If you have orders for a PCS to Travis AFB, welcome to Northern California. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for moving from one duty station to another. AFB stands for Air Force Base. Travis is known as the "Gateway to the Pacific," and it sits in Fairfield, in Solano County, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento. This 2026 guide walks you through what to expect when you move here. We will cover where to live, how housing pay works, schools, healthcare, the local climate, and a few things to do once you are settled.

A move is a lot to manage at once. Our goal is to make the Travis part feel a little smaller and a lot clearer.

What and Where Is Travis AFB?

Travis Air Force Base is in Fairfield, California, in Solano County, off Interstate 80 between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. It is the home of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, known as AMW, which is part of Air Mobility Command, or AMC. AMC is the Air Force command that runs airlift and air refueling for the military.

According to the 60th Air Mobility Wing fact sheet, the 60th AMW is the largest air mobility organization in terms of personnel in the Air Force, flying an all-jet fleet of C-5M Super Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, and KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. The wing handles more cargo and passengers than any other military air terminal in the United States, and much of its work is focused on the Pacific and Indian Ocean area. Travis is also the West Coast hub for aeromedical evacuation flights bringing sick or injured patients back from the Pacific.

In plain terms, this is a large, busy installation with a strong community and an easy drive to both the Bay Area and the mountains.

Where to Live When PCSing to Travis AFB

Some families who move to Travis AFB live in on-base housing, so ask your sponsor and the housing office about current options and wait times. Many others settle in one of the surrounding Solano County communities. Your choice usually comes down to commute, schools, budget, and the feel you want.

Approximate one-way drive times to Travis AFB. Times vary with traffic and which gate you use.

Fairfield

Fairfield is the city that surrounds the base, so it is the closest and most popular choice. Most neighborhoods are about 12 minutes from the main gate. You will find everything from older established homes to newer subdivisions, plus shopping, restaurants, and parks. If a short commute is your top priority, start here.

Suisun City

Suisun City sits right next to Fairfield, just south and east, about 12 minutes from the base. It has a walkable waterfront downtown along Suisun Slough and a quieter, small-town feel. Many families like the mix of a short commute and a relaxed pace.

Vacaville

Vacaville is the next city up Interstate 80, roughly 18 minutes from the base. It has grown steadily and offers newer neighborhoods, good schools, and plenty of shopping, including the well-known outlet stores. The slightly longer drive buys you more housing choices.

Vallejo

Vallejo sits to the southwest along Interstate 80, toward the bay, about 25 minutes from the base. It tends to offer more affordable housing and easy access to the wider Bay Area. Weigh the longer commute against the savings and the extra options.

Dixon

Dixon is a smaller farming town northeast of the base, about 25 minutes away off Interstate 80. It offers a rural, slower feel and, for some families, more home and land for the money. The trade-off is fewer big-box stores nearby and a longer drive.

Benicia

Benicia is a historic waterfront city on the Carquinez Strait, about 30 minutes southwest of the base. It has charm, good schools, and bay access, though housing can run higher. It is worth a look if you want a small city near the water and do not mind the commute.

Travis 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. Travis AFB falls within the Fairfield and Vacaville (Solano County) Military Housing Area.

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 calculator: travel.dod.mil 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 Fairfield was about $607,000 in June 2026, according to Zillow. That is a typical value, not a median sale price. As of the week of June 18, 2026, Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.47 percent. California housing runs higher than much of the country, so whether buying or renting makes more sense depends on how long you expect to be stationed here. Run the numbers for your own situation.

Schools Near Travis AFB

The schools your children attend depend on where you live. A couple of districts serve the Travis area.