Oklahoma
Tinker Air Force Base
📍 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Home to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex and the 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker provides depot maintenance for bombers, tankers, and AWACS aircraft.
BAH Rates
MHA: OK015 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,278/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,452/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,149/mo
O-3 with Dependents$1,827/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,434/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Tinker Family Housing managed by Hunt Military Communities — 600+ homes; mix of single-family and duplexes; wait lists typically 1-3 months
- Off-base (Oklahoma City metro): BAH covers very comfortable living; typical 3BR rental $1,100-$1,700/month; excellent BAH-to-cost ratio in the affordable OKC market
- Top pick: Midwest City — 5-10 min to base, literally borders Tinker, Midwest City-Del City schools, very affordable, heavy military and civilian employee presence, the unofficial 'Tinker town'
- Moore: 10-15 min southwest, excellent Moore Public Schools (rebuilt after 2013 tornado), newer homes, very popular with families
- Edmond: 25-30 min northwest, top-rated Edmond Public Schools (best in the metro), suburban upscale, higher cost but sought-after for schools
- Note: Oklahoma is in Tornado Alley (April-June peak); homes built after 2013 in Moore have enhanced construction codes; storm shelters or safe rooms highly recommended
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Midwest City — Tinker's backyard, 5-10 min commute, single largest concentration of base personnel, very affordable, dedicated Tinker community, decent schools with strong military support programs
- Moore — 10-15 min southwest, fast-growing suburb, excellent Moore schools (especially after post-2013 tornado rebuild), newer homes, popular with families wanting good schools close to base
- Del City — Adjacent to base, 5-10 min commute, very affordable, older established neighborhoods, Mid-Del schools, popular with junior enlisted and first-term airmen
- Edmond — 25-30 min northwest, Oklahoma's top-rated school district, upscale suburban community, higher home prices, popular with officers and SNCOs prioritizing education
- Norman — 25 min south, University of Oklahoma college town, vibrant downtown with arts and dining, top-rated Norman schools, popular with those wanting college-town culture
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Sooner Elementary⭐ 5/10
Close to Tinker, military community
Choctaw Elementary⭐ 6/10
Choctaw, nearby
Midwest City Elementary⭐ 5/10
Midwest City
🏫 Middle Schools
Carl Albert Middle School⭐ 6/10
Midwest City area
Monroney Middle School⭐ 5/10
Close to Tinker
Choctaw Middle School⭐ 6/10
Choctaw
🏫 High Schools
Midwest City High School⭐ 5/10
Close to base
Carl Albert High School⭐ 7/10
Midwest City, strong
Choctaw High School⭐ 6/10
Nearby
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Air Depot Blvd) — Primary 24/7 entrance off Air Depot Blvd and I-40, 10-20 min peak waits (6:30-8:00 AM and 3:30-5:00 PM), visitor center for passes
- Douglas Blvd Gate — North entrance off Douglas Blvd, 24/7, generally shorter waits, good for north-side commuters from OKC and Edmond
- 29th Street Gate — South entrance, limited hours (typically 0530-1800 weekdays), convenient for industrial area and logistics complex access
- Note: Tinker is massive (5,000+ acres) and employs ~26,000 people daily; shift change at the depot (3:30 PM) creates the worst traffic surge — main gate backs up significantly
- Tip: Tinker straddles I-40; the base is split by the interstate with industrial facilities on both sides; know which side your workplace is on before choosing a gate
Internet Providers
- Cox Communications — Dominant cable provider for OKC metro including Midwest City, Moore, Edmond, and Norman; speeds up to 1 Gbps; reliable and widely available
- AT&T Fiber — Expanding fiber in OKC metro; symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps in select neighborhoods; check availability by address
- OEC Fiber — Oklahoma Electric Cooperative fiber in parts of Norman and Moore; up to 1 Gbps symmetrical; excellent local customer service
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage throughout OKC metro; speeds 50-200 Mbps; viable temporary option
- Top pick: Cox cable for most locations; AT&T Fiber or OEC Fiber where available for best symmetrical performance
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Tinker Exchange (BX) and commissary centrally located; shoppette, food court, and multiple retail facilities due to massive workforce
- Midwest City retail — SE 29th Street and Air Depot Blvd corridors with Walmart, Target, chain restaurants, and services; Town Center Plaza is the main shopping hub
- Penn Square Mall (OKC) — Upscale mall 20 min northwest with Dillard's, Macy's, Apple Store, and 100+ retailers
- Moore/Norman — Sooner Mall in Norman (25 min south) and Moore's growing retail corridor along I-35 with shopping, dining, and entertainment
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base Crest Discount Foods (Oklahoma institution), Homeland, Walmart, and Sam's Club throughout the metro; Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in OKC
- Dining: Eischen's Bar (Okarche — Oklahoma's oldest bar, legendary fried chicken since 1896), Cattlemen's Steakhouse (Stockyards City institution), Nic's Grill (best burger in OKC), and Ted's Café Escondido (Tex-Mex local favorite)
Gyms & Recreation
- Tinker Fitness Center — Large modern facility with cardio, weight room, functional fitness, group classes, basketball/racquetball courts, and 24/7 access; separate fitness annex in industrial area
- Outdoor Recreation — Camping gear, hunting/fishing licenses (Oklahoma has excellent deer, turkey, and bass fishing), boating equipment, and ODR trips to the Wichita Mountains and Tulsa
- On-base: Bowling alley, golf course (Tinker Golf Course — 18 holes), swimming pool (seasonal outdoor), sports fields, and multiple community centers
- Lake Thunderbird (25 min east near Norman) — 6,000-acre lake: boating, fishing, hiking trails, Lake Thunderbird State Park camping, and two marinas
- Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (1.5 hrs southwest) — Free-roaming bison, elk, and longhorn cattle; Mount Scott summit drive, excellent hiking and rock climbing
- Day trips: Oklahoma City attractions 20 min (Bricktown, OKC Thunder NBA, Oklahoma City National Memorial), Tulsa (1.5 hrs), and the Wichita Mountains
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — plus 15,000+ civilian GS/WG positions at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex — the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma
- Defense contractors: Boeing (B-52, B-1, KC-135, E-3 programs), Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney (engine depot), and GE Aerospace have massive Tinker operations
- OKC economy: Diversified with aerospace/defense (Tinker), healthcare (OU Health, Integris, Mercy), energy (Devon Energy, Chesapeake), and growing tech/biotech sectors
- Remote work: Central time zone; excellent internet in OKC metro; large and diverse economy supports spouse remote work well
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center with dedicated spouse employment program; Tinker's massive civilian workforce creates continuous hiring opportunities
- Oklahoma Military Spouse Licensure: Expedited professional licensing for military spouses; Oklahoma recognizes out-of-state licenses for teaching, nursing, and several trades
Local Attractions
- Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum — 20 min northwest: profoundly moving memorial to the 1995 Murrah Federal Building bombing; the Survivor Tree, Field of Empty Chairs, and museum tell a story of resilience
- Bricktown Entertainment District — Downtown OKC's vibrant warehouse district: water taxis on the Bricktown Canal, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (LA Dodgers AAA), and dozens of restaurants and live music venues
- Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge — 1.5 hours southwest: America's oldest managed wildlife refuge with free-roaming bison, elk, and longhorn cattle; Mount Scott, the Holy City, and excellent hiking
- National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum — In OKC: world-class collection of Western art, artifacts, and the Hall of Great Westerners; a cultural gem unique to Oklahoma
- Stockyards City — Working cattle stockyards in OKC with Cattlemen's Steakhouse (since 1910), western wear shops, and the feel of the Old West; 20 min from base
- Tulsa — 1.5 hours northeast: Gathering Place (America's best new park), Woody Guthrie Center, Philbrook Museum of Art, and the historic Tulsa Arts District
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
B-1B Lancer at Tinker AFB — the Air Force's largest depot maintenance complex
base
B-1B Lancer in the paint facility at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex
base
Freshly maintained B-1B Lancer lifting off from Tinker after depot work
neighborhood
B-1B Lancer taxiing at Tinker AFB — depot maintenance keeps the fleet flying
housing
Freshly painted B-1B Lancer in Tinker's state-of-the-art paint facility
nature
B-1B functional check flight in bare-metal configuration over Oklahoma