Things to do nearBanana River

Banana River is a brackish lagoon running roughly 20 miles along Florida's Space Coast, forming part of the larger Indian River Lagoon system. Long valued by the Timucuan people and later by early Florida settlers, the waterway takes its name from the banana plants that once grew along its shores.

Today the lagoon sits within one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America. Paddlers and boaters regularly encounter West Indian manatees, especially in cooler months when the animals seek warmer shallows. Dolphins are a near-daily presence, and the surrounding refuge supports hundreds of bird species including roseate spoonbills and bald eagles.

The lagoon's position adjacent to Kennedy Space Center adds a dimension found nowhere else. On launch days, the open water offers unobstructed views of rockets rising above the tree line, a striking contrast to the quiet natural setting surrounding you.

For those who prefer dry land, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge provides hiking trails and observation platforms overlooking the lagoon's marshy edges. Banana River rewards visitors with a rare combination of natural wonder and spaceflight history that makes it genuinely worth the trip.