Manatee Hammock: Waterfront camping near Kennedy Space Center

Last updated on March 27th, 2025 at 10:54 am

I’ve camped a few times at this Brevard County park in Titusville, enjoying its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral National Seashore and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. And I’ve used it as a base for exploring Cocoa Beach.

The campground’s expansive waterfront lawn is one of the best vantage points anywhere for viewing rocket launches, and its central location offers convenient access to charming Cocoa Village and the popular restaurants of Port Canaveral.

You are also less than an hour’s drive to Disney World, almost a straight shot on the Challenger Memorial Parkway (State Road 407) to Beachline Expressway (SR 528, Toll).

The 27-acre campgrounds offers plenty of shade, and while the sites are somewhat close together, we found they still beat the bumper-to-bumper spacing in many private campgrounds.

In additional to great views of rocket launches, the shoreline park features a 200-foot fishing pier extending into the Indian River Lagoon, a playground for kids and a fenced dog park.

A kayak launch near the pier provides access to the lagoon for paddlers. Motorized boats are not permitted to use the launch, but there are boat ramps in Titusville and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge for motor boats.

Other park amenities include:

• Swimming pool
• 2 shuffleboard courts
• Pickleball court
• 1 lane boat ramp, saltwater, non-motorized
• Group tent camping area by special permit
• Campground has laundry facilities, hot showers and camp store.
• Mid-size pavilion
• Fishing Pier

Residents of Brevard County get a head start for reserving sites (up to 13 months in advance), while non-residents are left with the scraps (6 months in advance), but those “scraps” are often enough for a few days to explore the area.

I’ve never had a problem booking a campsite here. When I looked today (March 2025), there were dozens of openings for a week or more in April, including Easter week, which is a popular vacation week for families.

Not everyone likes to plan so far in advance, even if campsites are available, and cancellations are frequent at county-run and municipal campgrounds that are not on everyone’s radar. Florida’s state parks, on the other hand, are must more difficult to find availability, expecially in spring.

Brevard County residents pay a base rate of $30 per night, while non-residents pay $45. Depending on the site, you may also pay a modest fee for a sewer hookup or a water view.

So, where are the manatees?

While it is not known as a manatee-viewing area, Manatee Hammock Park is directly on the Indian River Lagoon, home to nearly a third of all manatees in the United States.

Manatees are a critical part of the lagoon eco-system because it is rich in sea grasses upon which manatees thrive, and the lagoon is never more natural than it is right here, nurtured by the Mosquito Lagoon and the saltwater wetlands of neighboring Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

I have personally not seen manatees from Manatee Hammock, although I have seen them from the Manatee Observation Deck at Merritt Island. The deck is on the banks of Haulover Canal, where manatees move between the Indian River and the warm waters of Mosquito Lagoon.

The observation area is only 20 miles from Manatee Hammock, and you can make the most of it by taking a casual drive along the seven-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive through the refuge. The route is very popular with bird watchers, who can stop at various points along the way. More than 350 species of birds have been identified in the refuge.

This is not to say you won’t see manatees at Manatee Hammock. It’s certainly possible. I just wanted to offer a nearby alternative, just in case.

Manatee Hammock Park, 7275 U.S. 1, Titusville, FL 32780. Phone: (321) 264-5083. 163 RV sites with water, electric and sewer; 19 campsites with water and electric. Restroom with hot showers. Laundry. Swimming pool. Wi-fie. Camping Fees: Brevard County residents, $30; Non-residents, $45. Extras: Water view, $2; Sewer hookup, $2. Cancellations made at least 7 days prior to the reservation date are subject to a $20 processing fee. Reservations: Brevard County residents can reserve up to 13 months in advance; non-residents can book up to 6 months in advance. Maximum length of stay is 90 days for RVs, 14 days for tent campers. Book online at registration.brevardfl.gov

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Another excellent camping option nearby:

Jetty Park: Beachfront cabins & camping — A terrific beach, fishing jetty and a view of passing ships, a campground and small cabins. It’s an appealing getaway near the Kennedy Space Center with a few catches. Read more.

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Things to do nearby

Manatee Hammock is less than an hour’s drive to Disney World, and surfing mecca Cocoa Beach is just down the road a piece, and there are excellent restaurants in nearby Port Canaveral and historic Cocoa Village.

It goes without saying that the Kennedy Space Center is this area’s signature attraction, embracing a history that dates back to the dawn of the space age.

The longest undeveloped beach in Florida is just a few miles away from Manatee Hammock. Canaveral National Seashore‘s 24 miles of pristine beachfront was part of a massive land acquisition to provide a buffer for launch activities at Cape Canaveral by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

You would be amiss not to spend some time in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (read this story), and if you are in the area during the summer, experience kayaking on illumunited waters (see this story).

We did not spend enough time in Titusville to explore the town. There are too many nearby distractions! But these two museums are on our bucket list for the next time we visit.

• The Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum tops the list. A natural for this aerospace community, the museum is home to a collection of historic aircraft used for military purposes at the Space Coast Regional Airport. Admission is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and veterans, $10 for students 13-18 and $5 for children 12 and under. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Address: 6600 Tico Road, Titusville, Florida 32780. Phone: (321) 268-1941
• The American Police Hall of Fame & Museum is another privately funded hall of exhibits, historic artifacts and tools of law enforcement, the museum offers interactive activities. It’s long history dates back to the early 1960s when it was established to memorialize peace officers killed in the line of duty. There are more than 11,500 names etched into its walls. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and veterans, $5 for law enforcement officers. Address: 6350 Horizon Drive, Titusville, FL 32780. Phone: (321) 264-091

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