---
title: What Military Bases are in California?
slug: what-military-bases-are-in-california
description: California air force bases and active military posts—Edwards AFB & Camp Pendleton included—plus PCS housing tips, VA-loan guidance, and agent matches.
publishedAt: 2023-10-14T01:19:32.000Z
updatedAt: 2026-05-02T00:00:00.000Z
author: VeteranPCS
categories: [US Military Bases]
canonical: https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-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**.

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**