--- title: 'PCS to Fort Hood: A 2026 Guide for Military Families in Killeen' slug: pcs-to-fort-hood-killeen-2026-guide description: >- Planning a PCS to Fort Hood (formerly Fort Cavazos) in 2026? See where to live near Killeen, plus BAH, schools, and healthcare. Connect with a local agent. publishedAt: '2025-08-04T09:00:00.000Z' updatedAt: '2026-06-20T00:00:00.000Z' author: VeteranPCS categories: - PCS Help - US Military Bases canonical: 'https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/pcs-to-fort-hood-killeen-2026-guide' componentSlug: pcs-help stateSlug: texas --- # PCS to Fort Hood: A 2026 Guide for Military Families in Killeen Getting orders for a PCS to Fort Hood is a big moment. A PCS, or Permanent Change of Station, is the military's term for a move from one duty station to another. If your next set of orders sends you to Central Texas, this 2026 guide will help you and your family plan with less stress. We will cover where to live near Killeen, how Basic Allowance for Housing works, schools, healthcare, and what there is to do once you arrive. One thing to know up front: this post is named Fort Hood again. It was Fort Hood for most of its history, then Fort Cavazos from 2023 to 2025, and on June 11, 2025 the Army restored the name Fort Hood. The current name honors Col. Robert B. Hood, a World War I officer who earned the Distinguished Service Cross, not the Confederate general the post was first named for, according to the [U.S. Army](https://www.army.mil/article/287396). If you still see "Fort Cavazos" on older maps, signs, or guides, it is the same place. ## What and Where Is Fort Hood? Fort Hood sits in Central Texas, just west of the city of Killeen and about an hour north of Austin. It is one of the largest Army posts in the country and is home to III Armored Corps and the 1st Cavalry Division. The installation's mission is built around III Armored Corps, which the Army describes as one of its premier warfighting headquarters, ready to deploy globally and conduct large-scale operations ([U.S. Army Fort Hood](https://home.army.mil/hood/about/mission-and-vision)). The post anchors a string of communities in Bell and Coryell counties. Killeen sits right outside the main gates, with Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, Nolanville, Belton, and Temple all within an easy drive. Together they form a metro area built around military life, so you will find plenty of neighbors who understand PCS season, deployments, and what it means to start over in a new town. ## Where to Live When PCSing to Fort Hood Choosing where to live is often the first big decision of any PCS. The good news is that the communities around Fort Hood are close together, so your commute stays manageable no matter which one you pick. The chart below shows rough drive times to help you compare. ![Approximate one-way drive times from Central Texas communities to Fort Hood, including Killeen, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, Nolanville, Belton, and Temple.](/images/blog/pcs-to-fort-hood-killeen-2026-guide/where-to-live.png) *Approximate one-way drive times to Fort Hood. Times vary with traffic and which gate you use.* ### Killeen Killeen is the city right outside the main gates and the closest option for most families. It has the largest housing market in the area and a school district that serves more than 40,000 students ([Killeen ISD About page](https://www.killeenisd.org/page/about-kisd)). If you want the shortest commute and the most home choices at different price points, Killeen is the natural starting point. ### Harker Heights Harker Heights sits just east of Killeen and is the third-largest city in Bell County, with a population over 33,000 ([City of Harker Heights](https://harkerheights.gov/)). Families often choose it for its newer neighborhoods and quieter feel while still keeping a short drive to the East Range and the post's east-side gates. ### Copperas Cove Copperas Cove is on the west side of the installation in Coryell County. It has its own school district serving about 7,800 students and a small-town pace that many families like ([Copperas Cove ISD](https://www.ccisd.com/)). If your work takes you to the west side of the post, "the Cove" can mean a quicker drive than crossing through Killeen. ### Nolanville Nolanville is a smaller community between Harker Heights and Belton along Highway 190. It offers a quieter, more rural feel with newer subdivisions going in, and it still keeps you close to the post and to Belton Lake. ### Belton and Temple Belton and Temple sit a bit farther east along Interstate 14 and Interstate 35. Belton ISD serves roughly 13,700 students across its campuses ([Belton ISD via NCES](https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?ID2=4815240)). These towns trade a slightly longer commute for more space, a college-town feel in Belton, and access to bigger medical and shopping options in Temple. ## Fort Hood BAH and the Cost of Living BAH stands for Basic Allowance for Housing. It is the monthly amount the military pays toward your rent or mortgage when you live off post. Your exact BAH depends on three things: your rank, whether you have dependents, and your Military Housing Area, or MHA. An MHA is the local zone the Department of Defense uses to set rates. Fort Hood falls inside the Killeen-Fort Hood, TX military housing area. Because rates change every year and vary by rank, we do not publish a rate table here. Instead, look up your exact figure on the official Department of Defense BAH calculator ([DoD BAH Rate Lookup](https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/)). Enter your rank, dependent status, and the Killeen ZIP code, and you will get your current rate. We verify exact dollar amounts separately, so treat the calculator as your source of truth. The good news for your budget is that Central Texas housing tends to stretch a military paycheck further than many coastal markets. As one reference point, Zillow listed the typical home value in Killeen at about $226,859 in May 2026 (typical value, not a median sale price) ([Zillow Killeen home values](https://www.zillow.com/home-values/5424/killeen-tx/)). Rents and home prices vary by neighborhood, so use this only as a rough sense of the market and not a promise of what you will pay. ## Schools Near Fort Hood Families with children usually weigh schools heavily during a PCS. The area is served by several public districts. Killeen Independent School District is the largest, serving more than 40,000 students, and covers much of Killeen and Harker Heights ([Killeen ISD About page](https://www.killeenisd.org/page/about-kisd)). Copperas Cove ISD serves the west-side community with roughly 7,800 students ([Copperas Cove ISD](https://www.ccisd.com/)), and Belton ISD serves the Belton area with about 13,700 students ([Belton ISD via NCES](https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?ID2=4815240)). Where you live decides which district your children attend, so it pays to check the boundaries before you sign a lease or buy a home. A local agent who knows the neighborhoods can help you match a home to the school you want. ## Healthcare: Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center is the Army hospital that serves Fort Hood. It cares for service members, their families, and veterans, and it operates around the clock ([Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on TRICARE](https://www.tricare.mil/GettingCare/FindDoctor/MTF/Facilities/Carl-R-Darnall-Army-Medical-Center)). The medical center handles primary care, specialty services, and emergencies for the Fort Hood community. Your military health coverage comes through TRICARE, the health plan for service members and their families. Set up your TRICARE enrollment early in your PCS so your coverage and your new doctor are ready when you arrive. If you are not sure what to do first, the TRICARE site and the medical center's patient resources walk you through enrollment and appointments step by step. ## Climate and Things to Do Central Texas has a warm climate with long, hot summers, so plan for plenty of sun once you settle in. Killeen is served by the National Weather Service Fort Worth office, where you can check the local forecast before your move and as the seasons change ([National Weather Service forecast for Killeen, TX](https://forecast.weather.gov/zipcity.php?inputstring=Killeen,TX)). The water makes the heat easier to handle. Two reservoirs sit close to the post. Stillhouse Hollow Lake, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, offers fishing, camping, and boating across thousands of acres of water just southwest of Belton ([Stillhouse Hollow Lake, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers](https://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/stillhouse/)). On Belton Lake, the post runs the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area, known as BLORA, with camping, a swim beach, trails, and paddleboarding open to the Fort Hood community ([Fort Hood MWR outdoor recreation](https://hood.armymwr.com/)). Between the lakes, the parks, and a quick drive to Austin, there is plenty to fill a weekend. ## Plan Your PCS to Fort Hood A smooth move comes down to good information and the right local help. For a deeper look at neighborhoods, start with our guide to the [best places to live near Fort Hood](/blog/best-places-to-live-near-fort-hood), and see how Fort Hood fits among the [other military bases in Texas](/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-texas). To keep your timeline on track, use the [ultimate PCS checklist and timeline](/blog/the-ultimate-pcs-checklist-and-timeline-for-active-duty-military-personnel). If you plan to buy, our [complete guide to buying your first home with a VA loan](/blog/complete-guide-to-buying-your-first-home-with-a-va-loan) and our list of [10 essential questions for first-time military home buyers](/blog/10-essential-questions-for-first-time-military-home-buyers) will get you ready before you ever tour a house. When you want a local read on a specific Killeen-area neighborhood and its Fort Hood commute, you can ask Mario Rodriguez, a VeteranPCS agent in Killeen, for current listings and prices. If you plan to use your VA loan (a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs), you can also connect with Carlo Colantonio, a VeteranPCS lender licensed in Texas. Know another family with orders to Fort Hood? 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 Texas](https://www.veteranpcs.com/texas). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Fort Hood the same as Fort Cavazos? Yes. This is the same post just west of Killeen, Texas. It was named Fort Hood, then Fort Cavazos from 2023 to 2025, and the Army restored the name Fort Hood on June 11, 2025 ([U.S. Army](https://www.army.mil/article/287396)). The current name honors Col. Robert B. Hood, a World War I Distinguished Service Cross recipient, not the Confederate general the post was first named for. The location, mission, and units are the same. Older guides and signs that still say "Fort Cavazos" are referring to today's Fort Hood. ### What MHA or area is Fort Hood in for BAH? Fort Hood is in the Killeen-Fort Hood, TX Military Housing Area. Your exact BAH depends on your rank and whether you have dependents, so look up your rate on the [official DoD BAH calculator](https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/) using a local Killeen ZIP code. ### Where should I live when I PCS to Fort Hood? Most families start with Killeen for the shortest commute and the widest range of homes, then compare it with Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, Nolanville, Belton, and Temple. Your choice usually comes down to which gate you use, the schools you want, and how much space you need. A local agent can match a neighborhood to your commute and budget. ### What school districts serve the Fort Hood area? Several public districts serve the area, including Killeen ISD, Copperas Cove ISD, and Belton ISD ([Killeen ISD](https://www.killeenisd.org/page/about-kisd)). The district your children attend depends on where you live, so confirm school boundaries before you choose a home. ### Where is the hospital for Fort Hood? Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center is the Army hospital that serves the Fort Hood community, providing care for service members, families, and veterans around the clock ([Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on TRICARE](https://www.tricare.mil/GettingCare/FindDoctor/MTF/Facilities/Carl-R-Darnall-Army-Medical-Center)). Set up your TRICARE enrollment early so your care is ready when you arrive. This content is for informational purposes. Consult a professional for personal financial decisions.