As the date for your cruise from Port Canaveral draws closer, you need to think about how to get to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from your hotel, airport or home. Port Canaveral is in Brevard County on the east coast of Florida between Titusville and Melbourne. It is a cruise, cargo, container, casino, and naval port.
Port Canaveral is on a barrier island just south of Cape Canaveral Air Force Base. It is separated from the mainland by the Indian River and the Banana River which are crossed by several bridges.
There are two routes/bridges closest to Port Canaveral. One bridge carries the A1A while the second bridge further south carries the SR-520. Both routes connect directly with the north-south US-1 and Interstate I-95.
If you’re driving to Port Canaveral, we’ll give you the best road routes, including telling you which are toll roads. You will also need to book cruise parking in Port Canaveral.
You may also plan to stay in a hotel in the area for a few extra days before or after your cruise. Whatever you need to know, we have all the latest up-to-date information about traveling to Port Canaveral and getting to the cruise terminal cheaply and easily.
Port Canaveral Cruise Terminals
Port Canaveral has docks on the north A side and the south B side of the channel. Currently, there are six operational cruise terminals in Port Canaveral plus one currently being redeveloped. Terminals 5, 6, 8 and 10 are on the north side of the channel while 1, 2 and 3 are on the south side of the channel. Cruise terminal 3 is currently being redeveloped.
The north side of the port also has three large turning basins for these huge ships to turn around before exiting past Jetty Park and into Canaveral Bight and the Atlantic Ocean.
Port Canaveral is the home port of several cruise ships owned by:
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Disney Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean
- Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise lines may change terminals from time to time so the following terminal information is only a guide. You should refer to the cruise terminal information provided with your tickets to find out the correct Cruise Terminal for your particular ship.
Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal locations and addresses for your GPS are as follows:
Cruise Terminal #1
9050 Discovery Road, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 – This brand new terminal is used mainly by Royal Caribbean cruises. It has been specially built to accommodate some of the largest cruise ships in the world, including Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas
Cruise Terminal #2
180 Christopher Columbus Drive – Mainly used by Victory Casino Ship which departs twice a day
Cruise Terminal #3
Charles M. Rowland Drive – Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal 3 is one of the oldest at the port. It is currently closed for redevelopment. It is being replaced with a modern new terminal which is due for completion in 2020. Terminal 3 is on the south side of the port closest to the exit, between Jetty Park and the SR-528.
The new terminal is the largest construction project ever at the port and will cost around $150 million to complete. The work includes further dredging of the port, bridge work, upgraded berth construction for larger ships and several buildings including a new cruise parking garage onsite.
The terminal will have the latest high-tech features to enable US Customs and Border Control to scan the thousands of cruisers faster and more efficiently. It is likely to be used by one of the largest Carnival cruise ships which is still being built and as yet is unnamed.
Cruise Terminal #5
9245 Charles M. Rowland Drive – Mainly used by Carnival Cruise Line
Cruise Terminal #6
9241 Charles M. Rowland Drive – Mainly used by Carnival Cruise Line
Cruise Terminal #8
9155 Charles M. Rowland Drive – Mainly used by Disney Cruise Line
Cruise Terminal #10
9005 Charles M. Rowland Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL32920 – Mainly used by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
The remainder of the north side of the port is off-limits as it accommodates the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the U.S. Army Transportation Base and the Container Port.
Check out the map of Port Canaveral Cruise Terminals to see where everything is located.
Port Canaveral Amenities
Port Canaveral has excellent amenities for visitors wanting to see the cruise ships arriving and departing from the port. You can also see many other vessels including cargo, container and military ships. The best place to see them is from Exploration Tower, a seven-story attraction with indoor and outdoor observation decks.
Located south of the channel, Exploration Tower is at 670 Dave Nisbet Dr in Cape Canaveral. Open daily, there is an admission fee of $6.50 for adults with concessions for children and Brevard residents.
As well as great port views, the tower has 5,550 square feet of interactive displays and galleries. It also has an auditorium showing educational movies about the history of the port. Other amenities include a café and gift shop.
Neighboring Jetty Park is a free attraction close to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal. It includes a small sandy beach with chair rentals, showers, paddle boards etc. There’s a food concession which also provides bait and fishing tackle. The long fishing pier even has fish cleaning stations.
Getting to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from I-95
If you are traveling to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from South Florida, North Florida or the northern states, the best way to drive through Florida is down the east coast on the I-95.
Whether you are approaching Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from the north or south, if you are on the I-95 you need to do the following:
- Take exit 205 East
- Join SR-528 East toll road (Beachline Expressway)
- Drive 11.5 miles east
- Exit onto SR-401 North
- Drive one mile north then exit right and follow signs to the Charles M. Rowland Drive and Cruise Terminal Drive
Getting to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from Orlando International Airport (MCO)
The journey from Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral is about 45 miles. You should allow at least 45 minutes for the trip.
The best way to drive from Orlando to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminals is on SR-528 (Beachline Expressway) which is a toll road. The journey takes about 45 minutes.
- Take the North Exit out of the airport
- Keep right following signs for SR-528 East toll road (Beachline Expressway)
- Head east on SR-528
- After crossing over the I-95, drive a further 11.5 miles
- Exit onto SR-401 North
- Drive one mile north then exit right and follow signs to the Charles M. Rowland Drive and Cruise Terminal Drive
Getting to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from Melbourne International Airport (MLB)
The distance from Melbourne Airport to Port Canaveral is about 34 miles. It takes around 50 minutes, depending on traffic.
- Take the East Exit out of the airport onto NASA Blvd
- Follow signs to join US-1 North
- Continue north on US-1 for about 40 minutes
- After passing the intersection with SR-520 in Cocoa, drive about one mile
- Take the Exit onto A1A/SR-528 East toll road (Beachline Expressway)
- Head east for about 7 miles crossing the Indian and Banana Rivers
- Exit onto SR-401 North
- Drive one mile north then exit right and follow signs to Charles M. Rowland Drive and Cruise Terminal Drive
Getting to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from Sanford International Airport (SFB)
Sanford International Airport is 61 miles north of Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal. You should allow at least one hour 10 minutes for the journey.
- Take the South Exit out of the airport onto Central Florida Greenway (Toll road SR-47)
- Go south 23 miles to SR 528 toll road (Beachline Expressway)
- Head east, crossing the Indian and Banana Rivers
- Exit onto SR-401 North
- Drive one mile north then exit right and follow signs to Charles M. Rowland Drive and Cruise Terminal Drive
Getting to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from Daytona International Airport (DAB)
Daytona Airport is about 75 miles north of Port Canaveral. The journey takes about 75 minutes depending on traffic.
- From Daytona Airport, follow signs to I-95 South
- Drive south on I-95
- Take the Exit onto SR-528 East toll road (Beachline Expressway)
- Drive east for about 10 miles crossing the Indian and Banana Rivers
- Exit onto SR-401 North
- Drive one mile north then exit right and follow signs to Charles M. Rowland Drive and Cruise Terminal Drive
Getting to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL)
Fort Lauderdale Airport is about 204 miles south of Port Canaveral Cruise Terminals. The journey takes at least three hours, depending on traffic.
- Exit the airport following signs to SR-595
- Join I-95 North
- Continue north for about 193 miles (2 hours 45 minutes)
- Take the Exit onto SR-528 East toll road (Beachline Expressway)
- Drive for about 10 miles crossing the Indian and Banana Rivers
- Exit onto SR-401 North
- Drive one mile north then exit right and follow signs to Charles M. Rowland Drive and Cruise Terminal Drive
Getting to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from Miami International Airport (MIA)
Miami is about 225 miles south of Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal. You should allow at least 3 ½ hours for the journey, depending on traffic.
- Exit the airport following signs to I-95 North
- Head East on NW21st St and follow signs for FL112E/I-95
- Join I-95 North and continue north for 211 miles which takes about three hours
- Take the Exit onto SR-528 East toll road (Beachline Expressway)
- Drive for about 10 miles crossing the Indian and Banana Rivers
- Exit onto SR-401 North
- Drive one mile north then exit right and follow signs to Charles M. Rowland Drive and Cruise Terminal Drive
Getting to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from Tampa
If you are coming to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal from Florida’s west coast, the city of Tampa is about 128 miles west from Port Canaveral. The journey takes at least 2 ½ hours, depending on traffic.
- From Tampa, follow signs and join the I-4 East to Exit 72
- Join SR-528 East toll road (Beachline Expressway)
- Drive for about 10 miles crossing the Indian and Banana Rivers
- Exit onto SR-401 North
- Drive one mile north then exit right and follow signs to Charles M. Rowland Drive and Cruise Terminal Drive
Getting to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal without driving a car
If you do not want to drive to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal, there are several options.
GoPortCanaveral is a company that offers low-cost transportation between Orlando International Airport and Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal. It offers shared shuttle transport on an air-conditioned luxury coach. Luggage assistance is available making this the best way to get to and from Port Canaveral for those who do not want to drive.
Other options include:
- Booking a taxi to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal
- Arrange for a private luxury limousine and driver to take you to Port Canaveral
- Stay overnight in a hotel that offers free transport to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal. Check for more details on our article about Port Canaveral Hotels with Cruise shuttle Service. Choose carefully as some hotels expect you to self-drive to Port Canaveral. They just provide hotel accommodation and shuttle transport from their Port Canaveral cruise parking to the terminal. You need to look for a hotel that includes a full transfer by coach or minibus to the cruise port.
Also Read: How to Get from the Airport to Miami Cruise Port
However, you get to Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal we wish you a safe journey and a wonderful cruise. Bon voyage!
