Alaska
Eielson Air Force Base
📍 Fairbanks, Alaska
Home to the 354th Fighter Wing flying F-35A Lightning IIs, Eielson provides strategic Arctic and Pacific theater airpower projection near Fairbanks.
BAH Rates
MHA: AK003 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$2,091/mo
E-5 with Dependents$2,349/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,881/mo
O-3 with Dependents$2,877/mo
O-3 without Dependents$2,439/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Privatized housing through Aurora Military Housing — single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes; wait lists 0-6 months; homes are well-insulated with attached garages (essential for -40°F winters); all homes have blackout shades for the midnight sun in summer
- Off-base (North Pole): 10-15 min commute, the closest community; rentals $1,200-$1,800/month; small-town Alaskan feel with the famous Santa Claus House attraction
- Off-base (Fairbanks): 25-35 min commute; larger city with more amenities; rentals $1,200-$2,200/month; more diverse housing stock including apartments and condos
- Off-base (Salcha / rural): 15-30 min, log cabins and homes on acreage, well water and septic, the true Alaskan experience — popular with those wanting privacy and space
- Note: Winter is extreme — expect -30°F to -50°F regularly January-February; block heaters, battery warmers, and winter emergency kits are mandatory; OHA covers utilities; expect $300-500/month heating in winter for off-base homes
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- North Pole — 10-15 min commute, closest town to base, strong military community, North Pole schools, small-town feel with essential amenities (Safeway, restaurants, hardware)
- Badger Road area — 10-20 min, rural-suburban mix between North Pole and Fairbanks, larger lots, popular with families wanting space
- Fairbanks (east side) — 25-30 min commute, more urban amenities, University of Alaska Fairbanks area, hospitals, and shopping accessible
- Goldstream Valley — 30-40 min northwest of Fairbanks, off-grid/homestead feel, log cabins, stunning valley views, popular with the 'sourdough' Alaskan lifestyle crowd
- Salcha — 15-30 min south, rural riverfront community along the Tanana River, log homes on acreage, very private, longer commute on Richardson Highway
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Anderson Elementary (DoDEA)⭐ 6/10
On-base, K-5, military community
North Pole Elementary⭐ 5/10
North Pole area, close to base
Midnight Sun Elementary⭐ 5/10
North Pole/Fairbanks area
Denali Elementary⭐ 5/10
Fairbanks, diverse
🏫 Middle Schools
Ben Eielson Junior High (DoDEA)⭐ 6/10
On-base, grades 6-8
North Pole Middle School⭐ 4/10
North Pole, closest off-base option
Tanana Middle School⭐ 4/10
Fairbanks area
🏫 High Schools
Ben Eielson High School (DoDEA)⭐ 6/10
On-base, strong for a small school
North Pole High School⭐ 5/10
North Pole, closest off-base, good CTE
Lathrop High School⭐ 4/10
Fairbanks, larger and more diverse
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Richardson Highway / AK-2) — Primary entry, 24/7, 0-5 min peak waits (traffic is minimal year-round), direct access from North Pole and Fairbanks
- Tip: Eielson has no traffic congestion; the main challenge is winter driving — allow extra time for icy roads and limited visibility during snow events
- Note: The base and Fairbanks area can experience ice fog at -30°F and below — drive with headlights on and at reduced speed; Richardson Highway is well-maintained but can be treacherous in whiteout conditions
Internet Providers
- GCI (General Communication Inc.) — Alaska's primary telecom provider; cable internet with speeds up to 1 Gbps in Fairbanks/North Pole areas; data caps apply on lower plans
- Alaska Communications — DSL and fiber in Fairbanks; fiber available in select areas with speeds up to 1 Gbps
- Starlink — Increasingly popular across Interior Alaska; excellent speeds (100-200 Mbps typical) with low latency; game-changing for rural and suburban Alaskan internet access
- Top pick: GCI cable for reliability and speed in populated areas; Starlink for rural Salcha/Goldstream locations where wired options are limited
- Note: GCI has data caps — 500GB-1TB depending on plan; heavy streaming/remote work families should choose the top tier or supplement with Starlink
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary — well-stocked (critical for Interior Alaska where off-base groceries are expensive); shoppette and Class Six
- North Pole: Safeway, Walmart (smaller than Lower 48 stores), local shops and the famous Santa Claus House gift shop
- Fairbanks: Fred Meyer (Kroger, large grocery/everything store), Safeway, Costco (closest is in Fairbanks, 30 min), Home Depot, Sportsman's Warehouse, and the Bentley Mall
- Groceries: On-base commissary is the best value (no tax, reasonable prices); off-base Fred Meyer and Safeway; the Tanana Valley Farmers Market (Fairbanks, summer) for world-famous Alaska-grown giant vegetables, produce, and crafts
- Dining: The Pump House (Fairbanks, historic riverfront fine dining), Silver Gulch Brewing (Fox, 20 min, America's northernmost brewery), Pagoda (North Pole, Chinese), and the Turtle Club (Fairbanks, legendary prime rib since 1965)
- Anchorage (6.5 hrs drive or 1 hr flight): The only city in Alaska with Lower-48-scale shopping — Costco, Target, malls, and extensive dining; many Fairbanks families do monthly or quarterly Anchorage Costco runs
Gyms & Recreation
- Eielson AFB Fitness Center — 24/7 with cardio, free weights, functional fitness, indoor basketball, and a running track; modern facility essential for winter fitness; indoor pool on base (Iceman Aquatic Center) for year-round swimming
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Winter: cross-country skis, snowshoes, fat-tire bikes, ice fishing gear; Summer: camping, fishing, kayaking, canoes, RVs; organized trips including Chena Hot Springs, Denali, and Arctic Circle tours
- On-base: Bowling alley, auto hobby shop (with heated bays — essential for winter DIY), community center, library, and the Yukon Club for events and dining
- Birch Hill Recreation Area (on-base!) — 20+ km of groomed cross-country ski trails, one of the best Nordic ski areas in Interior Alaska; summer hiking and mountain biking on the same trails; biathlon range and programs
- Chena River State Recreation Area (30-60 min) — World-class grayling and salmon fishing, the Granite Tors trail for backpacking, and Chena Hot Springs Resort (1 hr) — natural hot springs, aurora viewing tours, and the Aurora Ice Museum
- Aurora borealis — Eielson/Fairbanks is one of the best places on Earth to see the Northern Lights (August-April); under the auroral oval, clear winter nights offer spectacular displays visible from your backyard
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers; USAJobs for GS/WG positions supporting the 354th FW; federal civilian positions are common given the remote location
- Defense contractors: Lockheed Martin (F-35 support), Boeing, and various facilities/maintenance contractors for the Arctic infrastructure
- Fairbanks economy: University of Alaska Fairbanks (largest employer), healthcare (Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Tanana Chiefs Conference health services), oil/gas (Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Alyeska Pipeline), and tourism (aurora, Denali, hunting/fishing)
- Anchorage remote/hybrid (6.5 hr drive): Some spouses work for Anchorage-based employers with hybrid remote arrangements (monthly on-site); the 1-hour flight makes this more viable than the drive
- Remote work: Excellent option — Alaska time zone (1 hr behind Pacific) works well for West Coast remote jobs; Starlink and GCI provide solid internet; no state income tax in Alaska (plus the Permanent Fund Dividend for residents — ~$1,000-$2,000/year per person)
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides job search support; the ALASKA OCONUS location means unique allowances (COLA) and the Permanent Fund Dividend opportunity after establishing residency
Local Attractions
- Aurora borealis — Eielson and the Fairbanks area sit directly under the auroral oval; August through April, clear nights offer spectacular Northern Lights displays; Chena Hot Springs and Cleary Summit are famous viewing spots
- Denali National Park (2.5 hrs south) — North America's tallest peak at 20,310 ft; wildlife viewing (grizzlies, caribou, moose, wolves), the 92-mile Park Road, and hiking in 6 million acres of wilderness — a life-changing weekend trip
- Chena Hot Springs (1 hr) — Natural geothermal hot springs resort; soak in the outdoor rock lake pool while it's -30°F, tour the Aurora Ice Museum, and view the Northern Lights from the heated yurt
- Arctic Circle (4.5 hrs drive north on the Dalton Highway) — Cross the Arctic Circle, visit the Yukon River Camp, and experience the Brooks Range; a true Alaskan adventure
- Museum of the North (UAF, Fairbanks) — World-class museum of Alaska art, history, and natural science; the architecture alone (inspired by glaciers and the aurora) is worth the visit
- Midnight Sun (May-July) — 22+ hours of daylight at summer solstice; the Midnight Sun Baseball Game (starts at 10:30 PM with no artificial lights), 24-hour golf, and endless summer adventure energy
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
F-35A Lightning II of the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson AFB
base
KC-135 Stratotanker de-icing at Eielson — Arctic airpower operations at -40°F
neighborhood
The aurora borealis dancing over Fairbanks — a regular sight from Eielson
nature
The aurora borealis over Interior Alaska — one of Earth's greatest light shows
downtown
The Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska — 10 minutes from Eielson
restaurant
Fresh Alaskan salmon at Silver Gulch Brewing — Fairbanks dining near base