Texas
Laughlin Air Force Base
📍 Del Rio, Texas
Home to the 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin is a key undergraduate pilot training base producing hundreds of Air Force pilots each year.
BAH Rates
MHA: TX207 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,314/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,527/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,179/mo
O-3 with Dependents$1,935/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,509/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Laughlin Family Housing managed by Hunt Military Communities — mix of single-family homes and duplexes; 600+ units; wait lists typically 1-3 months; junior enlisted and officer neighborhoods separated
- Off-base (Del Rio): BAH goes far in Del Rio; typical 3BR rental $900-$1,400/month; most families rent homes in south Del Rio near the base
- Top pick: South Del Rio (Veterans Blvd/Vienita area) — 5-10 min to gate, more rentals available, newer construction, proximity to shopping on Veterans Blvd
- Note: Del Rio housing stock is older on average; many homes have window units rather than central A/C — check before renting; Texas summers are brutal (100°F+ regularly)
- BAH-to-cost ratio: One of the most favorable in the Air Force — BAH easily covers a nice home with significant leftover for savings
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- South Del Rio — Closest to base, 5-10 min commute, newer developments along Veterans Blvd, most popular with military families, close to Walmart/H-E-B
- Del Rio historic district — Charming older homes near downtown, 15 min commute, tree-lined streets, more character but older housing stock, close to San Felipe Creek
- Cienegas Terrace — Unincorporated area between Del Rio and the base, 5 min commute, rural feel with larger lots, well water and septic common
- North Del Rio — Further from base (20-25 min), more affordable, mixed neighborhoods, closer to high school and medical facilities
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Lamar Elementary⭐ 4/10
Del Rio, near base housing
Garfield Elementary⭐ 4/10
Del Rio, close to base
Dr. Fermin Calderon Elementary⭐ 5/10
Del Rio, newer facility
North Heights Elementary⭐ 4/10
Del Rio
🏫 Middle Schools
Del Rio Middle School⭐ 3/10
Del Rio, large middle school
San Felipe Memorial Middle⭐ 4/10
Del Rio, smaller option
🏫 High Schools
Del Rio High School⭐ 4/10
Del Rio, diverse, close to base
Early College High School⭐ 5/10
Del Rio, accelerated college credits
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate — Primary 24/7 entry off Laughlin Drive, 2-5 min peak waits (rarely backs up significantly), visitor center for pass processing
- West Gate — Secondary entrance off US-90, limited hours (typically 0600-1800 weekdays), convenient for flight line and training squadron access
- Note: Gate traffic is minimal compared to larger bases; the town of Del Rio is small enough that even 'rush hour' adds only 5 extra minutes
- Tip: US-90 from Del Rio to the base can have Border Patrol checkpoints; always carry military ID
Internet Providers
- Spectrum — Cable internet covering Del Rio area, speeds up to 1 Gbps, reliable and widely available throughout the city
- AT&T — DSL and limited fiber in Del Rio, speeds vary 25-100 Mbps depending on location, less competitive than Spectrum
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage in Del Rio, speeds 50-150 Mbps, solid alternative for short-term rental situations
- Starlink — Increasingly popular for rural properties outside Del Rio city limits where wired options are limited
- Top pick: Spectrum cable offers the best value and speed for most Del Rio locations
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Laughlin Exchange (BX) and commissary — modest but well-stocked for a training base; shoppette and food court
- Veterans Blvd corridor — Del Rio's main commercial strip: Walmart Supercenter, H-E-B grocery, Home Depot, Ross, and chain restaurants
- Downtown Del Rio — Historic Main Street with local boutiques, Mexican imports, and authentic taquerias; the Brown Plaza area has weekend markets
- Dining: Don Marcelino's (Tex-Mex institution), The Laughlin Club for on-base dining, and Rudy's BBQ for Texas-style brisket
- Ciudad Acuña, Mexico — Just across the international bridge (10 min from base); great for dining, shopping, and authentic Mexican culture; passport required for return
Gyms & Recreation
- Laughlin Fitness Center — Well-equipped gym with cardio, weights, group fitness classes, and basketball court; 24/7 access for active duty
- Outdoor Recreation — Lake Amistad boat and kayak rentals, camping gear, guided fishing trips on the Rio Grande, and hunting excursions
- Lake Amistad — Massive 65,000-acre reservoir 15 min from base: world-class bass fishing, boating, water skiing, swimming, and shoreline camping at multiple NPS campgrounds
- On-base: Bowling alley, golf course (18-hole Laughlin AFB Golf Course), swimming pool (seasonal outdoor), sports fields, and community center
- Seminole Canyon State Park (45 min west) — Ancient rock art pictographs, hiking trails through dramatic canyon landscape, and the Fate Bell Shelter guided tours
- Day trips: San Antonio (2.5 hrs east — Alamo, River Walk, SeaWorld), Big Bend National Park (3.5 hrs south), and the Texas Hill Country wine region
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers for spouses; USAJobs for GS/WG positions at the training wing
- Defense contractors: CAE USA (flight simulator maintenance), Lockheed Martin, and various training support contractors have Laughlin-area positions
- Del Rio economy: Limited compared to metro bases; H-E-B, medical (Val Verde Regional Medical Center), and education (SFDR-CISD, SWTJC) are largest civilian employers
- Remote work: Strong option for Laughlin spouses given limited local job market; fast internet and Central time zone make remote work viable
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides job search assistance, resume writing, and spouse employment workshops
- Border economy: Some spouses with Spanish fluency find opportunities in cross-border trade, logistics, and tourism sectors
Local Attractions
- Lake Amistad National Recreation Area — 65,000 acres of crystal-clear water on the US-Mexico border; boating, fishing, scuba diving, and ancient 4,000-year-old rock art at Panther Cave
- Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site — 45 min west; Fate Bell Shelter pictographs, Rio Grande canyon overlooks, and hiking through dramatic desert landscape
- Ciudad Acuña, Mexico — Walk across the international bridge for authentic Mexican cuisine, shopping, and the famous Corona Club (alleged birthplace of the Corona toast); vibrant mercado scene
- San Antonio — 2.5 hours east: The Alamo, River Walk, Pearl Brewery district, and the best Tex-Mex anywhere; a realistic weekend trip for shopping and culture
- Big Bend National Park — 3.5 hours south; one of America's most remote and spectacular parks with Chisos Mountains, Santa Elena Canyon, and the Rio Grande
- Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center (Langtry) — 45 min west; the legendary 'Law West of the Pecos' saloon and courthouse, a quirky slice of Texas frontier history
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
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T-6A Texan II trainer aircraft on the ramp at Laughlin Air Force Base
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T-6A Texan II preparing to land at Laughlin — daily training operations
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Aerial view of Laughlin AFB and the surrounding Del Rio landscape
neighborhood
Heritage tail T-1A Jayhawk of the 86th Flying Training Squadron on display
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Airmen salute the T-1A Jayhawk during training operations at Laughlin
housing
Laughlin aircraft maintainers recognized for excellence in fleet readiness