Washington
Fairchild Air Force Base
📍 Spokane, Washington
Home to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing operating KC-135 Stratotankers, Fairchild is the Air Force's largest refueling wing in the Pacific Northwest.
BAH Rates
MHA: WA023 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,728/mo
E-5 with Dependents$2,016/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,536/mo
O-3 with Dependents$2,541/mo
O-3 without Dependents$2,001/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Hunt Military Communities manages privatized housing — single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes in wooded campus-style neighborhoods; wait lists typically 1-4 months depending on rank
- Off-base (Airway Heights/Spokane): Most families rent in Airway Heights, Medical Lake, Cheney, and northwest Spokane; rentals $1,200-$2,400/month; BAH covers well in the Spokane market
- Top pick: Airway Heights — 5-10 min commute to base, newest housing stock in the area, Northern Quest Casino/Resort complex with dining and entertainment, Yoke's grocery and Walmart nearby
- First-time buyers: Medical Lake (10 min south) — small-town feel, affordable homes, lakeside living at Medical Lake and West Medical Lake, good schools
- Note: Spokane has four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters (avg 45 inches snow); on-base housing handles snow removal and maintenance — a real benefit November-March
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Airway Heights — 5-10 min commute, fastest-growing suburb, new construction, convenient shopping/dining at Northern Quest area, popular with military families for proximity
- Medical Lake — 10 min south, small-town charm, lakefront recreation, good schools, mix of historic and newer homes, quieter lifestyle
- Five Mile Prairie (Northwest Spokane) — 20-25 min commute, excellent Mead School District, newer upscale homes on a scenic plateau overlooking Spokane, very popular with officers
- South Hill (Spokane) — 25-30 min commute, larger homes with mature trees, top-rated schools, extensive shopping/dining on 29th Ave and Regal Street, popular with families wanting the full Spokane experience
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Medical Lake Elementary⭐ 5/10
Close to Fairchild
Michael Anderson Elementary⭐ 6/10
Medical Lake district
Sunset Elementary⭐ 6/10
Airway Heights
🏫 Middle Schools
Medical Lake Middle School⭐ 5/10
Close to base
Cheney Middle School⭐ 5/10
Cheney area
Westwood Middle School⭐ 5/10
Spokane
🏫 High Schools
Medical Lake High School⭐ 5/10
Close to base
Cheney High School⭐ 6/10
Larger nearby school
Lewis and Clark High⭐ 7/10
Spokane, top-rated
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Highway 2) — Primary gate, 24/7, 5-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:00 AM), direct access from Airway Heights and Spokane
- Medical Lake Gate (South) — Secondary gate convenient for Medical Lake and Cheney residents, shorter waits, limited hours (typically 0530-1900 weekdays)
- Tip: Main Gate backs up most during Spokane-area commute 7:00-8:00 AM; Medical Lake Gate is the fast-track alternative from the south
- Winter weather note: Highway 2 and Medical Lake Road can be icy/snowy November-February; budget extra commute time during winter storms; the base is excellent about snow removal on main roads
Internet Providers
- Xfinity (Comcast) — Primary cable provider in Spokane, Airway Heights, and Medical Lake; speeds up to 1.2 Gbps; widely available and reliable
- CenturyLink (Lumen) — DSL and fiber in Spokane area; Quantum Fiber (up to 940 Mbps symmetrical) available in select Spokane neighborhoods and expanding
- TDS Fiber — Growing fiber provider in Airway Heights and Medical Lake; speeds up to 1 Gbps with good customer service reputation
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage across the Spokane area; $50/month unlimited; solid option for renters wanting flexibility
- Top pick: TDS Fiber or Quantum Fiber where available for symmetrical speeds; Xfinity cable reliable everywhere else
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Fairchild Exchange and commissary — large and well-stocked with groceries, uniforms, electronics; Shoppette and Class Six
- Airway Heights: Walmart Supercenter, Yoke's Fresh Market (local PNW grocery), and strip mall shopping along Highway 2 corridor
- Northern Quest Resort & Casino complex — Adjacent to base; luxury hotel, multiple restaurants (Masselow's steakhouse, Riverbank Taphouse), spa, entertainment venue; more than just a casino
- North Spokane: NorthTown Mall (20 min) with Macy's, JCPenney, REI, and restaurants; Costco and additional big-box along Division Street
- Downtown Spokane (15-20 min): River Park Square mall with Nordstrom, Apple Store, and boutique retailers; local favorites like Auntie's Bookstore and Boo Radley's for unique gifts
Gyms & Recreation
- Fairchild Fitness Center — 24/7 access, large facility with cardio machines, free weights, CrossFit area, indoor running track, basketball courts, racquetball, and extensive group fitness classes
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — The jewel of Fairchild: ski and snowboard packages with subsidized lift tickets to 5 local mountains (Mt. Spokane, Schweitzer, Silver Mountain, Lookout Pass, 49° North); camping and water sports gear rental in summer
- Fairchild FamCamp — On-base RV campground with full hookups, lakefront sites on Clear Lake, bathhouse, and laundry; one of the best FamCamps in the Air Force, $20-30/night
- On-base: Bowling alley, Clear Lake recreation area (fishing, swimming, paddleboarding), auto hobby shop, sports fields, community center, and seasonal outdoor pool
- Riverside State Park (20 min) — 10,000 acres along the Spokane River; hiking, mountain biking (25+ miles of trails), horseback riding, kayaking, and the Bowl & Pitcher rock formations
- Day trips: 5 ski resorts within 1-2 hours (Mt. Spokane 45 min, Schweitzer 1.5 hrs), Lake Coeur d'Alene ID (45 min), Glacier National Park (4 hrs), Seattle (4 hrs)
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers for spouses; USAJobs for GS/WG positions in refueling operations, logistics, and admin
- Defense contractors: Boeing, Collins Aerospace, and AAR Corp maintain KC-135 sustainment positions at Fairchild
- Healthcare: Providence Health & Services and MultiCare are the two largest employers in Spokane — nursing, allied health, IT, and administrative roles; multiple hospital campuses within 20-30 min
- Higher education: Eastern Washington University (5 min to Cheney campus), Gonzaga University, Whitworth University, and Spokane Community Colleges — faculty, staff, and administrative positions
- Fairchild Air Force Base civilian positions: Significant DOD civilian workforce supporting the 92nd ARW and 141st ARW; positions in aircraft maintenance, logistics, and operations support
- Remote work: Spokane's lower cost of living makes remote work attractive; Pacific time zone suits West Coast tech roles; no Washington state income tax
Local Attractions
- Riverfront Park — Downtown Spokane (15-20 min); 100-acre urban park with the Spokane Falls, historic Looff Carrousel, SkyRide gondola over the falls, and the iconic Pavilion light show; free admission, walkable from downtown restaurants
- Mount Spokane State Park — 45 min north; year-round recreation: downhill and cross-country skiing in winter, hiking and mountain biking in summer; the summit offers panoramic views of three states and Canada
- Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho — 45 min east; stunning alpine lake with a scenic byway drive, boat tours, waterfront dining, golf at the world-famous floating green at Coeur d'Alene Resort, and the longest floating boardwalk in the world
- Green Bluff Growers — 35 min northeast; a collective of 30+ family farms offering U-pick fruit (strawberries, cherries, peaches, apples, pumpkins), fresh produce, and seasonal festivals; a beloved Spokane-area tradition
- Silverwood Theme Park — 45 min north in Idaho; the Northwest's largest theme park with roller coasters (Aftershock, Tremors, Stunt Pilot), plus Boulder Beach Water Park; great for families, military discounts available
- Schweitzer Mountain Resort (1.5 hrs in Sandpoint, ID) — Voted best terrain in the Inland Northwest; 2,900 skiable acres, 92 runs, and a vibrant village with restaurants and lodging
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
KC-135 Stratotanker on the Fairchild flight line with evergreen forest backdrop
nature
Eastern Washington landscape — pine forests and basalt canyons near Spokane
neighborhood
Airway Heights neighborhood — Spokane suburb just minutes from Fairchild
housing
On-base family housing nestled in the pine forests of Fairchild AFB
downtown
Downtown Spokane skyline and the Spokane River at Riverfront Park
restaurant
Pacific Northwest dining — fresh-caught salmon at a Spokane restaurant