With a few days to kill before boarding Sky Princess, we needed a hotel somewhere ‘near’ Port Canaveral. Which is how we came to be at the Best Western Space Shuttle Inn Titusville.
This is what we thought:
Key data
Cost: £82.21 per night
Fair cost: £70.00
Breakfast Included
Check-in: 4pm
Check-out: 11am
How accurate are the website photos? Good
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Would we recommend this hotel? Yes, with caveats
Location and contact details
The Best Western Space Shuttle Inn is 24 miles from Port Canaveral, on the outskirts of Titusville.
Address:
3455 Cheney Hwy
Titusville, FL
32780
Telephone: +1 321 269 9100
Lowdown
There are many hotels in the Port Canaveral / Cocoa Beach area, but the closer you get to the cruise terminal, the more expensive they become. The fact that the Artemis II moon orbit mission was due to take off the weekend of our visit helped to push prices higher still. In fact, we had originally planned to visit the Kennedy Space Center which is a few minutes drive away.
Thankfully, Florida is blessed with an extensive road network. This means there are plenty of other accommodation options within a 20-25 minute drive. Looking beyond Port Canaveral, offers options in Cocoa and Titusville too.
The Best Western Space Shuttle Inn met two key requirements – location and price.
As always, there are other hotels that are slightly cheaper or closer to the port, but this one seemed a reasonable compromise.
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Our personal experience
Now onto the Best Western Space Shuttle Inn Titusville review:
Bedroom
Our room was located at the rear of the hotel, on the ground floor. There are lifts at this motel, so guests with accessibility issues can access rooms on the second floor too.
Our room had two small double beds, a table-cum-desk, a chest of drawers and one bedside cabinet. For entertainment, there’s a large flatscreen TV with a limited selection of cable channels. Underneath, a large chest of drawers.
Like the Hotel Monreale Express International Drive Orlando, there is no carpet and the hard floor feels a little ‘gritty’. It could do with a good mopping…
In traditional motel style, the front of the room is taken up by a large window that looks out onto the carpark at the rear of the building. The blackout curtains work ok, keeping out the sunlight – and prying eyes.
There is a fridge and microwave which may come in handy if you are staying for more than a day or two.
Weirdly, the handbasin is on full display at the rear of the room. On the bench is a Keurig-style coffee maker along with two coffee ‘bags’ (no tea or creamer). To the right is a small alcove where you can hang a few shirts or store your suitcases.
Top tip: The McDonalds restaurant next door is open 24 hours – and the coffee is a whole lot better than anything available at the hotel itself.
Bathroom
The toilet and shower are located in a small room at the rear of the room. There’s three wall-mounted bottles containing body wash, shampoo and conditioner. Nothing fancy, but perfectly adequate.
The shower itself is quite temperamental, fluctuating between not-quite-warm-enough and flea-meltingly hot.
Parking
Parking is free for guests and you can park right outside your room. There should be at least one parking space for every room in the hotel.
Accessibility
Rooms located on the ground floor of the Best Western Space Shuttle Inn are reasonably accessible. You can roll straight from your parking space into the room.
There are lifts at this hotel too, which means the upper rooms can be accessed. However, it is probably easier to ask for a ground floor room if possible.
Food
Breakfast is included in the cost which is nice. Hot options include biscuits (salty scones), sausage and scrambled eggs, toast and waffles. There’s a yogurt machine with fruit puree, and a few cereals and oatmeals to choose from.
Coffee is plentiful and average. There’s also a basket full of clingfilm-wrapped apples.
If you’re looking for something else, or want lunch or dinner, there’s a number of nearby restaurants to choose from. The hotel is flanked by a Waffle House and McDonalds, and there’s a Cracker Barrel one minute away (recommended!).
There’s also an onsite restaurant/bar called Beef ‘O’ Brady’s which looked to be very busy both nights we were there.
Staff
All the employees we met were friendly and helpful which was nice.
Oddities and quirks
There is an ancient air conditioning unit in each room that thunder loudly day and night. It’s too hot to turn the unit off but too loud to sleep well when it’s running. Take ear plugs.
There’s also a large patch of land behind the hotel where you are free to walk and explore. There’s a small, swampy pond where we saw a couple of snapping turtles sunning themselves and a blue jay in the trees. Sadly, no gators though.
There’s a pool next to the breakfast room, and a couple of vending machines scattered around the property. And a gym.
Other accommodation options
There are dozens of hotels up and down the Space Coast region with something for every budget. Other (pricier) options in Titusville include a Holiday Inn, a Fairfield Inn and Suites and a Hampton Inn.
See the map above for more.
How far is it from the Best Western Space Shuttle Inn to Port Canaveral?
The hotel is 25 miles from Titusville to the cruise port, a drive that takes less than 30 minutes.
Best Western Space Shuttle Inn Titusville review – Final rating
The Best Western Space Shuttle Inn is nothing special – and it doesn’t pretend to be. However, we were a little disappointed by the standard of cleaning, feeling that the property fell a bit below the standard we expected of the Best Western brand.
The air conditioner is another negative. It was nice to have cool air, but the noise overnight was annoying.
Top tip: Pack earplugs
However, the Best Western Space Shuttle Inn was exactly what we needed for a two night stay – cheap and convenient. It was a useful base for exploring the Space Coast and also sufficiently close to the port for an stress-free embarkation. There were at least three other couples staying at the motel using it as a stop-off before joining a cruise too.
But would we visit the Space Shuttle Inn again? Possibly…
Final rating: 3.5 out of 5
Sightseeing in Titusville
The Kennedy Space Center may be the big draw in this region, but there are other things to consider:
Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour
Paddle into one of Florida’s most magical nighttime experiences on a bioluminescent kayaking tour in Titusville. As you glide through the water, every stroke can light up the lagoon around you, turning an ordinary kayak trip into a glowing neon show.
This is the kind of outing that feels both peaceful and unforgettable, with clear kayaks, calm waters, and a guide-led route designed to make the most of the bioluminescence. It’s a great choice for couples, families, and anyone looking for a bucket-list adventure that’s equal parts nature and wonder.
Because the tour runs in a prime bioluminescent area near Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, timing matters and the experience can vary by season. Still, when conditions are right, it’s one of the most spectacular ways to see Florida after dark.
Read more
Merritt Island: Banana River, Canaveral Locks and Port Tour
Relax into a laid-back Banana River cruise that mixes wildlife, scenery, and easygoing Florida charm. Glide through the calm waters of Merritt Island while keeping an eye out for dolphins and manatees, all with drinks and snacks included.
The route also takes you through the Canaveral Locks and into Port Canaveral, so you get a fun look at the working waterfront, cruise ships, and the Space Coast from the water. On some departures, the experience includes a bonus lunch or a front-row view of ships heading out to sea.
It’s a simple, scenic outing that feels unhurried and local, with just enough variety to keep every stretch of the cruise interesting. If you want a peaceful way to see Merritt Island and the surrounding waterways, this is an easy choice.
Read more
Cocoa Beach: Dolphin & Manatee Small Group Eco Boat Tour
Set out on a small-group eco boat tour that shows off Cocoa Beach’s wild side in a relaxed, personal way. Cruising through the Indian River Lagoon and Thousand Islands, you’ll head into mangrove-lined waters where dolphins, manatees, turtles, stingrays, and colourful birds are often spotted.
What makes this trip stand out is the intimate feel of a 6-passenger boat, which can slip into shallow backwaters that bigger vessels can’t reach. Along the way, your local captain shares stories about the ecosystem and the Space Coast, adding context to the scenery and wildlife.
It’s a calm, family-friendly experience that works for nature lovers, photographers, and anyone who wants a quieter alternative to a bigger cruise. If you’re after close-up wildlife viewing without the crowds, this tour fits the bill.
Read more
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