Titusville

Exploring Titusville

As the home of Kennedy Space Center, Titusville has seen countless waves of residents come and go with each space program. Astronauts are flying again at KSC, so the city is bustling.

Downtown, don’t miss Space View Park for its memorials to each of the space programs, and for the manatees that come to the seawall.

What put Titusville on the ecotourism map is Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which surrounds KSC.

From bioluminscent kayaking in summer to spotting roseate spoonbills in winter, it’s an unparalleled natural destination on the Atlantic Coast.

Trails and Parks around Titusville

A Paddle I Will Never Forget Taking on a remote stretch of the Indian River Lagoon paralleling the wildest part of Canaveral National Seashore, our group of paddlers turns back until only two kayakers are left, fighting the wind to reach our goal.

Bairs Cove A go-to location for spotting manatees at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bairs Cove off Haulover Canal is also a launch point for bioluminescence.

Biking Tosohatchee A 20.2-mile circuit on forest roads by bike provides a unique perspective on this 31,000-acre preserve along the St. Johns River floodplain in Christmas.

Bioluminescent Paddling in Titusville During the summer months, bioluminescence makes its appearance in the Indian River Lagoon and is especially strong along Merritt Island near Titusville. On my paddling trip, I saw the best glow I've ever seen.

Brevard Coast to Coast Trail The eastern terminus of the state-spanning Coast to Coast Trail is in the trail town of Titusville, where a ride on the Brevard Coast to Coast Trail provides cyclists the best ride in the county

Buck Lake Conservation Area East Watch for flashes of blue as Florida scrub-jays flit between shrubs on scrubby islands along the eastern loops of 9,600-acre Buck Lake Conservation Area.

Canaveral Marshes Hike up to 5 miles on levees through the marshes of the St. Johns River at Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area between Orlando and Titusville.

Canaveral National Seashore Canaveral National Seashore protects 58,000 acres of maritime hammocks, dunes, and coastline north of Cape Canaveral, a natural sandy cape that formed where ocean currents meet.

Chain of Lakes Park Buffering a green ribbon of Indian River Lagoon shoreline from US 1, Chain of Lakes Park offers dozens of ways to put together a walk through the wetlands.

City of Titusville Multi-Use Trail Exploring Titusville by bike, I return to an old favorite and little-known 3.6-mile round-trip bike path that gives cyclists a great workout as it climbs atop the Atlantic Coastal Ridge: the City of Titusville Multi-Use Trail

Cruickshank Trail, Merritt Island NWR The longest hiking trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the 4.8-mile Allan Cruickshank Memorial Trail makes a large loop off Black Point Wildlife Drive

Dicerandra Scrub Sanctuary Named for the rare Titusville mint that grows only along the high ground inland from the lagoon, Dicerandra Scrub offers refuge for Florida scrub-jays.

Enchanted Forest Sanctuary It's not rocket science: the first and finest of the Brevard Environmental Endangered Lands, Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville is a fabulous destination for family hiking.

Florida Coast to Coast Trail With a corridor spanning more than 220 miles across nine Florida counties, the Florida Coast to Coast Trail (C2C) is Central Florida's long distance bike path.

Florida Trail, Orlando Between the prairies of Osceola County and the Ocala National Forest, this 150 mile section of the Florida Trail slips through suburbs of the Orlando metro.

Florida Trail, Seminole Ranch Savor a thousand shades of green amid enormous trees by following the Florida Trail 4.6 miles through ancient palm hammocks along the St. Johns River floodplain at Seminole Ranch.

Fox Lake Sanctuary Protecting more than 2,500 acres along the western edge of Titusville, Fox Lake Sanctuary provides an immense landscape for exploration.

Fox Lake Yellow Trail Through habitats ranging from desert-like scrub to marshy boardwalks and and squishy footpaths, the Yellow Trail circles the tip of a peninsula into Fox Lake.

Indian Mound Station Sanctuary Spot Florida scrub-jays and a fascinating diversity of plants while traversing a historic site on a 1.9 mile hike at the north end of Titusville.

Klondike Beach Along a thin slice of dunes bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, Klondike Beach is one of Florida's longest stretches of undeveloped coastline.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge With recreational activities ranging from hiking to biking, boating, fishing, and bioluminscent kayaking, Florida's top destination for birding is also home to Kennedy Space Center.

Oak Hammock Trail The wildlife-rich interpretive Oak Hammock Trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge provides an easy introduction to the hammocks of the island.

Orlando Wetlands For a hike filled with the flutter and squawk of birds, Orlando Wetlands is one of the best birding spots in the state. This 5-mile loop follows our favorite route.

Palm Hammock Trail On this 1.5 mile hike, the Palm Hammock Trail burrows into a lush forest of mature saw palmettos under a dense canopy of live oaks and palm hammock.

Parrish Park Catch a stellar sunset across the shimmering Indian River Lagoon with a westward view from Parrish Park.

Pine Island Conservation Area Wildlife and an outstanding array of birds compete for attention with waterfront views and rocket launches at one of the closest public lands to Cape Canaveral's launch pads.

Playalinda Beach At the south end of Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach is a popular destination for beachgoers along the Space Coast thanks to its natural beaches and views of Kennedy Space Center.

Salt Lake Hiking Trail Circling the central pine flatwoods of the uplands between the lakes of Salt Lake WMA, the 4.1-mile Salt Lake Hiking Trail is a great birding destination.

Salt Lake WMA Spanning nearly 8,000 acres between Salt Lake, Lake Loughman, and South Lake, Salt Lake WMA is a popular birding and fishing destination with many miles of trails.

Sams House at Pine Island A delightful immersion into the natural side of Merritt Island, the trails at Sams House at Pine Island range from mild to wild as they delve into habitats along the Indian River Lagoon.

Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary Straddling the sandy uplands of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, Scottsmoor Flatwoods Sanctuary protects 1,700 acres of flatwoods, scrub, and wetlands in North Brevard.

Seminole Ranch Puzzle Lake At the northern end of Seminole Ranch Conservation Area, roam 8.4 miles along the marshy eastern shore of Puzzle Lake, part of the St. Johns River system.

Seminole Ranch Snake Creek Levee At the north end of Seminole Ranch Conservation Area, this 1.4-mile round-trip leads to an observation tower with an extensive panorama across Loughman Lake and Salt Lake.

Seminole Rest The accessible Seminole Rest Trail interprets a historic and archaeological site at Canaveral National Seashore along the shores of the Indian River Lagoon.

South Lake Conservation Area A scrub preserve on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge in Titusville, South Lake Conservation Area provides a surprisingly hilly loop hike through the territory of Florida scrub-jay families.

South Lake Trail Culminating at a breezy observation platform with a panorama of marshy South Lake, this easy Titusville hike is both short and scenic.

Visitor Center Boardwalk The only fully-accessible trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Visitor Center Boardwalk offers many overlooks for wildlife watching and birding.

Wild Birds Unlimited Trail An easy walk for birding along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Wild Birds Unlimited Trail is a short trail with observation platforms.

Wuesthoff Park Protecting 25 acres in residential Titusville, Wuesthoff Park showcases the habitat diversity of the area along both an accessible trail and natural footpaths.

Wuesthoff Trail One of Titusville's hidden gems, the Wuesthoff Trail offers a surprising roller-coaster of elevation changes along a strip of sand pine scrub topping the Atlantic Coast Ridge.

Related Articles

Sunflowers on the St. Johns (10/5/2021) For more than a decade, I've been chasing sunflower blooms in Florida wetlands in October. In 2021, it's a banner year for these showy beauties in Central Florida.

Biking Pine Island Conservation Area (12/20/2020) Within sight of the massive Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, this ride to the Indian River Lagoon offers some of the best birding you'll do by bike.

Where to Stay in Titusville

The one truly unique lodging you’ll find in town is Casa Coquina del Mar, a B&B with comfortable suites in a 1920s home with views of the Indian River.

Two “launch view” hotels are now south of the NASA causeway, with the Courtyard Titusville offering an incredible panorama of launches from its rooftop Space Bar.

Otherwise, major chain hotels are largely clustered around Interstate 95 at SR 50.

Camping? Manatee Hammock is a county campground right along the lagoon and nicely shaded by live oaks. It fills up quick, so reserve early!

After returning from the Appalachian Trail, we spent a week in a cabin at the Titusville/Kennedy Space Center KOA and appreciated the ease of getting out and about and the location off SR 46.