Oklahoma
Altus Air Force Base
📍 Altus, Oklahoma
Home to the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB is the Air Force's premier training base for C-17, KC-135, and KC-46 aircrews.
BAH Rates
MHA: OK088 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,158/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,281/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,005/mo
O-3 with Dependents$1,623/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,194/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Privatized housing through Hunt Military Communities — single-family homes and townhomes; wait lists generally short (0-4 months) for most ranks; 3- and 4-bedroom floor plans with attached garages common
- Off-base (Altus): Most families rent in Altus proper — 5-15 min commute; rental homes $700-$1,200/month; BAH covers comfortably with money left over
- Off-base (surrounding): Some families choose Blair, Martha, or Mangum (10-25 min) for more land and quieter settings; lower cost but fewer amenities
- Top pick: Northeast Altus near the golf course and high school — newest construction, quiet streets, 5-8 min to gate
- Note: Altus housing market is affordable — typical 3BR/2BA rental under BAH; buying is also viable with homes $100K-$200K; property taxes are low compared to national average
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Northeast Altus — 5-8 min to base, newest residential area, close to golf course, Altus HS district, quiet and family-oriented
- Central Altus — 5-10 min commute, established neighborhoods with mature trees, historic homes near downtown, walkable to shops and restaurants on Commerce Street
- West Altus / Falcon Road area — 3-5 min to base gate, mix of rentals and owner-occupied, very short commute, popular with junior enlisted
- Blair — 10-15 min north on US-283, small town feel, very quiet, excellent for families wanting space, Blair Public Schools are small but well-regarded
- Mangum — 25 min west, slightly larger than Blair, Greer County seat, charming downtown with antique shops and the historic Mangum Agricultural Building
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Rivers Elementary⭐ 5/10
Altus, close to base
Sunset Elementary⭐ 5/10
Altus
🏫 Middle Schools
Altus Intermediate School⭐ 5/10
Altus, local public
Altus Junior High School⭐ 4/10
Close to base
🏫 High Schools
Altus High School⭐ 5/10
Close to base, diverse
Navajo High School⭐ 5/10
Smaller alternative
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Falcon Road) — Primary entry from Altus, 24/7 operations, 0-5 min peak waits (6:30-8:00 AM), direct access to the main base area and flightline
- South Gate — Secondary entry used during peak hours; shorter waits but limited hours (typically 0600-1800 weekdays)
- Tip: Altus has minimal traffic — even peak 'rush' is 2-5 min at the gate; the base is integrated into the community and commutes are easy
- Note: The base is compact and walkable once inside — most offices, the Exchange, and the commissary are within a 10-min walk from central parking
Internet Providers
- Cable One (Sparklight) — Primary cable provider in Altus; speeds up to 1 Gbps; reliable coverage across the city and surrounding areas
- AT&T — DSL and fiber expanding in Altus; fiber available in select neighborhoods with speeds up to 1 Gbps
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage in Altus; $50/month unlimited with autopay; solid speeds for remote work
- Pioneer Telephone Cooperative — Serves rural areas outside Altus (Blair, Martha); fiber available in some locations
- Top pick: Cable One (Sparklight) in Altus proper; T-Mobile Home Internet for rural locations
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary — well-stocked for the base size; shoppette and Class Six for essentials
- Downtown Altus: Commerce Street historic district — local boutiques, antique shops, and Western wear stores; the historic Plaza Theatre anchors the district
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base United Supermarkets (2 locations), Walmart Supercenter, and Atwoods for farm/ranch supplies
- Dining: The White Buffalo Grille (local steakhouse institution), El Charro (Tex-Mex favorite), and The Plaza restaurant in the historic theatre building
- Lawton (50 min east): Central Mall, Target, Best Buy, and chain restaurants — the nearest city for major retail beyond Walmart
- Oklahoma City (2 hrs northeast) and Wichita Falls, TX (1.5 hrs southeast) for major metro shopping weekends
Gyms & Recreation
- Altus AFB Fitness Center — 24/7 facility with cardio, free weights, CrossFit area, indoor basketball court, racquetball, and group fitness classes
- Altus AFB Golf Course (Windy Trails) — 18-hole championship course on-base; well-maintained with a driving range, pro shop, and clubhouse restaurant; very affordable greens fees
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Camping and fishing gear rentals; trips to Quartz Mountain, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, and Lake Altus-Lugert
- On-base: Bowling alley, community center, sports fields, seasonal outdoor pool, library, and the Windy Trails community park
- Lake Altus-Lugert (20 min north) — 6,500-acre lake for boating, fishing (walleye, bass, catfish), camping, and swimming; Quartz Mountain Resort on the lake with lodge and cabins
- Quartz Mountain Nature Park (20 min north) — Granite peaks rising from the red earth, hiking trails, rock climbing, the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, and stunning high-plains scenery
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers for spouses; USAJobs for GS/WG positions supporting the 97th AMW training mission
- Defense contractors: Boeing and Lockheed Martin have small Altus presences supporting C-17 and KC-46 training; smaller opportunities compared to major ALC bases
- Local economy: Altus is an agricultural center — Jackson County Memorial Hospital, Altus Public Schools, and Western Oklahoma State College are major employers
- Oklahoma City metro (2 hrs): Wide range of corporate and government employers; too far for daily commuting but viable for hybrid/remote with occasional in-office days
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides job search assistance, resume workshops, and federal employment guidance
- Remote work: Excellent option for Altus spouses — low cost of living + BAH means remote income goes far; fast internet widely available
Local Attractions
- Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (45 min east) — 59,000 acres of granite mountains, prairie grasslands, and free-roaming bison, elk, and Texas longhorn cattle; Mount Scott summit drive for panoramic views; world-class rock climbing and hiking
- Quartz Mountain Nature Park (20 min north) — Red granite peaks at Lake Altus-Lugert; hiking, rock climbing, boating, and the historic Quartz Mountain Resort lodge; stunning sunsets over the water
- Museum of the Western Prairie (Altus) — Local history museum covering Southwest Oklahoma settlement, ranching heritage, and Native American culture
- Oklahoma City (2 hrs) — Oklahoma City National Memorial, Bricktown entertainment district, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and Myriad Botanical Gardens
- Medicine Park (50 min east) — Historic cobblestone resort town at the entrance to the Wichita Mountains; boutique shops, swimming holes in Medicine Creek, and the Old Plantation Restaurant
- Great Plains State Park (45 min north) — Tom Steed Reservoir for excellent fishing, boating, and camping; quieter alternative to Lake Altus-Lugert
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
C-17 Globemaster III of the 97th Air Mobility Wing on the Altus AFB flightline
base
Aerial view of Altus Air Force Base and the city of Altus, Oklahoma
neighborhood
Historic downtown Altus — Commerce Street and the Plaza Theatre district
nature
Quartz Mountain Nature Park — granite peaks and prairie at Lake Altus-Lugert
downtown
Downtown Altus — the historic Plaza Theatre and shopping district
restaurant
Altus AFB community event — strong family support on base