Orlando to Cape Canaveral drive: Distance, time & attractions
The distance from Orlando to Cape Canaveral by car is 55 miles, with a 53 minute driving time. The best stops on the Orlando to Cape Canaveral drive are the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, Indian River Village and Merritt Island.
Finding the best things to do between Orlando and Cape Canaveral
The Orlando to Cape Canaveral drive takes you from Florida’s theme park capital to the Space Coast.
Orlando is known worldwide as the home of Disney World, but there’s far more to it than Mickey and Co. You can get crazy selfies at the Museum of Illusions or WonderWorks, learn how chocolate is made at Chocolate Kingdom and ride the Wheel at ICON Park or Orlando StarFlyer. Alternatively, visit Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, play adventure golf at Pirates’ Cove and say hi to the stingrays at Sea Life.
In the evenings, there’s the Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show, Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn To Life and the Outta Control magic comedy show.
Other Orlando experiences include glow-in-the-dark kayaking, foodie walking tours and kayaking through Cypress forest.
The secret to getting Orlando accommodation deals is flexibility. There are hundreds of hotels, and you’ll likely be driving everywhere anyway. So hunt down the cheapest rates, and don’t get too hung up on exact location.
Cape Canaveral has wetlands and beautiful beaches, but that’s not why people come here. This Florida outpost has played a massively outsized part in space exploration, and the Kennedy Space Center is one of the very best attractions in the US.
Here, you can see a space shuttle and Saturn V rocket up close, get absorbed in video presentations about mission launches and learn about NASA’s future plans. The Behind The Gates bus tour, meanwhile, heads out towards the launch complexes and the gargantuan Vehicle Assembly Building.
An admission ticket is pricy, but well worth it.
For Cape Canaveral accommodation picks, take a look at the Shorewood and the Cape Canaveral Beach Resort.
Orlando to Cape Canaveral distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Orlando to Cape Canaveral is 55 miles. You can expect a driving time of around 53 minutes. The quickest route is mainly along the FL-258.
The best stops to add to an Orlando to Cape Canaveral road trip itinerary are the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, Indian River Village and Merritt Island.
Orlando to Cape Canaveral drive: Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science
The Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science in Cocoa FL covers the regional history of Brevard County. There’s a lot packed in, from the Ice Age to the Space Age. It displays plenty of artefacts from the nearby Windover Archaeological Site.
Other topics covered include giant sloths, the railroads and citrus farming.
Best stops between Orlando and Cape Canaveral: Indian River Village
Indian River Village on Merritt Island is home to a couple of enjoyable tours. Tiki Cruises runs hour-long dolphin and manatee-spotting boat trips along the Indian River, complete with music, drinks and hammocks. Meanwhile, Three Brothers Adventure Tours takes visitors out to see the local wildlife in kayaks or on paddleboards.
Orlando to Cape Canaveral road trip attractions: Merritt Island
Merritt Island is flanked by the Indian River and Banana, and has become something of a wildlife haven. You can see the dolphins and manatees on a boat cruise or kayaking tour.
For something spectacular, try night kayaking through the bioluminescence – the water lights up as your paddle glides through it.
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