A launch from Kennedy (KSC), seen from Tampa

From Tampa, Kennedy Space Center (LC-39A) is about 196 km away to the ENE (compass bearing 68°). A night or twilight launch is likely visible; a daytime launch is possibly visible. Face ENE shortly after liftoff and watch low on the horizon — the rocket climbs as it heads downrange.

You're not watching the rocket itself — beyond a few km the vehicle is far too small to see. What's visible is the engine plume at 65–100+ km altitude: at night a brilliant moving flame (routinely seen 300+ km away), at dawn/dusk a sunlit "jellyfish" cloud that has been documented 800+ km away, in daytime only a white contrail with much shorter range. Cloud cover, local horizon and trajectory all matter.

Nearby cities

For exact launch times and live trajectories, check the provider's stream. How this estimate works.