Ellsworth AFB
Ellsworth AFB is home to the 28th Bomb Wing operating the B-1B Lancer supersonic bomber and is one of only two B-1 bases in the Air Force. Located near Rapid City in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the base is surrounded by incredible natural scenery including Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, and Jewel Cave. The Black Hills region offers exceptional quality of life with low cost of living, excellent outdoor recreation, and a strong military community.
Neighborhoods Near Ellsworth AFB
Popular communities where military families stationed at Ellsworth AFB choose to live.
Box Elder
5 min to main gateAn unincorporated community directly adjacent to Ellsworth with the most affordable housing and fastest gate access. Very popular with junior enlisted.
Rapid City (West Side)
15–20 min to main gateThe western neighborhoods of Rapid City closest to Ellsworth with newer developments, good schools, and proximity to the Black Hills.
Rapid City (Robbinsdale)
20–25 min to main gateAn established Rapid City neighborhood with mid-century homes, mature trees, and a neighborhood feel popular with NCO and officer families.
Schools & Education
Rapid City Area Schools
RCAS serves both Rapid City and the Ellsworth area. It's the largest district in western South Dakota and offers solid academics. The district has invested heavily in career and technical education.
- Stevens High School and Central High School are the district's flagship secondary schools
- Strong dual-credit programs with Western Dakota Tech and South Dakota Mines
- Excellent extracurricular activities including competitive outdoor sports programs
Things to Do Near Box Elder
Local favorites for dining, outdoor adventures, and entertainment in the Box Elder area.
The iconic carved presidential faces in the Black Hills granite — one of America's most recognized landmarks, just 30 miles from the base.
Otherworldly eroded buttes, spires, and prairie less than an hour east of Ellsworth with exceptional fossil beds and bison herds.
The legendary annual gathering each August in Sturgis, just 30 minutes away, draws hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists to the Black Hills.
Rapid City's pioneering craft brewery in a restored 1915 firehouse serving house-brewed beers and hearty American food downtown.
A vast state park in the Black Hills with free-roaming bison herds, pristine lakes, scenic drives, and one of the nation's best state park lodge systems.
The world's largest reptile zoo near Rapid City featuring alligators, giant tortoises, and spectacular bird shows — a favorite for military families.
Housing & Cost of Living
Rapid City remains one of the more affordable upper-Midwest markets. The Black Hills lifestyle draws remote workers, which has pushed prices up modestly. Strong BAH-to-cost ratio.
Popular neighborhoods to consider:
PCS Tips for Ellsworth AFB
- Contact the installation housing office early — wait lists can be long.
- Check BAH rates at the official DoD BAH calculator before setting your home budget.
- Get VA pre-approved before your PCS orders — it helps you move fast in competitive markets.
- Military-friendly real estate markets near bases can move quickly — be ready to act.