--- title: 'PCS to Eielson AFB: A 2027 Guide for Military Families near Fairbanks, Alaska' slug: pcs-to-eielson-afb-fairbanks-2026-guide description: >- Planning a PCS to Eielson AFB near Fairbanks, Alaska? Get a plain-language guide to housing, BAH, schools, healthcare, climate, and where to live in 2027. publishedAt: '2026-05-13T09:00:00.000Z' updatedAt: '2026-06-22T00:00:00.000Z' author: VeteranPCS categories: - PCS Help - US Military Bases canonical: 'https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/pcs-to-eielson-afb-fairbanks-2026-guide' componentSlug: us-military-bases stateSlug: alaska --- # PCS to Eielson AFB: A 2027 Guide for Military Families near Fairbanks, Alaska If you have orders for a PCS to Eielson Air Force Base, you are headed to one of the most distinctive duty stations in the United States Air Force. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for moving from one duty station to another. Eielson AFB sits in interior Alaska, about 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks. This 2027 guide covers what to expect when you arrive: where to live, how housing pay works, schools, healthcare, climate, and daily life under the northern lights. A move to Alaska is a lot to coordinate. Our goal is to make the Eielson part feel clearer. ## What and Where Is Eielson AFB? Eielson Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation located in interior Alaska, roughly 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks. The city of North Pole, Alaska sits nearby between the base and Fairbanks. The host unit is the [354th Fighter Wing](https://www.eielson.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/3276349/354th-fighter-wing/), whose mission, according to eielson.af.mil, is to provide USINDOPACOM combat-ready airpower, advanced integration training, and a strategic arctic basing option. The wing flies the F-35A Lightning II, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, and Alaska is on track to become the most concentrated state for combat-coded, fifth-generation fighter aircraft in the country. Eielson is also home of [RED FLAG-Alaska](https://www.eielson.af.mil/RED-FLAG-Alaska/), a series of Pacific Air Forces field training exercises that bring U.S. and allied forces together for large-scale air combat training over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. RED FLAG-Alaska 26-2 concluded in June 2026 with more than 70 aircraft and approximately 2,100 service members from the U.S. and partner nations participating. If you want an overview of all bases in the state, start with our guide to [what military bases are in Alaska](/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-alaska). ## Where to Live When PCSing to Eielson AFB Most families who move to Eielson AFB either live in on-post housing or settle in one of the surrounding communities. Your choice usually comes down to commute, schools, budget, and what kind of daily environment you want. The Eielson area is rural and spread out; almost every community here requires a car, and winter driving conditions factor into how far from the gate you want to be. ![Approximate one-way drive times from Fairbanks-area communities to Eielson AFB, including Moose Creek, North Pole, Salcha, and Fairbanks.](/images/blog/pcs-to-eielson-afb-fairbanks-2026-guide/where-to-live.png) *Approximate one-way drive times to Eielson AFB. Times vary with traffic, season, and which gate you use.* ### Moose Creek Moose Creek is the closest community to the base, about five minutes from the main gate. It is small and rural, well suited to families who want the shortest commute and are comfortable without nearby amenities. Housing options are limited, so start your search early. ### North Pole North Pole is a city of roughly 2,500 residents about 15 minutes from the gate. It is the most popular off-base community for Eielson families, with a mix of homes for sale and rent, nearby shopping, and schools in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. North Pole offers a genuine small-town feel while keeping the commute manageable even on winter roads. ### Salcha Salcha is a rural community along the Richardson Highway, about 20 minutes south of the gate. Housing costs tend to be lower and lots are larger than in North Pole. Services are limited, and the drive to Fairbanks for shopping or healthcare takes time, so it suits families comfortable with a more rural pace. ### Fairbanks Fairbanks, the largest city in interior Alaska, is about 30 minutes from the gate. It offers the most in shopping, dining, healthcare, and services. If your household needs city amenities or your spouse works in the city, the longer commute is often worth it. The University of Alaska Fairbanks campus is here, along with a wider range of neighborhood types. See also our [PCS to Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks](/blog/pcs-to-fort-wainwright-fairbanks-2026-guide) guide and our [PCS to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage](/blog/pcs-to-joint-base-elmendorf-richardson-anchorage-2026-guide) guide. ## Eielson AFB BAH and the Cost of Living If you live off base, the military helps cover your housing through BAH, which stands for Basic Allowance for Housing. BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment. The amount depends on three things: your rank, whether you have dependents, and your duty station's Military Housing Area, or MHA. An MHA is the geographic zone the Defense Department uses to set local housing pay. Eielson AFB falls within the Fairbanks, Alaska MHA. Because rates change each year and vary by rank and dependent status, we do not publish a rate table here. To find your exact figure, use the official DoD BAH calculator: [travel.dod.mil BAH Rate Lookup](https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/). Enter your rank and ZIP code to see the current rate. Exact BAH rates are verified separately, so always confirm yours before signing a lease or making an offer. For a sense of buying costs, the typical home value in North Pole was about $307,363 as of 2026, according to [Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/home-values/100386/fairbanks-ak-99711/). That is a typical value, not a median sale price. As of the week of June 18, 2026, [Freddie Mac](https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms) reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.47 percent. Whether buying or renting makes more sense depends on how long you expect to be stationed here, so run the numbers for your own situation. Alaska has no state income tax, which is a meaningful financial benefit, and the state pays an annual Permanent Fund Dividend to eligible residents, though the amount and eligibility rules change each year. A VA loan — a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs — is one of the most powerful tools available to eligible service members. Read [what are the benefits of a VA loan](/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-va-loan) and our [complete guide to buying your first home with a VA loan](/blog/complete-guide-to-buying-your-first-home-with-a-va-loan). ## Schools Near Eielson AFB The schools your children attend depend on where you live. The North Pole and Eielson area is served by the [Fairbanks North Star Borough School District](https://www.k12northstar.org/), which operates schools throughout the region including several in North Pole. North Pole High School, North Pole Middle School, and North Pole Elementary School serve families in the community closest to the base. Families who settle in Fairbanks have access to a wider range of programs within the same district, including Advanced Placement options. Confirm the assigned school for any specific address before you commit, as boundaries can shift. ## Healthcare: 354th Medical Group On-base medical care at Eielson AFB is provided by the [354th Medical Group](https://eielson.tricare.mil/) (354th MDG), the Military Treatment Facility, or MTF, at Eielson. It offers primary care, family health, flight medicine, and related services for eligible patients. For specialty or inpatient care, [Bassett Army Community Hospital](https://bassett-wainwright.tricare.mil/) at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks also serves the greater Fairbanks area and provides a broader range of surgical and specialty services. Your coverage runs through TRICARE, the health care program for service members and their families. Set up your TRICARE plan early. Update your information in DEERS — the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System — choose or transfer your plan, and request any referrals before you arrive so there is no gap in care. In interior Alaska, getting healthcare sorted before you land matters more than it might elsewhere. ## Climate and Things to Do Fairbanks and the surrounding area have a subarctic climate. According to the [National Weather Service in Fairbanks](https://www.weather.gov/afg/localClimate), interior Alaska sees very cold winters and relatively mild summers. January temperatures regularly drop well below zero degrees Fahrenheit, and extreme cold events reaching minus 40 or colder are not unusual. The daylight swing is equally striking: nearly 22 hours in late June, fewer than 4 hours in late December. Before you arrive, invest in cold-weather gear for the whole family and winterize your vehicle. Many Eielson families use engine block heaters to keep cars from freezing overnight. If you are shipping a vehicle, confirm the oil, battery, and fluids are rated for extreme cold. Starting a car in a Fairbanks January is a different experience than most of the lower 48 prepares you for. The trade-off is extraordinary. Interior Alaska is one of the best places on earth to see the aurora borealis, or northern lights, visible on clear nights from roughly August through April. [Chena Hot Springs Resort](https://chenahotsprings.com/), about 65 miles northeast of Fairbanks, is a favorite: soaking in outdoor hot springs while the aurora moves overhead is hard to beat. The resort's Aurora Ice Museum keeps ice sculptures year-round at 25 degrees Fahrenheit. [Chena Lake Recreation Area](https://www.travelalaska.com/destinations/cities-towns/chena-hot-springs), a roughly 2,000-acre park just outside North Pole, offers trails, lakes, and fishing close to the base. ## Plan Your PCS to Eielson AFB A smooth move comes down to good information and the right people. Start with our overview of [what military bases are in Alaska](/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-alaska) and our [PCS to Fort Wainwright guide](/blog/pcs-to-fort-wainwright-fairbanks-2026-guide) for the other Fairbanks installation. To keep your timeline on track, use [the ultimate PCS checklist and timeline for active-duty military personnel](/blog/the-ultimate-pcs-checklist-and-timeline-for-active-duty-military-personnel). And if you are thinking about buying, read [what are the benefits of a VA loan](/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-va-loan) and our [complete guide to buying your first home with a VA loan](/blog/complete-guide-to-buying-your-first-home-with-a-va-loan). When you want a local read on a specific neighborhood, current listings, or pricing in the Fairbanks area, you can ask Dino DeAngelis, a VeteranPCS agent in the Fairbanks area, for current listings and prices. If you plan to use your VA loan, you can also [connect with a VeteranPCS lender](https://www.veteranpcs.com/contact-lender). Know another family with orders to Eielson AFB? Share this guide with your military network so they can plan their move too. For agents and lenders across the state, [connect with our VeteranPCS network in Alaska](https://www.veteranpcs.com/alaska). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What MHA or area is Eielson AFB in for BAH? Eielson AFB falls within the Fairbanks, Alaska Military Housing Area for BAH purposes. Your rate depends on your rank and whether you have dependents. Look up your exact figure with the official [DoD BAH calculator](https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/) using your rank and ZIP code. ### Where do military families live near Eielson AFB? The most common choices are North Pole (about 15 minutes, most services), Moose Creek (shortest commute), Salcha (rural, lower costs), and Fairbanks (about 30 minutes, most amenities). On-base housing is also an option; ask your sponsor and the housing office about availability and wait times. ### How cold does it get near Eielson AFB? Interior Alaska has a subarctic climate. Fairbanks winters regularly drop well below zero Fahrenheit, with extreme cold events reaching minus 40 or colder. Summer temperatures are mild and daylight hours are long. The [National Weather Service in Fairbanks](https://www.weather.gov/afg/localClimate) publishes local normals and records. ### Which school district serves families near Eielson AFB? The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District serves the North Pole and Fairbanks area. North Pole has its own high school, middle school, and elementary school. Information on schools and boundaries is at [k12northstar.org](https://www.k12northstar.org/). Confirm the assigned school for any specific address before you commit. ### Where do I get healthcare at Eielson AFB? Primary care is at the [354th Medical Group](https://eielson.tricare.mil/) on base. For a broader range of specialty and inpatient services, [Bassett Army Community Hospital](https://bassett-wainwright.tricare.mil/) at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks also serves the area. Set up your TRICARE plan and update your DEERS records early in your PCS. ### Do I need to winterize my vehicle for Alaska? Yes. Before shipping or driving a vehicle to interior Alaska, confirm the battery, oil, and coolant are rated for extreme cold and install a block heater if one is not already fitted. Talk to your sponsor or the base transportation office for current shipping guidance. This content is for informational purposes. Consult a professional for personal financial decisions.