--- title: What Military Bases are in California? slug: what-military-bases-are-in-california description: >- All 44 California military bases by branch—Camp Pendleton, Edwards AFB, Fort Irwin and more—plus 2026 BAH and PCS housing help. Find a military-friendly agent. publishedAt: '2023-10-14T01:19:32.000Z' updatedAt: '2026-07-19T00:00:00.000Z' author: VeteranPCS categories: - U.S. Military Bases canonical: 'https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-california' componentSlug: us-military-bases stateSlug: california --- # What Military Bases are in California? California has the **largest military population** in the United States, with over **157,000 active-duty personnel** and **more than 800,000 veterans**. The military contributes **over $90 billion annually** to the state's economy and supports **over 700,000 jobs**. Planning a 2026 move? Your housing budget starts with your allowance, so see our [2026 BAH rates explainer](/blog/2026-bah-rates-what-changed-and-how-to-check-yours) for what changed this year, and our [San Diego BAH 2026 guide](/blog/san-diego-bah-2026-what-your-allowance-covers) if you have orders to the state's largest Navy hub. The state is home to **44 military installations**, supporting every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the **Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force**. ## **List of Military Bases in California** ### **U.S. Coast Guard Bases** - **Air Station Sacramento** - **Air Station San Francisco** - **Base Alameda** - **Sector Humboldt Bay** - **Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach** - **Sector San Diego** - **Sector San Francisco** - **USCGC Aspen** - **USCGC George Cobb** - **TRACEN Petaluma** ### **U.S. Air Force Bases** - **Beale Air Force Base** - **Edwards Air Force Base** - **Los Angeles Air Force Base** - **March Air Reserve Base** - **Travis Air Force Base** - **Vandenberg Space Force Base** ### **U.S. Army Bases** - **Camp Parks PRFTA** - **Fort Hunter Liggett** - **Fort Irwin** - **Monterey Presidio** - **Sierra Army Depot** ### **U.S. Marine Corps Bases** - **Camp Pendleton** - **Camp Roberts** - **Camp San Luis Obispo** - **Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms** - **Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center** - **Marine Corps Air Station Miramar** - **Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow** - **Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego** ### **U.S. Navy Bases** - **Naval Air Facility El Centro** - **Naval Air Station Lemoore** - **Naval Base Coronado** - **Naval Base Point Loma** - **Naval Base San Diego** - **Naval Base Ventura County** - **Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake** - **Naval Support Activity Monterey** - **Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach** ### **Joint and Specialized Bases** - **Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos** - **Military Ocean Terminal Concord** - **San Joaquin Depot** ## **Featured Military Bases in California** ### **1. Air Station Sacramento** **Location:** Sacramento, CA **Mission:** Medium-range patrols & search-and-rescue - **Commissioned in 1978** - **Operates 6 HC-27J Spartan aircraft** - Notable missions: **Challenger disaster (1986), Deepwater Horizon response (2010)** Visit Air Station Sacramento ### **2. Beale Air Force Base** **Location:** Marysville, CA **Mission:** High-altitude reconnaissance and refueling operations - **Home to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing** - Operates **U-2 Dragon Lady & RQ-4 Global Hawk** - Established in **1942 as Camp Beale**, converted to an Air Force base in **1948** Visit Beale Air Force Base ### **3. Camp Pendleton** **Location:** Oceanside, CA **Mission:** Largest Marine Corps training base - **Established in 1942** - **Over 125,000 acres** of training grounds - Trained Marines for **D-Day, Korea, Vietnam, and Middle East operations** Visit Camp Pendleton ### **4. Edwards Air Force Base** **Location:** Kern County, CA **Mission:** Flight testing and space exploration - **Largest Air Force base by land area** - Home to **NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center** - **First supersonic flight (1947) & first Space Shuttle landing (1981)** Visit Edwards Air Force Base ### **5. Fort Irwin (National Training Center)** **Location:** Barstow, CA **Mission:** Combat training for Army units - **Established in 1940** - **Realistic desert warfare training** - Supports **brigade-level combat simulations** Visit Fort Irwin ### **6. Los Angeles Air Force Base** **Location:** El Segundo, CA **Mission:** Space and missile system development - **Home to Space Systems Command (SSC)** - Develops **GPS, satellite communications, and space-based defense systems** Visit Los Angeles Air Force Base ### **7. March Air Reserve Base** **Location:** Riverside, CA **Mission:** Air mobility & reserve operations - **Established in 1918** - Operates **C-17 Globemaster III & KC-135 Stratotanker** Visit March Air Reserve Base ### **8. Naval Base San Diego** **Location:** San Diego, CA **Mission:** Largest U.S. Navy surface ship base - **Established in 1919** - **Homeport of the Pacific Fleet** - Supports **over 50 ships & 150 tenant commands** Visit Naval Base San Diego ### **9. Travis Air Force Base** **Location:** Fairfield, CA **Mission:** Largest U.S. Air Force cargo & passenger terminal - **Home to 60th Air Mobility Wing** - Operates **C-5M Super Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, and KC-10 Extender** Visit Travis Air Force Base ### **10. Vandenberg Space Force Base** **Location:** Lompoc, CA **Mission:** Space launch & missile defense - **Transferred to Space Force in 2021** - Supports **satellite launches and missile testing** Visit Vandenberg Space Force Base ## **Moving to California? We Can Help!** If you're **PCSing to California**, our **VeteranPCS agents and lenders** can assist with: - **Finding a military-friendly real estate agent** - **Navigating the VA Loan process** - **Exploring housing options near California military installations** ## Plan Your PCS to California If San Diego is on your orders, our guide to [military-friendly San Diego neighborhoods and resources](/blog/pcsing-to-san-diego-top-military-friendly-neighborhoods-and-resources) breaks down where families tend to settle, and our roundup of the [best things to do near San Diego's bases](/blog/top-things-to-do-near-san-diego-military-bases) helps you get a feel for the area before you arrive. To keep the move itself on track, work through our [ultimate PCS checklist and timeline](/blog/the-ultimate-pcs-checklist-and-timeline-for-active-duty-military-personnel), and if you are weighing whether to buy, learn about [the benefits of a VA loan](/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-va-loan) for your purchase. When you are ready for a local read on a specific base or neighborhood, you can ask a VeteranPCS agent in California for current listings and prices. Know another family with orders to California? Share this guide with your military network so they can plan their move with real numbers too.