Arkansas
Little Rock Air Force Base
📍 Jacksonville, Arkansas
Home to the 19th Airlift Wing and the C-130 Center of Excellence, Little Rock is the Air Force's premier C-130 tactical airlift training base.
BAH Rates
MHA: AR006 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,302/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,479/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,188/mo
O-3 with Dependents$1,848/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,470/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Little Rock Family Housing managed by Hunt Military Communities — 1,100+ homes across multiple neighborhoods; mix of ranch-style and two-story homes; wait lists 1-4 months typically
- Off-base (Jacksonville/Cabot): BAH covers comfortable living; 3BR rentals $1,100-$1,700/month in good school zones; Cabot particularly popular with families
- Top pick: Cabot — 15-20 min north of base, top-rated Cabot School District (#1 reason families choose it), safe suburban community, new construction and established neighborhoods
- Jacksonville: Adjacent to base, 5 min commute, more affordable but schools have lower ratings; many families use on-base schools or open-enroll to Cabot
- Sherwood: 15-20 min southwest toward Little Rock, middle-ground option with decent schools and proximity to both base and LR city amenities
- Note: Tornado awareness is important in central Arkansas; most homes don't have basements; look for homes with storm shelters or safe rooms
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Cabot — Top family choice, 15-20 min north via US-67/167, fastest-growing city in Arkansas, excellent schools, abundant new construction, strong community feel with Friday night football culture
- Jacksonville — Adjacent to base, 5 min commute, most affordable option, more military renters, older housing stock but convenient to gate; growing with new development along Main Street
- Sherwood — Midpoint between base and Little Rock, 15-20 min commute, Sylvan Hills schools, mix of established neighborhoods and new subdivisions, good shopping access
- Austin/Ward — North of Cabot along US-67, 25-30 min commute, more rural feel, larger lots, lower prices, still in Cabot School District
- North Little Rock (Lakewood area) — 25 min from base, upscale area near the Arkansas River, older homes with character, close to Little Rock's best dining and entertainment
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Arnold Drive Elementary⭐ 5/10
Jacksonville, on-base area, military families
Murrell Taylor Elementary⭐ 4/10
Jacksonville, close to base housing
Pinewood Elementary⭐ 4/10
Jacksonville, strong community
Clinton Elementary⭐ 6/10
Sherwood area, higher-rated
🏫 Middle Schools
Jacksonville Middle School⭐ 3/10
Jacksonville, closest to base
Sylvan Hills Middle School⭐ 4/10
Sherwood, better-rated option
Lighthouse Academies Middle⭐ 3/10
Jacksonville charter
🏫 High Schools
Jacksonville High School⭐ 3/10
Jacksonville, close to base, JROTC program
Sylvan Hills High School⭐ 5/10
Sherwood, stronger academics
Cabot High School⭐ 7/10
Cabot, top-rated, many base families commute
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Arnold Drive) — Primary 24/7 entrance off Arnold Drive/Vandenberg Blvd, 5-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:00 AM), visitor center for passes, connects directly to US-67/167
- Harris Road Gate — Southeast entrance, 24/7, generally shorter waits, convenient for flight line and maintenance squadron access
- Vandenberg Blvd Gate — North entrance near the Commissary/BX area, limited hours (typically 0530-1800 weekdays), best for shopping access from Cabot
- Note: US-67/167 is the main commuting artery; ongoing widening project has reduced congestion significantly; gate traffic generally manageable
- Tip: Morning PT brings surge traffic around 0530-0630; evening rush 1630-1730 is busiest at Main Gate
Internet Providers
- Xfinity (Comcast) — Dominant provider for Jacksonville, Cabot, and Sherwood; cable internet up to 1.2 Gbps; reliable and widely available
- AT&T Fiber — Expanding fiber coverage in Cabot and parts of Jacksonville; symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps where available
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage across central Arkansas; 50-200 Mbps; solid option for temporary lodging or short-term rentals
- Aristotle (local) — Fiber-to-the-home in select Cabot neighborhoods; competitive pricing at up to 1 Gbps symmetrical
- Top pick: Xfinity cable for broad availability; AT&T Fiber or Aristotle in Cabot for best speed where available
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Base Exchange (BX) and commissary at the Vandenberg Blvd shopping complex; shoppette and food court centrally located
- Cabot — Walmart Supercenter, Kroger Marketplace, and a growing retail corridor along AR-89/Main Street with restaurants, boutiques, and services
- McCain Mall (North Little Rock) — Regional mall 20 min south with Dillard's, JCPenney, and 80+ stores; the nearest major shopping destination
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base Kroger, Harps, and Walmart Neighborhood Market in Cabot; Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in west Little Rock (30 min)
- Dining: Colton's Steak House (Cabot), Grumpy's BBQ (Jacksonville institution), and Doe's Eat Place (downtown LR — legendary steaks); Little Rock has a surprisingly strong food scene
- Outlet: Outlets of Little Rock (25 min) — brand-name outlet shopping off I-30 in southwest Little Rock
Gyms & Recreation
- Little Rock AFB Fitness Center — Modern gym with cardio, weight room, functional fitness, indoor track, racquetball courts, and group fitness classes; 24/7 access
- Outdoor Recreation — Canoe/kayak rentals for Arkansas River and Greers Ferry Lake, camping gear, hunting/fishing licenses, paintball, and ODR trips to Hot Springs and Branson
- On-base: Bowling alley, golf course (18-hole course on Arnold Drive), two swimming pools (seasonal outdoor), sports fields, disc golf course, and community center
- Greers Ferry Lake (1 hr north) — 40,000-acre Corps of Engineers lake; boating, fishing, water sports, and Heber Springs resort town
- Pinnacle Mountain State Park (30 min west) — Day hikes with panoramic views of the Arkansas River Valley; the West Summit Trail is a family favorite
- Day trips: Hot Springs National Park (1.5 hrs), Memphis (2 hrs), Branson MO (3 hrs), and the Buffalo National River (2.5 hrs) for floating and hiking
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC, DODEA schools — primary local employers for spouses; USAJobs for GS/WG positions supporting the C-130 training mission
- Defense contractors: Lockheed Martin (C-130J maintenance and modification), L3Harris, and Dyncorp International have significant Little Rock AFB presence
- Little Rock economy: Healthcare (Baptist Health, UAMS, CHI St. Vincent), state government (Arkansas state capital), and logistics (Amazon, Dillard's HQ)
- Remote work: Popular among LR AFB spouses; Central time zone works well for remote positions; solid internet in Cabot/Sherwood makes it viable
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center with active spouse employment program; Military Spouse Preference for federal jobs
- Arkansas Military Spouse Licensure: Expedited professional licensing for military spouses in teaching, nursing, and multiple other professions
Local Attractions
- Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site — Pivotal civil rights landmark from the 1957 desegregation crisis; powerful museum and guided ranger tours; 15 min from base
- William J. Clinton Presidential Library — On the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock; full-scale Oval Office replica, rotating exhibits, and Clinton's presidential archives
- River Market District — Downtown Little Rock's entertainment hub: Ottenheimer Market Hall, Riverfront Park, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, and the Junction Bridge pedestrian walkway
- Hot Springs National Park — 1.5 hours southwest: Bathhouse Row with historic thermal spas, mountain hiking trails, and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort; 'America's First Resort'
- Pinnacle Mountain State Park — Hiking, kayaking on the Big Maumelle River, and stunning summit views just 30 minutes west of base
- Memphis, TN — 2 hours east: Graceland, Beale Street blues, National Civil Rights Museum, and the best BBQ in America; an easy weekend trip
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
19th Airlift Wing headquarters at Little Rock AFB — the Home of Herk Nation
base
Main gate at Little Rock AFB with Arnold Drive entrance signage
base
Base headquarters building at Little Rock Air Force Base
neighborhood
Base Chapel at Little Rock AFB serving the spiritual needs of Herk Nation
base
C-130 Hercules aircrew representing the Combat Airlift mission at Little Rock
housing
C-130J Super Hercules on the Little Rock flight line during winter weather