See a rocket leave the planet

Florida's Space Coast

Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral launch more rockets than anywhere else on Earth, often several a week.

• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: admission ($77 adults, $67 children 3–11; parking $15) includes launch viewing from the main grounds, about 4–5 miles from pads 39A and 39B. Closer premium viewing areas cost extra and sell out for big missions.
• Free spots: Playalinda Beach for the northern pads, Jetty Park for the southern pads and booster landings, plus Max Brewer Bridge and Space View Park in Titusville.

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The catch: roads and beaches fill hours before big launches. Arrive early with water and shade.

Starbase, Texas

SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever flown, launches from Boca Chica at the southern tip of Texas.

• Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island is the most popular spot, about 5 miles from the pad. Day entry is about $12 per car; nearby overflow lots charge around $15, cash.
• On clear days you can see the full stack, the launch mount and the catch towers. Bring binoculars.

The catch: Highway 4 to Boca Chica Beach closes on launch days, and the park gets crowded. Arrive several hours early.

Vandenberg, California

About 155 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Vandenberg has become one of America's busiest launch sites, with a record 71 launches from the area in a recent year.

• Surf Beach is the closest public spot; Ocean Park, about 4 miles from the pad, is the most family-friendly.
• Around Lompoc, curbside spots on West Ocean Avenue and open fields at Riverbend Park show the climb on the horizon.

The catch: coastal fog can roll in without warning and hide the whole launch. Inland spots are a safer bet on grey days.

Kourou, French Guiana

Europe's Ariane 6 and Vega rockets launch from the Guiana Space Centre on the South American coast, about 60 km from Cayenne.

• Carapa: an official viewing site, free, with no minimum age. It opens two hours before lift-off, but the access path is steep.
• Ibis: booked in advance, for ages 8 and up.
• Without a booking, Pim Poum beach in Kourou and Monkey Mountain are free, though without commentary.

The catch: French Guiana requires a yellow fever vaccination, and you'll need a car. Plan four or five days on site, as dates often move.

Sriharikota, India

ISRO launches from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on an island north of Chennai.

• Launch View Gallery: free, with a clear view of both pads. Registration opens online shortly before each launch and fills fast.
• Bring the same photo ID you registered with. One registration covers up to five people.

The catch: the gallery has been open to Indian citizens. Foreign visitors should check ISRO's terms for each launch before planning a trip around it.

Wenchang, Hainan

China's heavy rockets launch from Hainan Island, where whole beaches fill with families on launch nights.

• Qishui Bay beach, about 3 km from the pads, is free and the main spot. Stone Park costs about ¥18 and is less crowded.
• Fly to Haikou, take the high-speed train to Wenchang (about 20 minutes), then a taxi to the Longlou coast.
• Hainan offers 30-day visa-free entry to citizens of 59 countries.

The catch: exact launch dates are often confirmed only days ahead, and major launches draw tens of thousands of people.

Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Rocket Lab's Electron launches from the tip of the Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand's North Island.

• Blucks Pit Road, near Nuhaka: free roadside viewing about 27 km from the pad.
• The road to the launch site closes about six hours before lift-off.

The catch: you can't see the pad itself, only the rocket climbing just after lift-off, and there are no facilities. Bring food and water.