If you have orders to one of the naval bases in Virginia, you are joining the biggest Navy community in the country. Most of Virginia's Navy bases sit around Hampton Roads, the harbor area that takes in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Hampton. A few more sit up the Chesapeake Bay and on the Potomac River. This guide covers what each base does, which town it is near, and what 2026 BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) looks like nearby.
Want the full picture, including Army, Air Force and Coast Guard sites? Start with our hub guide, What Military Bases Are in Virginia?
Naval Bases in Virginia, at a Glance
| Installation | Nearest town | Best known for |
|---|---|---|
| Naval Station Norfolk | Norfolk | Largest naval complex in the world |
| NAS Oceana and Dam Neck Annex | Virginia Beach | F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jet base |
| Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story | Virginia Beach | Expeditionary forces and Naval Special Warfare |
| Norfolk Naval Shipyard | Portsmouth | The Navy's oldest shipyard |
| Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads | Norfolk | U.S. Fleet Forces Command |
| Naval Weapons Station Yorktown | Yorktown | Ordnance support for the fleet |
| Naval Support Facility Dahlgren | Dahlgren | Surface warfare research |
Virginia's Navy installations at a glance. Sources: Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic; NAVSEA; Naval District Washington.
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk is the anchor of Navy life in Virginia. The Navy calls it "the largest naval complex in the world" on its Naval Station Norfolk installation page. The station's About page says it supports the Navy's largest concentration of naval forces. Its story goes back to 1917, when the Navy bought 474 acres on the old Jamestown Exposition grounds.
Norfolk is a carrier town, and it is getting busier. USS Nimitz left Washington state for the last time on March 7, 2026, to shift its homeport to Norfolk, per the Navy's report on the Nimitz departure.
If Norfolk is your next stop, our Naval Station Norfolk 2026 PCS guide covers neighborhoods and commutes. To run the numbers on buying, see our Naval Station Norfolk BAH and buy vs. rent breakdown.
NAS Oceana and Dam Neck Annex
Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana is in Virginia Beach. It is the Navy's East Coast "Master Jet Base," and it was commissioned on August 17, 1943, per the NAS Oceana history page. The same page calls it the largest employer in Virginia Beach.
Oceana is home to Navy squadrons flying the F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet, per the NAS Oceana About page. The C-40A Clipper, a cargo and passenger jet, also flies here with squadron VR-56. Jet noise is part of life near Oceana, so check noise zones before you sign a lease or make an offer.
Dam Neck Annex sits on the Atlantic coast, about five miles south of the Virginia Beach oceanfront. It handles specialized fleet training and support, per the Dam Neck Annex page.
Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story
Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek-Fort Story is also in Virginia Beach. It formed on October 1, 2009, when the Navy's amphibious base at Little Creek joined with the Army's Fort Story, per the JEB Little Creek-Fort Story history page. It was the first joint base in Hampton Roads.
The Navy calls it the country's premier installation for housing and training expeditionary forces. Naval Special Warfare Group TWO is based here, per the Naval Special Warfare reporting aboard page. For neighborhoods near Oceana and Little Creek, read our NAS Oceana and JEB Little Creek PCS guide.
Weighing Virginia Beach against Chesapeake or Norfolk? Talk with a Hampton Roads agent who works with military families. There is no cost and no obligation.
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Despite the name, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) is in Portsmouth, on the Elizabeth River. It is the Navy's oldest shipyard and the largest shipyard on the East Coast, per the NNSY history page. It opened on November 1, 1767, as Gosport Shipyard.
NNSY repairs and updates Navy ships, including aircraft carriers. USS Gerald R. Ford arrived on July 7, 2026, for its first planned maintenance period. It is the first Ford-class carrier the yard has worked on, per the Navy's report on Ford's arrival at NNSY.
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is nearby. It is the Navy's oldest continuously operating hospital, established in 1830, per the Defense Health Agency's Portsmouth page.
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Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Hampton Roads is a headquarters base in Norfolk. Its tenants include U.S. Fleet Forces Command, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, Naval Submarine Forces Atlantic and Navy Reserve Forces Command, per the NSA Hampton Roads About page. It has more than 6,000 personnel.
Naval Weapons Station Yorktown
Naval Weapons Station Yorktown sits up the York River, between Newport News and Williamsburg. It covers 20.7 square miles, per the Yorktown history page. Its job is ordnance support for the fleet: storing, maintaining and shipping explosives. Cheatham Annex became part of the station in 1998.
Naval Support Facility Dahlgren
Naval Support Facility Dahlgren is in King George County, on the Potomac River. It started in 1918 as a proving ground for naval guns, per the NSF Dahlgren About page. Today it is home to the Naval Surface Warfare Center's research work. Dahlgren is rural and sits far north of Hampton Roads, so families here often look toward King George County and the Fredericksburg area.
What BAH Covers Near Virginia's Navy Bases
BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment to help cover housing off base. It depends on your pay grade, your duty ZIP code, and whether you have dependents. Here are 2026 rates from the DTMO BAH rate lookup. Each cell shows with dependents first, then without.
| Location | Rate area | E-5 | E-7 | O-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth | VA298 | $2,430 / $1,908 | $2,604 / $2,235 | $2,694 / $2,505 |
| Yorktown and Hampton | VA297 | $2,274 / $1,779 | $2,439 / $2,088 | $2,475 / $2,361 |
| Dahlgren | VA368 | $2,313 / $2,196 | $2,763 / $2,325 | $2,844 / $2,568 |
2026 monthly BAH with dependents near Virginia's Navy bases. Source: Defense Travel Management Office BAH rate lookup.
A few things stand out:
- Naval Station Norfolk, NAS Oceana, Little Creek and the shipyard all share one rate area, VA298. Where you live in Hampton Roads does not change your BAH.
- An E-5 with dependents gets $522 more a month than an E-5 without dependents in VA298.
- Dahlgren pays more than Norfolk at E-7 ($159 more) and O-3 ($150 more), even though it is a smaller, rural area.
- Yorktown's rate area pays the least of the three at every grade shown.
BAH is meant to cover typical rent and utilities, not your dream home. To see how your rate turns into a price range, read how much house you can afford on BAH. For what changed this year, see our post on 2026 BAH rates.
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We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.Buying a Home Near Virginia's Navy Bases
Use your VA loan. A VA loan is a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Per the VA's purchase loan page, you can buy with no down payment as long as the price is not higher than the home's appraised value. You also do not need private mortgage insurance.
Know the Virginia tax rules. Virginia lets service members on extended active duty subtract up to $15,000 of military basic pay. The amount shrinks as basic pay rises and stops at $30,000 of basic pay, per the 2025 Virginia Form 760 instructions. Retirees can subtract up to $40,000 of military retirement pay for 2025 and later, per the Virginia Tax military benefits FAQ. Your state of legal residence still decides where your pay is taxed, so check with a tax pro. Veterans rated 100% permanent and total may also qualify for a full property tax exemption. See our guide to Virginia veteran property tax exemptions.
Plan around the tunnels. Hampton Roads is split by water. The bridge-tunnels between Norfolk, Hampton and Portsmouth can back up at rush hour. A home that looks close on a map can still mean a long drive. Test your commute before you commit.
If an Army or Air Force posting is also on the table, see our guides to Army bases in Virginia and PCSing to Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Navy bases are in Virginia?
Virginia has seven main Navy installations: Naval Station Norfolk, NAS Oceana, JEB Little Creek-Fort Story, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, NSA Hampton Roads, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and NSF Dahlgren. Smaller Navy sites include Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and the Surface Combat Systems Center on Wallops Island.
What is the largest naval base in Virginia?
Naval Station Norfolk. The Navy calls it the largest naval complex in the world.
Is Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Norfolk?
No. Norfolk Naval Shipyard is in Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. It shares the same BAH rate area, VA298.
Where are the Navy SEALs based in Virginia?
Naval Special Warfare Group TWO is based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach.
Do Norfolk and Virginia Beach have the same BAH?
Yes. Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth all fall in rate area VA298. An E-5 with dependents gets $2,430 a month there in 2026.
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This content is for informational purposes. Consult a professional for personal financial decisions.
