If you were planning to get up in the middle of the night and head over to Playalinda to watch the Nancy Roman Grace Space Telescope launch on Falcon Heavy this Sunday morning, roll over and get back to sleep: the Playalinda District of Cape Canaveral Seashore will be closed until launch activities are concluded. You’ll have to come up with a new plan.

Here’s what the National Park Service has to say on their site:

“A Falcon Heavy rocket launch is scheduled for Sunday, August 30, at 7:26 AM. This launch will impact access to the Playalinda District of Canaveral National Seashore, which will have a delayed opening.”

“Roadblocks will be established on the Max Brewer Bridge and the Haulover Canal bridge on Kennedy Parkway. These closures will be lifted after a successful launch or scrub. The Apollo District of the seashore will maintain its regular opening time of 6:00 AM. Please plan your Sunday morning commute and recreational activities accordingly.”

Best Places To Watch

Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center is reporting that their “Feel The Heat” and “Gateway Rooftop” launch viewing opportunities are sold out. You can, however, get into the main Visitors Center to view the launch from the north side of the Atlantis exhibit. That’s part of the entrance fee. For more information, visit the KSCVC website.

Next best IMO is the Max Brewer Bridge and Space View Park in Titusville. Get there early and beat any crowds, plus get a good parking spot.

If you aren’t up for watching from the bridge, Space View Park offers excellent views.

Rotary Riverview Park is excellent as well, albeit with less parking available than Space View or Max Brewer:

12.05 miles away from the launch pad, Rotary Park an excellent place to go see the launch. A bit south of Space View and the Max Brewer Bridge, this park is actually closer to the launch pad and you will be able to see the liftoff. Is on the Indian River and and is an excellent vantage point. There is a small parking lot and road-side parking.

Google Maps Link: Rotary Riverview Park

Kennedy Point Park is essentially the same as Rotary Riverview, but a little farther south.

12.25 miles away from the pad. More or less the same as Rotary Park but with a little less parking. Ignition and liftoff is visible.

Finally, any roadside pull-off on Washington / US1 that’s not marked ‘No Parking’ is good. There are a number of popular places there.