach itself is excellent. It’s part of the Cape Canaveral National Seashore, and there is a nominal entry fee ($15 in 2025) that is payable only with a credit card — no cash accepted.
If you want to view a launch from here, get there at least two hours early, if not before. This is a popular spot, and once the relatively small parking lots at the beach areas are full, the National Park Service stops anyone else from going in. It’s not so bad to get there early — you can spend the time on the longest stretch of undeveloped beach on the east coast of Florida.
Kennedy Point Park (Titusville) – ~17 miles
Jumping over to Titusville, Kennedy Point is easy to find — it’s beside a marina — and comes with a good view on the banks of the Indian River. Most people default to Rotary Riverfront, but Kennedy Point is a solid, less-crowded option. Keep in mind the distance: LC-36 is on the far south end of the Cape, so you’re looking across the Indian River and further south than you’d be for a 39A or SLC-40 launch. The rocket will still be clearly visible during ascent, but smaller at liftoff than the launches you may be used to watching from Titusville.
Rotary Riverfront Park (Titusville) – ~18 miles
This is a popular local riverfront park with open views across the Indian River, plenty of parking, and direct sightlines to the Cape. Same caveat as Kennedy Point: for LC-36, you’re a good bit further from the pad than for pads to the north. You’ll see the rocket lift off, but the experience is less immediate than what you’d get from a SLC-40 launch from the same spot.
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