Jetty Park Beach & Campground
Rating
Family of 4
$15 per vehicle parking.
Duration
2-5 hours
Best Ages
Best for all ages
About
Jetty Park is one of the most versatile family spots on Florida's Space Coast, combining a sandy beach, a long rock jetty for fishing and cruise ship viewing, a campground, playground, and direct sight lines to Kennedy Space Center launch pads. All for a $15 parking fee.
The beach is wide, sandy, and suitable for swimming -- a typical Florida Atlantic coast beach with gentle waves and warm water in summer. Lifeguards are on duty seasonally. The playground near the parking area has climbing structures and swings.
The rock jetty is the distinctive feature. Extending from the beach into the Port Canaveral channel, it provides a fishing platform (pompano, snook, sheepshead, and bluefish are common catches) and a front-row seat for ship traffic. When a cruise ship departs Port Canaveral, it passes the jetty at near eye-level.
Standing on the rocks as a 1,000-foot, 20-deck cruise ship glides past a few hundred feet away is a staggering experience. Passengers wave from the decks. Kids are speechless.
Rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are visible from Jetty Park, approximately 8 miles south. The beach provides an unobstructed view of the launch trajectory. Night launches are particularly spectacular from this distance. Check launch schedules in advance.
The Jetty Park campground is one of Florida's best-located camping options. Tent and RV sites sit directly behind the beach, with ocean sounds and launch-pad views. Campsite reservations are competitive -- book well in advance.
The park has a snack bar (burgers, hot dogs, drinks), restrooms, outdoor showers, and picnic pavilions. It is a self-contained day-trip destination that combines beach time, fishing, ship watching, and (if timing allows) launch viewing into a single, affordable visit.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Nursing / Changing
Available
Kid Meals
Available
Setting
Outdoor
Rainy Day
Not ideal
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Year-round. Visit when a cruise ship is departing (typically late afternoon) for dramatic ship views from the jetty. Mornings for fishing and calmer water. Check launch schedules for rocket viewing from the beach.
Wait Times
No waits. Parking may require a short search on busy summer weekends. The beach and jetty are never overcrowded.
Nearby Food
Snack bar on-site. Nearby: Fishlips Waterfront (10 min, seafood), Grills Seafood Deck (10 min), Cocoa Beach restaurants (15 min south).
Why Kids Love It
Jetty Park is where beach, fishing, cruise ships, and rocket launches converge in one spot. The beach is sandy and swimmable. The long rock jetty extends into the Port Canaveral channel, where kids can fish and watch enormous cruise ships pass within a few hundred feet -- the scale of a cruise ship seen from jetty-level is staggering.
The jetty is the star attraction. Walking the rock jetty to the end puts you right at the port channel entrance, where container ships, cruise ships, Navy vessels, and fishing boats pass. When a cruise ship departs (typically late afternoon), it passes the jetty at eye level -- passengers wave from the decks and kids wave back.
The experience of standing next to a 1,000-foot cruise ship is unforgettable.
Rocket launches are visible from Jetty Park beach. The park provides direct line-of-sight to the launch pads at Kennedy Space Center, approximately 8 miles north. Seeing a rocket launch from this distance is spectacular.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Check cruise ship schedules at Port Canaveral -- watching a ship depart from the jetty at close range is incredible
- The jetty is excellent for fishing -- pompano, snook, sheepshead, and bluefish are common catches
- Rocket launches are visible from the beach -- check launch schedules at spacecoastlaunches.com
- A campground on-site has tent and RV sites right on the beach -- one of Florida's best camping locations
- The snack bar has decent casual food -- burgers, hot dogs, and cold drinks
What to Bring
- fishing gear (optional)
- sunscreen
- towels
- swimsuits
- camera with zoom (for cruise ships and launches)
- cooler with food
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
$15 per vehicle parking.
Fishing from the jetty is free (Florida saltwater fishing license required for ages 16+).
Beach access included with parking.
Snack bar on-site for food.
Math: $15 parking + $30 snack bar food = $45 total.
Tips to Save
- The $15 parking fee covers all-day beach and jetty access.
- Bring your own food and fishing gear.
- The jetty fishing is free with your own equipment.
- This is one of the most affordable and versatile spots on the Space Coast.
Hours & Contact
Hours
- Friday
- 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- Monday
- 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- Sunday
- 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- Saturday
- 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- Thursday
- 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
