Louisiana
Barksdale Air Force Base
📍 Bossier City, Louisiana
Headquarters of Air Force Global Strike Command, home to the 2nd Bomb Wing operating the B-52H Stratofortress bomber fleet.
BAH Rates
MHA: LA001 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,356/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,593/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,212/mo
O-3 with Dependents$1,983/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,491/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Barksdale Family Housing (Hunt Military Communities) — mix of historic brick homes and newer construction; waitlists vary, generally shorter than most bases
- Off-base: Bossier City, Haughton, and Benton — median single-family homes $220k-$350k, among the most affordable near any CONUS base
- BAH: Shreveport-Bossier BAH is moderate but housing costs are so low it stretches far — many families buy homes on a single income
- Top pick: Benton and north Bossier — better schools, newer construction, 15-25 min commute; the area north of I-220 is the sweet spot for families
- Note: Low cost of living and favorable housing market make Barksdale one of the easiest bases to become a homeowner at; USDA loans widely available in rural-adjacent areas
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Benton — Top school district in the area, growing suburb with new construction, 20-25 min north of base; strong family community and low crime
- North Bossier City (Legacy/Plantation Trace) — 10-20 min commute, newer subdivisions, decent schools (Bossier Parish), extensive shopping along Airline Drive corridor
- Haughton — Rural/suburban mix east of base, 15-25 min commute, more land and space per dollar, Haughton schools improving steadily
- Shreveport (South Highlands/Broadmoor) — Historic neighborhoods with character, 20-30 min commute across the river, but schools in Caddo Parish are less consistent than Bossier
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Kerr Elementary⭐ 6/10
Bossier City, close to base
W.T. Lewis Elementary⭐ 8/10
Bossier City, top-rated
Sun City Elementary⭐ 6/10
Bossier City
🏫 Middle Schools
Cope Middle School⭐ 6/10
Bossier City, strong
Greenacres Middle School⭐ 5/10
Near Barksdale
Elm Grove Middle School⭐ 7/10
South Bossier
🏫 High Schools
Airline High School⭐ 6/10
Bossier City, close to base
Parkway High School⭐ 7/10
South Bossier, top-rated
Benton High School⭐ 7/10
Growing area, strong programs
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Barksdale Blvd/Airline Dr) — Primary entry, 5-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:00 AM), direct access from I-20 and Airline Drive
- North Gate (I-220) — Serves north Bossier/Benton commuters, 5-10 min peak, quieter and faster for those living north
- Industrial Gate — Access to flightline and industrial areas
- Note: Barksdale gate traffic is generally lighter than most major bases; 15 minutes is a bad day here — a notable quality-of-life perk
Internet Providers
- Comcast Xfinity — Dominant provider in Shreveport-Bossier, plans up to 1.2 Gbps; solid coverage across the metro area
- AT&T — DSL and expanding fiber in newer subdivisions; fiber concentrated in Bossier City and Shreveport proper
- T-Mobile/Verizon 5G Home — Fixed wireless expanding; decent coverage in suburban areas
- Top pick: Xfinity Gigabit for speed; AT&T Fiber where available for symmetrical speeds
Shopping & Dining
- Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets (Bossier City) — Riverfront outlet mall with 60+ stores, Bass Pro Shops, restaurants, and live entertainment overlooking the Red River
- Youree Drive corridor (Shreveport) — Major retail spine with Target, Best Buy, mall, and extensive chain dining
- Groceries: Brookshire's (local chain), Kroger, Walmart Supercenters, Sam's Club, and the on-base commissary; farmers' markets in season
- Dining: Ralph & Kacoo's (Cajun/seafood institution), Herby-K's (legendary po-boys since 1936), Orlandeaux's (Creole), and Blind Tiger (riverfront)
- Near-base eats: Flying Heart Brewing, Frozen Pirogue (oyster bar), and low-key Cajun spots all along Airline Drive
Gyms & Recreation
- Barksdale Fitness Center — Well-equipped gym with weight rooms, indoor track, basketball, and racquetball courts
- Outdoor Recreation — Rents camping gear, boats, kayaks at subsidized rates; organized trips to New Orleans, Dallas, and Arkansas outdoor destinations
- On-base: Fox Run Golf Course (18 holes), bowling alley, swimming pools, paintball course, and a rod & gun club
- Fishing/hunting: World-class bass fishing on the Red River and nearby lakes (Caddo, Bistineau, Cross); Louisiana is a sportsman's paradise for hunting seasons
- Caddo Lake: 25 min northwest, hauntingly beautiful cypress swamp, great for kayaking and photography; the largest natural lake in Texas/Louisiana
- Red River District — Shreveport riverfront with casinos, restaurants, and seasonal festivals
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- Defense contractors: Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris all support the B-52 and AFGSC missions; smaller contractors in IT, logistics, and facility maintenance
- Casino/gaming: Louisiana Boardwalk, Margaritaville, Horseshoe, and Sam's Town — gaming is a major Shreveport-Bossier employer
- Healthcare: Willis-Knighton Health System, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, and Christus Shreveport-Bossier
- Education: Bossier Parish Schools, Caddo Parish Schools, and Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS)
- Remote work: Low cost of living makes remote work extremely attractive here; growing remote-worker community in Benton and north Bossier
- Military spouse: Barksdale Employment Readiness provides job search assistance; market is smaller than larger metros but cost of living offsets lower local wages
Local Attractions
- New Orleans (4.5 hrs south) — French Quarter, Bourbon Street, world-class dining and live music; an iconic American weekend trip
- Dallas (3 hrs west) — Major metro with professional sports, shopping, Six Flags, and DFW airport for cheap flights
- Caddo Lake — Mysterious cypress swamp with Spanish moss, bayou boat tours, and incredible birdwatching; feels like another world
- Natchitoches (1 hr south) — Louisiana's oldest city, historic district, and the setting for Steel Magnolias; famous meat pies at Lasyone's
- Hot Springs, Arkansas (2.5 hrs north) — Thermal bathhouses, Oaklawn horse racing, Ouachita Mountains hiking; great weekend getaway
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
B-52H Stratofortress on the Barksdale flight line
neighborhood
New construction homes in Benton, top school district near Barksdale
housing
Historic brick on-base housing at Barksdale
nature
Caddo Lake cypress swamp, 25 minutes from base
downtown
Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets on the Red River
restaurant
Authentic Louisiana crawfish boil at a local spot