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Fort Wainwright

Fairbanks, AK

Fort Wainwright is home to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, training in some of the most extreme cold weather conditions on Earth in interior Alaska. Located adjacent to Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest city, the base offers a frontier lifestyle with exceptional hunting, fishing, dog mushing, and the chance to witness the Aurora Borealis regularly. Soldiers who embrace Alaska's unique lifestyle often find it one of their most memorable and personally rewarding assignments.

Neighborhood near Fort Wainwright

Local neighborhood · Fairbanks, AK

Neighborhoods Near Fort Wainwright

Popular communities where military families stationed at Fort Wainwright choose to live.

Fairbanks (College / University area)

15–20 min to main gate

Neighborhoods near the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a mix of academic and military families, good services, and proximity to the base.

College townSuburbanFamily-friendly

North Pole

20–25 min to main gate

Suburban community 15 miles southeast of Fairbanks, famous for Christmas-themed street names and a tight-knit community popular with military families.

SuburbanMilitary communityFamily-friendly

Fairbanks (Airport / Cushman area)

10–15 min to main gate

Central Fairbanks neighborhoods with affordable older homes and walking distance to downtown services.

AffordableWalkableUrban

Schools & Education

Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

FNSBSD serves all of the Fairbanks area including Fort Wainwright communities, with a number of military-connected students and a strong outdoor and Alaska Native curriculum focus.

  • Lathrop High School and West Valley High School are the flagship campuses
  • District has strong STEM and outdoor education programs relevant to the Alaskan environment
  • North Pole High School serves the North Pole community with a tight-knit student body

Things to Do Near Fairbanks

Local favorites for dining, outdoor adventures, and entertainment in the Fairbanks area.

Aurora Borealis Viewing
Outdoors

Fairbanks is one of the world's premier Northern Lights viewing locations — a life-changing experience available from August through April.

Chena Hot Springs Resort
Outdoors

Natural hot springs resort 60 miles east of Fairbanks with year-round soaking, ice sculptures, and Aurora viewing packages.

Denali National Park
Outdoors

North America's tallest peak and surrounding wilderness, about 2.5 hours south — a bucket-list destination available while stationed here.

Pump House Restaurant & Saloon
Dining

Fairbanks landmark restaurant in a historic gold rush-era pump house on the Chena River, serving Alaskan seafood and prime rib.

Fred Meyer (Fairbanks)
Shopping

Alaska's primary large-format retailer — Fred Meyer is the go-to shopping destination for military families throughout interior Alaska.

Running Reindeer Ranch
Attraction

Unique Fairbanks experience where you hike through the boreal forest with a friendly herd of reindeer — unforgettable for kids and adults.

Housing & Cost of Living

Median Home Price
$280,000–$420,000
Typical Rent
$1,400–$2,100/mo

Fairbanks housing is moderately priced for Alaska but comes with high utility costs due to extreme winters. BAH accounts for heating supplements. North Pole offers good value with community amenities.

Popular neighborhoods to consider:

North PoleCollege areaHamilton Acres

PCS Tips for Fort Wainwright

  1. Contact the installation housing office early — wait lists can be long.
  2. Check BAH rates at the official DoD BAH calculator before setting your home budget.
  3. Get VA pre-approved before your PCS orders — it helps you move fast in competitive markets.
  4. Military-friendly real estate markets near bases can move quickly — be ready to act.

VA Home Loans

Buying near Fort Wainwright?

Heroes Home Network specializes in VA loans for military members PCSing to Fairbanks, AK. $0 down, fast closings.

Get Pre-Approved (719) 259-2246

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Fort Belvoir

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Fort Belvoir is a major Army installation in the National Capital Region hosting dozens of major commands, agencies, and tenant organizations including the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Army's acquisition community. Located in Fairfax County along the Potomac River, the base provides convenient access to Washington D.C., the Pentagon, and all of Northern Virginia's world-class amenities. The downside is Northern Virginia's high cost of living, but BAH rates are among the highest in the military, and career opportunities in the NCR are unmatched.

Fort Benning

Columbus, GA·Army

Fort Benning is the Army's Maneuver Center of Excellence and home to Infantry and Armor training, Ranger School, the Airborne School, and the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. Located on the Georgia-Alabama border adjacent to Columbus, Georgia, the base is about 100 miles southwest of Atlanta and 90 miles north of the Alabama coast. Columbus has a revitalized Uptown district with excellent restaurants, craft breweries along the Chattahoochee River, and an active military community.

Fort Bliss

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Fort Bliss is one of the largest military installations in the world and home to the 1st Armored Division, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and the Air Defense Artillery School. Located in El Paso on the Texas-New Mexico border adjacent to Juárez, Mexico, the base benefits from a warm desert climate, affordable housing, and the unique binational culture of the Paso del Norte region. White Sands National Park, the Organ Mountains, and numerous ski resorts in the Sacramento Mountains are all within reach.