If you have orders for a PCS to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, welcome to the Georgia coast. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for an official move between duty stations. Kings Bay is the Navy's east coast home for Trident nuclear-powered submarines, and it sits in one of the quieter, more affordable corners of the Southeast — right where Georgia meets Florida. This 2026 guide covers where to live, how housing pay works, schools, healthcare, and what to expect once you arrive.

What and Where Is Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay?

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay — often called SUBASE Kings Bay — is a U.S. Navy installation in St. Marys, Georgia, in the southeastern corner of the state near the Florida state line. According to the SUBASE Kings Bay welcome page, the base is "the east coast home to Trident nuclear powered submarines."

The installation homeports Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) carrying the Trident II D-5 missile and Ohio-class guided missile submarines (SSGNs). Key tenant commands on the official CNIC tenant commands page include Submarine Group 10, the Naval Submarine Support Center, Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic, the Trident Training Facility, and the Trident Refit Facility.

For a broader look at military installations in the state, see our guide to what military bases are in Georgia. If you are curious about the Navy presence nearby in northeastern Florida, check out our guide to PCS to Naval Station Mayport and NAS Jacksonville.

Where to Live When PCSing to Kings Bay

Most families who move to Kings Bay either live in on-post housing or settle in one of the surrounding communities in Georgia or just across the state line in Florida. Your choice usually comes down to commute, schools, budget, and the feel you want. Note that families on the Georgia side fall under Camden County Schools, while families who live in Florida use Nassau County schools — we cover both below.

Approximate one-way drive times to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Times vary with traffic and which gate you use.

Kingsland

Kingsland is the city directly adjacent to the base and one of the most popular choices for Kings Bay families. The commute is about 10 minutes. It has a good mix of single-family homes, newer subdivisions, apartments, and everyday shopping, and it tends to offer more housing volume than neighboring St. Marys.

St. Marys

St. Marys is the official city address for the base and another 10-minute commute. The historic waterfront district is charming, with restaurants, local shops, and the ferry to Cumberland Island National Seashore. Families who want a small-town feel with community roots often gravitate here.

Woodbine

Woodbine is the county seat of Camden County, about 20 minutes north of the base on Interstate 95. It is quieter and more rural, with lower land prices and a slower pace. Some families find the tradeoff — a slightly longer drive for more space — worth it.

Yulee, Florida

Cross the state line into Nassau County and you are in Yulee, about 25 minutes from the base. Yulee has grown quickly, with newer neighborhoods and good school options under the Nassau County School District. Some families choose Florida for tax reasons (no state income tax in both Georgia and Florida, but property tax structures differ) or because of school preferences.

Fernandina Beach, Florida

Fernandina Beach is on Amelia Island, about 30 minutes from the base. It is a more established coastal town with a historic downtown and beaches. Cost of living runs higher than Yulee or Kingsland, but some families value the beach setting.

Brunswick, Georgia

Brunswick is about 40 minutes north on I-95. It offers more dining, retail, and medical options, and the Golden Isles are just beyond it. Families who want a larger-city feel sometimes choose this end of the corridor.

BAH and the Cost of Living Near Kings Bay

If you live off base, the military helps cover your housing costs through BAH — Basic Allowance for Housing — a monthly, tax-free payment. Your amount depends on your rank, whether you have dependents, and your duty station's Military Housing Area (MHA), the geographic zone the Department of Defense uses to set local pay rates. Because BAH changes each year and varies by rank, we do not publish a rate table. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup with your rank and ZIP code to find your exact figure.

For a sense of buying costs, the typical home value in St. Marys was about $313,042 as of May 31, 2026, according to Zillow. That is a typical value, not a median sale price. Kingsland tends to run slightly lower. As of the week of June 18, 2026, Freddie Mac 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 and your financial picture, so run the numbers for your own situation.

One of the strongest tools for Kings Bay families thinking about buying is a VA loan — a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that requires no down payment for qualified borrowers. If you want a grounding in how it works, start with what are the benefits of a VA loan and how does a 0 down VA loan work. For 2026 limits, see 2026 VA loan limits explained for military homebuyers.

Schools Near Kings Bay

The schools your children attend depend entirely on which side of the Georgia-Florida line you live on — and in some cases, on your specific street address.

Georgia families: Camden County Schools is the public school system serving all of Camden County, including St. Marys, Kingsland, and Woodbine. The district serves approximately 10,000 students across nine elementary schools, two middle schools, and one comprehensive high school with a dedicated ninth grade center. St. Marys Middle School is one of the campuses within the district. Confirm the assigned school for any specific address before you commit.

Florida families: Families who live in Yulee or Fernandina Beach fall under the Nassau County School District. The district serves Nassau County and includes Yulee Elementary, Yulee Middle School, and Yulee High School. Fernandina Beach Middle and Fernandina Beach High School serve families in the Fernandina area. Yulee Middle School and Yulee High School hold Purple Star School of Distinction status for their support of military-connected students, according to the Nassau County School District website.