Joint Base Andrews (Andrews AFB): PCS Guide

Installation Overview: What JBA Actually Is

Joint Base Andrews sits in Prince George’s County, Maryland, physically located in Camp Springs and bordered by Clinton, Morningside, and Forestville. Officially it is Joint Base Andrews–Naval Air Facility Washington, though almost everyone shortens it to JBA or still calls it Andrews AFB. Both names are correct, and you will hear both daily.

The 316th Wing serves as the host unit. Additionally, the 89th Airlift Wing operates the presidential airlift mission — the blue and white fleet that carries the President, Vice President, cabinet members, and combatant commanders. Other major tenants include Air Force District of Washington, the 113th Wing (D.C. Air National Guard), the 459th Air Refueling Wing, the Air National Guard Readiness Center, and Naval Air Facility Washington. Army and Marine Corps detachments are here too, which is why the “joint” in the name is real rather than decorative.

What this means for your family: JBA is a high-visibility installation with security posture to match. Base access is tighter than at most assignments, escort authority is currently suspended, and every visitor you sponsor needs advance paperwork. Plan accordingly — details are in the gate section below. For the wider picture on other installations in the state, see our Maryland military bases guide. The official installation site is jba.af.mil.

BAH and Cost of Living at Joint Base Andrews

JBA falls under the Washington, D.C. Metro Area Military Housing Area, MHA code DC053 — one of the highest-paying BAH localities in the United States. Consequently, your allowance will look enormous compared to your last duty station. Then you will start looking at rent, and the number will feel ordinary again.

What your allowance actually covers here

Across DC053, current rates span roughly $2,400 per month at the junior enlisted end without dependents to roughly $4,700 per month for senior officers with dependents. Your exact figure depends on your pay grade, your dependency status, and your duty station ZIP code — not your home address, and not the neighborhood you choose. Notably, every installation in this MHA pays the same rate, so Andrews, Bolling, Fort Myer, and the Pentagon all draw from one table.

Rates in this market have recently been climbing faster than the national average, and the gap between grades is wide. Moreover, BAH is designed to cover about 95% of local housing costs, not 100% — a roughly 5% out-of-pocket share is built into the formula on purpose.

Rather than publish a rank-by-rank table that goes stale every January, we keep the live numbers in one place. Run your exact rate through our BAH Calculator, or read the full BAH rates guide if you want to understand how DoD sets these figures in the first place. For the complete compensation picture, pair it with the military pay charts.

Last verified: July 2026. BAH rates change every January 1 — confirm your exact figure before signing anything.

Want to see exactly what your BAH buys near JBA at current rates? Your free VA Home Loan Snapshot runs the real numbers, including what taxes and insurance do to your monthly payment. No credit pull. No obligation. No spam.

The honest cost-of-living picture

The Baltimore–Washington metro runs meaningfully above the national average, and housing drives nearly all of that gap. Groceries, utilities, and fuel are moderately higher. Transportation is where it quietly hurts — tolls, parking, and the sheer number of miles you will drive add up faster than families expect.

One financial detail worth knowing before you establish residency: Maryland taxes active duty pay for legal residents, and Prince George’s County adds a local income tax on top of the state rate. Nonresident service members stationed here on orders do not owe Maryland tax on their military pay. Therefore, if your home of record is a no-income-tax state, think carefully before changing your domicile to Maryland — it is a decision that quietly costs money every payday. Our Maryland state guide breaks down the full tax picture, including military retirement subtractions and the disabled veteran property tax exemption.

Neighborhoods Near Joint Base Andrews

The D.C. metro is enormous, and families assigned to JBA scatter across dozens of communities. Below are the five that come up most often, framed by the gate you would actually use. One warning first: every drive time below assumes normal traffic. During peak hours on I-495, MD-4, or Suitland Parkway, double it and you will be closer to reality.

Clinton and Camp Springs — Closest to the Gate

Best for: Families who want the shortest commute and are willing to trade square footage for it.

• 10–15 minutes to the Main Gate
• Prince George’s County Public Schools; this is the zone for JBA’s primary feeder schools
• Established suburban housing stock, heavily military

Clinton is the default answer for a reason. It sits immediately south of the installation, it is where the on-base feeder schools are physically located, and your neighbors will overwhelmingly be Team Andrews. Camp Springs technically surrounds the base itself and offers similar access.

The tradeoff is inventory. Homes here are older and smaller than what you will find further out, and the good ones move quickly. Furthermore, because so many military families target Clinton first, competition peaks between May and August exactly when you are trying to buy or lease.

Upper Marlboro, Brock Hall, and Fairwood — Newer Builds, More Space

Best for: Families who want newer construction and larger lots without leaving Prince George’s County.

• 20–30 minutes to the Main Gate
• Prince George’s County Public Schools
• Newer subdivisions, larger homes, higher price point

Head northeast and the housing stock gets newer fast. Brock Hall and Fairwood in particular draw families who want a garage, a yard, and a house built this century. Upper Marlboro offers more green space and larger lots.

Notably, you are paying for that space in both dollars and minutes. Additionally, school zoning shifts noticeably across this area, so verify the specific address before you commit — two houses on the same street can feed different schools.

Bowie — The School District Play

Best for: Families who will trade commute time for the strongest schools in the county.

• 25–35 minutes to the Main Gate via MD-4 or the Beltway
• Prince George’s County Public Schools — generally the county’s strongest zones
• Established suburb with a town center and park access

Bowie sits northeast of the base along the US-50 corridor toward Annapolis. Among JBA families who prioritize schools above all else, this is where the conversation usually lands. The Patuxent River park system and Bowie Town Center make it a genuinely pleasant place to spend three years.

However, be honest with yourself about the commute. Thirty minutes on paper becomes considerably more during rush hour, and you will drive it twice a day for the length of your tour.

Waldorf and Southern Maryland — Space for the Money

Best for: Families who want the most house per dollar and can absorb a longer drive.

• 25–40 minutes to the Virginia Gate via MD-5
• Charles County Public Schools — a different district entirely
• Newer builds, larger homes, lower price per square foot

Waldorf is the classic JBA compromise. Your money goes measurably further, the homes are newer, and MD-5 runs almost straight to the Virginia Gate.

Two things to plan around. First, the Virginia Gate is not open around the clock — check the gate hours below before you assume it works for your shift. Second, you leave Prince George’s County entirely, which means a different school district with different enrollment procedures.

Oxon Hill and Fort Washington — Waterfront and National Harbor

Best for: Families who want Potomac access, National Harbor, and a straight shot into D.C.

• 15–25 minutes to the Main Gate
• Prince George’s County Public Schools
• Mix of established and newer housing, waterfront premium near the river

Oxon Hill puts National Harbor and the MGM complex essentially in your backyard, along with easy access into the District. Fort Washington sits just south with more space and a quieter feel.

Similarly to Clinton, school zoning varies block by block here. Verify your specific address with the School Liaison Officer before you sign anything.

Stuck between two of these and not sure which fits your family? Start your free PCS Plan© — our local experts know this market, and they know which school zones actually match which streets.

On-Base Housing at Joint Base Andrews

Family housing at JBA is privatized and owned by Liberty Park at Andrews, a partnership with the Department of the Air Force covering roughly 1,115 homes across 13 neighborhoods. Floor plans run from two to four bedrooms across townhomes and single-family homes. Community amenities include 13 playgrounds, three tennis courts, a dog park, an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and a clubhouse.

The application process is two steps, and the order matters

This trips people up constantly, so read it twice. Step one is the government side: submit through the Housing Early Assistance Tool (HEAT) at housing.af.mil and get your referral from the Military Housing Office. Reach the MHO directly at 301-981-0248 or 316.CES.Housing.Management.Office@us.af.mil. Step two is Liberty Park, which assigns you a Resident Specialist once they receive that MHO referral.

You cannot skip to step two. Calling Liberty Park before MHO has sent your referral accomplishes nothing except losing you days you do not have.

Single Airmen and unaccompanied housing

If you are E-1 through E-4 with under three years of service, family housing is not your path. Contact the Unaccompanied Housing office at 301-981-4479, located at 1657 Brookely Avenue.

The number nobody gives you: the Resident Advocate

Privatized housing means your landlord is a company, not the Air Force. When something goes wrong and Liberty Park is not resolving it, the installation has a Privatized Housing Resident Advocate whose entire job is to intervene on your behalf. Reach that office at 301-981-5195. Write it down now — the families who need it are rarely in a position to go hunting for it later.

Real talk on wait times

Waitlists at JBA are genuine and vary by rank and bedroom count. Peak PCS season runs May through August, and that is precisely when most families arrive. Consequently, plan for off-base housing initially rather than betting your report date on a unit opening up.

Start HEAT the day your orders are in hand — not the day you arrive. Moreover, you must visit the MHO for counseling before you sign any lease or purchase contract off base, whether or not you ever intend to live on the installation. That is not optional, and skipping it can cost you.

Renting on base versus buying near base

On-base housing is simple: you sign over your BAH, utilities are covered within an allowance, and maintenance is a phone call. For a three-year tour with a deployment in the middle, that simplicity has real value.

Buying is the other side of the math. Your BAH is tax-free income, and lenders can typically gross it up when calculating what you qualify for — which means your buying power is often higher than the raw number suggests. In a market like this, three years of equity instead of three years of rent is a meaningful difference. Our VA Home Loan guide covers how the benefit works, including $0 down and no PMI.

Most online calculators only show principal and interest. Your free VA Home Loan Snapshot factors in Prince George’s County property taxes and typical insurance costs, so your number reflects reality rather than a calculator estimate. No credit pull. No obligation. No spam.

Temporary Lodging at JBA

The Presidential Inn is the on-base lodging facility, and it matters more than most families realize. If you arrive after duty hours and your sponsor has not arranged dormitory or lodging accommodations, the Presidential Inn is where you report. You then report to your unit in uniform the following duty day morning.

Book the moment your orders are in hand by calling 301-981-4614 or emailing 316fss.presidentialinn.reservations@us.af.mil. Rooms fill fast between May and August, PCS stays typically run up to 30 days, and pet-friendly rooms are limited — request one at booking rather than on arrival. Rates are subject to change, so confirm current pricing when you reserve.

If on-base lodging is full, hotels near the gates offer military rates. Ask the Andrews AFB PCS Pay It Forward® group which ones families actually recommend — the honest answers are not on any hotel website.

Schools and Child Care at Joint Base Andrews

There are no DoDEA schools at JBA or anywhere in the National Capital Region. Your children will attend Prince George’s County Public Schools or the on-base charter school.

Maryland is not a school-of-choice state — read this before you house-hunt

This is the single most important paragraph on this page. Maryland assigns your child’s school by your home address. You cannot pick a school and then live wherever you like. Therefore, find your school assignment first, then choose your neighborhood — not the other way around.

Families reverse this order every single year and spend the rest of the tour regretting it. Call the School Liaison Officer at 301-981-0057 before you sign a lease. That office exists precisely for this, it is free, and it is co-located with the Military and Family Readiness Center at 1191 Menoher Drive. Details are at the JBA School Liaison Office.

Primary feeder schools for on-base families

Last verified: July 2026. Confirm current boundaries with the School Liaison Officer or Prince George’s County Public Schools before signing a lease.

Imagine Andrews: the on-base charter option

Imagine Andrews is a K–8 public charter located on the installation and built around military children. Admission runs through a random placement lottery, and 65% of seats are reserved for military families assigned to and living on JBA. The remaining 35% go to Prince George’s County residents.

Two details families miss. First, the lottery windows are real deadlines — the military lottery typically opens in February, and the general enrollment window closes earlier in the winter. Miss it and you wait a year. Second, parents provide transportation to Imagine Andrews. There is no bus. Reach the school at 301-350-6002.

Child Development Centers and the waitlist reality

JBA has three Child Development Centers, but capacity is tighter than that number suggests — CDC 1 is currently closed, which leaves two centers carrying the load. Infant care is the pressure point: waitlists for children under 12 months can run 6–12 months, even for Category 1 families such as single parents and dual-military couples. Children ages three to five must be potty trained. Fees are income-based.

Last verified: July 2026. Confirm current status before you rely on a specific center.

Get on the list at MilitaryChildCare.com the day your orders drop. Additionally, the Family Child Care program uses licensed in-home providers on base and is frequently a faster path to infant care than the centers. Call an open CDC above for a current referral list.

In-Processing and Gate Hours at Joint Base Andrews

JBA is a closed installation with a security posture that reflects the presidential airlift mission. Read this section before your first drive to the gate.

Gate hours and which gate to actually use

Last verified: July 2026. Gate hours and status change — confirm at the JBA Visitor Control Center before your first day.

Two rules that catch families off guard. Every contractor and oversized vehicle must enter through the Pearl Harbor Gate’s search pit — if it has a company logo on it, it counts, even a self-owned business. Plan your household goods delivery around that. Also, food delivery drivers cannot access the installation without base credentials, so meet your DoorDash driver at the Visitor Control Center.

REAL ID, visitors, and the suspended escort program

All visitors to JBA need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or an acceptable alternative such as a U.S. passport or Veterans Health Identification Card. DoD-issued ID cards are exempt. Check your license for the star or circle symbol now, before your mother-in-law drives down.

Critically, the Trusted Traveler program is not active at JBA and escort authority is currently suspended. Every unofficial visitor needs a base pass requested in advance. Submit requests to the Visitor Control Center at least 72 hours before arrival, from a government email address — commercial addresses such as Gmail and Yahoo are rejected. Foreign national visitors need 30 days.

Your first stop on arrival

Report to your unit’s Command Support Staff during duty hours with your PCS package. If your unit has no CSS, report to the Military Personnel Section, Customer Support at 1414 Arkansas Road. Arriving after hours without arrangements means reporting to the Presidential Inn, then to your unit in uniform the next duty morning.

Newcomer’s Orientation, called Welcome to Andrews, is a monthly briefing run by the Military and Family Readiness Center for members, civilians, and family members. It knocks out mandatory briefings and is worth attending early. Register at jba-mfrc.timetap.com.

Separately, the M&FRC runs a Pre-arrival Orientation workshop once a month for inbound families, and almost nobody knows it exists. It covers TMO, Finance, MPS, TRICARE, MFLC, EFMP, the School Liaison, and Military OneSource in one three-hour block, and you can attend by Zoom before you ever arrive. Call 301-981-7087 to register. If your gaining unit has not assigned you a sponsor yet, that same number will chase one down for you.

Finance runs through E-Finance, and you must in-process in uniform. If you did a personally procured move, bring your orders, DD Form 2278, DD Form 1351-2, receipts, the PPM checklist and expense certification, plus empty and full weight tickets with your last name and last four written on them. PPM closeout briefings run Monday mornings at 0900 in the TMO office. Note that TMO is closed Thursdays for training. Our DITY/PPM move guide covers what to document before you drive, and the PCS binder checklist keeps all of it in one place. Full details are on the official JBA newcomers page.

One more if it applies to you: firearms must be registered with the armory within 72 hours of arrival if you live on base. Bring them secured and cleared to the Security Forces building at 1845 Westover Road, through the door marked Desk Sergeant.

Medical and Healthcare at Joint Base Andrews

Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center is the installation’s medical facility, located in Building 1060 on West Perimeter Road. Services include family health, internal medicine, flight medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, ambulatory surgery, dental, pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, mental health, and a range of specialty clinics including orthopedics, dermatology, ENT, and cardiopulmonary.

Know this before you need it: there is no 24-hour emergency room

The name is accurate — Malcolm Grow is clinics and a surgery center, not a full hospital. Urgent care operates 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., seven days a week, at 240-857-2333 in Building 1060, First Floor, East Wing.

For a genuine emergency, call 911 and go to the nearest hospital. After urgent care closes, contact the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273) to speak with a registered nurse. If you do use a civilian emergency room, notify TRICARE within 24 hours and notify your Primary Care Manager at 1-888-999-1212. Full guidance is at the Andrews Medical Group urgent and emergency care page.

TRICARE in the National Capital Region

The NCR gives you options most assignments do not. Beyond Malcolm Grow, the region includes Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. Update DEERS before you arrive, then transfer your TRICARE enrollment to the new region. Families with special needs should connect with the Exceptional Family Member Program early — NCR resources are excellent, but the intake takes time.

Getting to Joint Base Andrews

JBA is one of the easier installations in the country to reach. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is roughly 12 miles away, generally 25–40 minutes depending on traffic. Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) sits about 30 miles north, and Dulles (IAD) is roughly 35 miles west — further, but often cheaper for family flying in.

By road, I-495 (the Capital Beltway) is your primary artery, with the Main Gate just off it near Camp Springs. From southern Maryland, MD-5 runs up to the Virginia Gate. From the north and east, MD-4 and Suitland Parkway both feed the area.

A note on Metro: JBA is not directly on a Metro line, though the Green Line runs through nearby Suitland and Branch Avenue. Families who work downtown occasionally park and ride. For most JBA assignments, though, you are driving.

Things to Do Around JBA

This is the genuine upside of the assignment, and it is a big one. Few duty stations put this much within reach.

• The Smithsonian museums and the National Mall — all free, roughly 30 minutes away. Air and Space, Natural History, American History, the monuments.
• National Harbor — 15 minutes. Waterfront dining, the Capital Wheel, MGM, and seasonal events.
• Old Town Alexandria — about 30 minutes. Walkable, historic, excellent for a date night.
• Annapolis — roughly 32 miles. The Naval Academy, the waterfront, and some of the best crab in the state.
• Mount Vernon — a genuinely great family day without Smithsonian crowds.
• Chesapeake Bay and Southern Maryland — beaches, boating, and Calvert County within an easy drive.

Things nobody warns you about: cherry blossom season is spectacular and the crowds are punishing, summer concerts at The Wharf are worth the parking headache, and winter ice skating at the National Gallery sculpture garden is a local tradition. Check with the base recreation office and ITT for discounted tickets before you buy anything at full price.

Joint Base Andrews Phone Directory

Last verified: July 2026. Phone numbers change — confirm critical contacts with the base operator before you rely on them.

PCS Tips for Joint Base Andrews

Six things families here wish someone had told them earlier.

• School zone first, neighborhood second. Call the School Liaison Officer at 301-981-0057 before you tour a single house. In Maryland your address is your school assignment, and reversing that order is the most common regret at this base.
• Start HEAT and MilitaryChildCare.com the same day. Both have waitlists measured in months. Both are free to join. There is no downside to being early and a serious cost to being late.
• Check your driver’s license for REAL ID compliance now. Not the week your family visits. If it is not compliant, fix it before you move.
• Route your moving truck to the Pearl Harbor Gate. Oversized and commercial vehicles use the search pit there. Sending a 26-foot truck to the Main Gate wastes a morning you cannot spare.
• Choose your commute before your square footage. An extra bedroom in Waldorf costs you roughly ten hours a month in the car versus Clinton. Do that math honestly before you fall in love with a floor plan.
• Do not change your state of residency on autopilot. Maryland taxes military pay for residents, and Prince George’s County adds local income tax. If your home of record is a no-tax state, keep it.

Every smooth PCS starts with a plan. Start your free PCS Plan© and get a personalized roadmap for your move to JBA — housing, schools, neighborhoods, and timeline in one place. While you are at it, the Andrews AFB PCS Pay It Forward® group is where families post rental leads and honest neighborhood intel before it ever reaches a website.

Joint Base Andrews FAQ

What ZIP code is used for BAH at Joint Base Andrews?

JBA uses ZIP 20762 and falls under the Washington, D.C. Metro Area Military Housing Area, MHA code DC053 — one of the highest-paying BAH localities in the country. Your rate is set by your duty station ZIP, not the address where you actually live, and every installation in DC053 pays the same table. Run your exact figure through the BAH Calculator before you budget anything.

How long is the on-base housing waitlist at JBA?

Waitlists vary by rank and bedroom count and can run from weeks to several months, with the worst pressure between May and August. Submit through the Housing Early Assistance Tool at housing.af.mil the day your orders are in hand. Plan for off-base housing initially rather than assuming a unit will open by your report date.

Who manages on-base housing at Joint Base Andrews?

Liberty Park at Andrews owns and manages family housing — roughly 1,115 homes across 13 neighborhoods. Reach them at 866-944-7504. Note that applying is a two-step process: HEAT and a Military Housing Office referral come first, then Liberty Park assigns you a Resident Specialist.

Which gate at JBA is open 24 hours?

The Main Gate, located just off I-495 near Camp Springs, is open 24 hours and is your default for after-hours arrivals and visitors. The Virginia Gate runs 0500–2100 daily. The North Gate is closed until further notice, so do not route to it.

Which gate do I use for a moving truck at Joint Base Andrews?

The Pearl Harbor Gate, also called the Commercial or East Gate, handles all contractor and oversized vehicles through its search pit. Any vehicle with company logos or decals counts as a contractor vehicle, even a self-owned business. Inbound hours run 0500–1600.

Do visitors need a REAL ID to get onto Joint Base Andrews?

Yes. All visitors need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or an acceptable alternative such as a U.S. passport or Veterans Health Identification Card. DoD-issued ID cards are exempt. Because escort authority and the Trusted Traveler program are currently suspended, submit visitor requests to the Visitor Control Center at least 72 hours ahead from a government email address.

What schools will my kids attend at Joint Base Andrews?

There are no DoDEA schools at JBA. On-base families are zoned to Francis T. Evans Elementary, Stephen Decatur Middle School, and Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School, all within Prince George’s County Public Schools. Imagine Andrews Public Charter School (K–8) sits on base with lottery admission, 65% of seats reserved for military families living on the installation.

Is Maryland a school-of-choice state?

No. Maryland assigns your child’s school based on your home address, which makes your neighborhood decision and your school decision the same decision. Contact the JBA School Liaison Officer at 301-981-0057 before you sign a lease. Find your school zone first, then find housing inside it.

How long is the CDC childcare waitlist at Joint Base Andrews?

Infant care under 12 months can run 6–12 months, even for Category 1 families such as single parents and dual-military couples. Capacity is tighter than it looks, because CDC 1 is currently closed and two centers carry the load — CDC 2 at 301-981-3323 and CDC 3 at 240-857-3207. Register at MilitaryChildCare.com the day your orders drop, and ask about the Family Child Care program, which uses licensed in-home providers on base and is often a faster path to infant care.

Does Joint Base Andrews have an emergency room?

No. Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center is not a full hospital, and urgent care runs 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., seven days a week, at 240-857-2333. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 and go to the nearest hospital. After urgent care closes, call the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-874-2273.

Where do I report when I first arrive at JBA?

Report to your unit’s Command Support Staff during duty hours with your PCS package. If your unit has no CSS, report to the Military Personnel Section, Customer Support at 1414 Arkansas Road. If you arrive after hours without arrangements, report to the Presidential Inn and then to your unit in uniform the following duty morning.

Does Maryland tax military pay?

It depends on your residency. Nonresident service members stationed in Maryland on orders do not owe Maryland tax on their military pay. Maryland legal residents do owe state income tax on military pay, and Prince George’s County adds a local income tax on top of it. If your home of record is a no-income-tax state, think carefully before changing your domicile.

Key Takeaways

• School zone before neighborhood. Maryland is not a school-of-choice state. Call the School Liaison Officer at 301-981-0057 before you tour houses — this is the mistake JBA families regret most.
• Two waitlists start the day your orders drop. HEAT for on-base housing and MilitaryChildCare.com for the CDC. Infant care can run 6–12 months.
• The Main Gate is your 24-hour gate. The North Gate is closed, the Virginia Gate closes at 2100, and your moving truck goes to the Pearl Harbor Gate.
• There is no 24-hour ER on base. Urgent care runs 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. After that, it is 911 or the Nurse Advice Line.
• Check your REAL ID now. Escort authority is suspended and visitors need 72 hours of lead time.
• Your commute is the real decision. BAH is high here, but so is traffic. Square footage in Waldorf costs you hours in the car.
• Keep your home of record if it is tax-friendly. Maryland taxes military pay for residents, and Prince George’s County adds local tax.
• Your BAH is tax-free and can be grossed up by lenders. See what it actually buys with your free VA Home Loan Snapshot, then start your free PCS Plan© to put the whole move on a timeline.

Last verified: July 2026. Always confirm gate hours, phone numbers, and BAH rates with official installation sources before your move.