Nebraska
Offutt Air Force Base
📍 Bellevue, Nebraska
Headquarters of U.S. Strategic Command and the 55th Wing, Offutt is a critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance hub near Omaha.
BAH Rates
MHA: NE003 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,860/mo
E-5 with Dependents$2,187/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,653/mo
O-3 with Dependents$2,754/mo
O-3 without Dependents$2,103/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Offutt Family Housing managed by Hunt Military Communities — 1,200+ homes in multiple neighborhoods on and near base; rebuilt after 2019 flooding; wait lists 1-4 months typically
- Off-base (Bellevue/Sarpy County): BAH covers comfortable living; typical 3BR rental $1,300-$2,000/month; Sarpy County is one of America's fastest-growing counties
- Top pick: Papillion — 15-20 min west, top-rated Papillion-La Vista School District, safe suburban community, abundant new construction, consistently ranked among best places to live in Nebraska
- Bellevue: Adjacent to base, 5-10 min commute, most affordable option, older established neighborhoods, strong military presence, decent Bellevue Public Schools
- Gretna: 25-30 min southwest, fastest-growing suburb, excellent Gretna Public Schools, newer homes on larger lots, popular with officers seeking top schools
- Note: 2019 Missouri River flooding affected base and surrounding areas; most housing has been rebuilt/remediated; ask about flood history when renting near the river
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Papillion — Top family choice, 15-20 min west, outstanding Papillion-La Vista schools, multiple parks, Werner Park (home of Omaha Storm Chasers AAA baseball), strong community feel
- Bellevue (Old Towne area) — 5-10 min to base, historical character, tree-lined streets, affordable, diverse, strong veteran community, close to Fontenelle Forest
- Bellevue (Twin Creek area) — South Bellevue, 5-10 min to base, newer developments (2000s-2010s), family-friendly, close to Offutt's main gate, popular with all ranks
- La Vista — Between Papillion and Omaha, 15-20 min commute, mix of housing types, Papillion-La Vista schools, convenient to I-80 and shopping
- West Omaha (Millard, Elkhorn) — 25-35 min, top Millard and Elkhorn school districts, suburban lifestyle, further commute but best schools in the metro
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Fairview Elementary⭐ 5/10
Bellevue, close to Offutt
Twin Ridge Elementary⭐ 6/10
Bellevue
Two Springs Elementary⭐ 6/10
Bellevue
🏫 Middle Schools
Lewis and Clark Middle School⭐ 5/10
Bellevue
Logan Fontenelle Middle⭐ 5/10
Bellevue area
Mission Middle School⭐ 5/10
Bellevue
🏫 High Schools
Bellevue East High School⭐ 5/10
Close to base, diverse
Bellevue West High School⭐ 6/10
Strong academics
Papillion-La Vista South High⭐ 8/10
Top-rated, nearby Papillion
Gates & Commute
- Stratcom Gate (Main) — Primary 24/7 entrance from Bellevue/Highway 370, 10-20 min peak waits (6:30-8:00 AM and 3:30-5:00 PM), visitor center
- Fort Crook Gate — North entrance off Fort Crook Road, 24/7, shorter waits, convenient for flight line and maintenance access
- Capehart Gate — Access to the Capehart housing area and medical facilities, limited hours (typically 0530-1800 weekdays)
- Note: Main gate traffic is the worst bottleneck especially at shift change (3:30-4:30 PM); STRATCOM parking lot is immediately inside the gate adding to volume
- Tip: Kennedy Freeway (US-75) and Highway 370 are main commuting arteries; the base is compact and walkable once inside for most personnel
Internet Providers
- Cox Communications — Dominant cable provider for Bellevue, Papillion, and Omaha metro; speeds up to 1 Gbps; reliable and widely available
- CenturyLink (Quantum Fiber) — Fiber available in parts of Omaha metro; symmetrical speeds up to 940 Mbps where deployed; expanding in newer subdivisions
- Allo Communications — Local fiber provider in Gretna and parts of Sarpy County; up to 1 Gbps symmetrical; excellent customer service reputation
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage across Omaha metro; speeds 50-200 Mbps; good temporary/short-term option
- Top pick: Cox cable for broad availability; CenturyLink Quantum or Allo fiber where available for best performance
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Offutt Exchange (BX) and commissary conveniently located; shoppette and food court near the main base area
- Shadow Lake Towne Center (Papillion) — Major open-air shopping center 15-20 min west with Target, Kohl's, restaurants, and services
- Village Pointe (West Omaha) — Upscale open-air mall 25-30 min with Apple, Lululemon, boutique shopping, and premium dining options
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base Hy-Vee (Iowa-based beloved regional chain), Baker's (Kroger), Walmart Supercenter in Bellevue; Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in Omaha
- Dining: Stella's Bar & Grill (Bellevue institution for burgers since 1936), Umami (Bellevue sushi), Block 16 (Omaha's best casual), and The Drover (legendary whiskey-marinated steaks in Omaha)
- Old Market (Downtown Omaha) — Historic warehouse district 15-20 min north: cobblestone streets, art galleries, craft breweries, and 30+ restaurants
Gyms & Recreation
- Offutt Field House — Large fitness complex with cardio, weight room, functional fitness, indoor track, basketball/racquetball courts, and group classes
- Outdoor Recreation — Kayak/canoe rentals for Missouri River and area lakes, camping gear, hunting/fishing licenses, and ODR trips to Colorado and the Black Hills
- On-base: Bowling alley, golf course (Willow Lakes Golf Course — 18 holes), swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), sports fields, and community center
- Fontenelle Forest (5 min from base) — 2,100-acre nature preserve with 26 miles of hiking trails through mature oak forest along the Missouri River bluffs; raptor rehabilitation program
- Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum (20 min west) — World-class museum with SR-71 Blackbird, B-52, B-36 Peacemaker, and the actual Apollo 206 command module
- Day trips: Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo (world's #1 zoo, 20 min), College World Series at Charles Schwab Field (June), Lincoln (1 hr), and Kansas City (3 hrs)
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers; USAJobs for GS/WG positions at STRATCOM, 55th Wing, and various tenant units — a large civilian workforce
- Defense contractors: Northrop Grumman, Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, and Peraton have major Offutt/Omaha-area operations supporting STRATCOM and the ISR mission
- Omaha economy: Fortune 500 hub — Berkshire Hathaway, Mutual of Omaha, Union Pacific, Kiewit, and TD Ameritrade; strong insurance, finance, and tech sectors
- Remote work: Central time zone overlaps well with both coasts; Omaha has excellent internet infrastructure and a growing remote-work community
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center with strong spouse employment program; large contractor presence means frequent job fairs on base
- Nebraska Military Spouse Licensure: Expedited professional licensing for military spouses; Nebraska is a member of the interstate licensure compact for nursing, teaching, and more
Local Attractions
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium — Consistently ranked among the world's top zoos; the Desert Dome, Lied Jungle, and aquarium are world-class; 20 min north of base
- Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum — SR-71 Blackbird, B-52 Stratofortress, B-36 Peacemaker, and Apollo spacecraft; a must-visit for aviation and Cold War history buffs
- Old Market District — Downtown Omaha's historic warehouse district: cobblestone streets, art galleries, jazz clubs, craft breweries, and some of the region's best dining
- College World Series — Omaha hosts the NCAA Men's College World Series every June at Charles Schwab Field; a two-week festival of baseball and Americana
- Lauritzen Gardens — 100-acre botanical garden on the Missouri River bluffs; the model railroad garden and rose garden are exceptional; 20 min north
- Lincoln, NE — 1 hour west: Nebraska State Capitol (architectural masterpiece), University of Nebraska, Memorial Stadium (Husker football on Saturdays is a religion), and the Haymarket District
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Aerial view of Offutt Air Force Base showing the runway and STRATCOM headquarters
base
Kennedy Freeway entrance to Offutt AFB — the main approach for most personnel
base
Historic aerial of Offutt AFB showing the base layout along the Missouri River
neighborhood
Aerial view of Bellevue and Offutt AFB showing the base-community connection
housing
RC-135 Rivet Joint mission crew operating reconnaissance equipment
nature
Fort Crook Cemetery within Offutt AFB — honoring Nebraska's military heritage