How to see a rocket launch (our Artemis II journey)

We watched the Artemis II moon launch from just 3.5 miles away — as close as any civilian is allowed to be. This is our complete guide to attending a Kennedy Space Center rocket launch in person, including an honest Feel the Heat package review. My son and I drove nearly 1,000 miles to watch four astronauts launch toward the moon on April 1, 2026. We had the Feel the Heat launch package, which put us at the Saturn V Apollo Center — 3.5 miles from the launchpad, closer than the Vehicle Assembly Building. This video covers everything: how we planned around a constantly shifting launch schedule, how I scored Feel the Heat tickets before they sold out in 10 minutes, where we stayed in Cape Canaveral, what the SLS launch actually looks like and sounds like from that distance, and whether the Feel the Heat package is worth the cost compared to the standard Kennedy Space Center launch ticket. Planning to attend a rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center? Everything in this video applies to future launches including Artemis III. Feel free to ask questions in the comments. Nothing in this video is sponsored. My family planned and paid for this entire trip. 00:00 - Our family saw the Artemis II launch! 01:00 - Planning to see a rocket launch 03:17 - Do you need tickets to see a rocket launch? 07:23 - Traveling to Kennedy Space Center 13:20 - The launch of Artemis II 21:05 - Visiting KSC after the Launch 22:48 - Was the launch worth going to? 24:38 - What happens after Artemis II?