California
Travis Air Force Base
📍 Fairfield, California
Home to the 60th Air Mobility Wing operating C-5M, C-17, and KC-46 aircraft, Travis is the largest air mobility hub on the West Coast.
BAH Rates
MHA: CA033 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$2,604/mo
E-5 with Dependents$3,198/mo
E-5 without Dependents$2,253/mo
O-3 with Dependents$4,038/mo
O-3 without Dependents$3,258/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Balfour Beatty Communities — mix of single-family homes and townhomes, some newer construction; waitlists common for larger units during PCS season
- Off-base: Vacaville, Fairfield, and Dixon — median home prices in the $500k-$650k range, significantly higher than national average but lower than Bay Area
- BAH: Travis BAH is solid for the immediate area but does not stretch far toward Sacramento or Bay Area commutes
- Top pick: Vacaville — stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, Browns Valley area especially desirable for families; 15-25 min commute
- Note: California state income tax applies; budget accordingly. Housing costs are rising as Bay Area remote workers push into Solano County
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Vacaville — Top family pick, 15-25 min commute, excellent schools (Browns Valley Elementary, Vacaville High), extensive shopping at Nut Tree Plaza
- Dixon — Small-town feel, 15-20 min drive, more affordable, tight-knit community, good for families wanting slower pace
- Fairfield (Green Valley/Cordelia) — Closest to base (5-15 min), Green Valley is the nicer Fairfield pocket; Paradise Valley area is also solid
- Winters — Charming small town 25-30 min north, farm-to-table dining, great for those wanting rural-agricultural lifestyle with good schools
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Center Elementary⭐ 6/10
Close to Travis, military families
Cordelia Hills Elementary⭐ 7/10
Nearby in Fairfield
Nelda Mundy Elementary⭐ 8/10
Top-rated in Fairfield-Suisun
🏫 Middle Schools
Green Valley Middle School⭐ 6/10
Near Travis, diverse
Crystal Middle School⭐ 5/10
Suisun City, STEAM focus
Grange Middle School⭐ 4/10
East Fairfield, varied programs
🏫 High Schools
Vanden High School⭐ 6/10
Close to Travis, solid academics
Armijo High School⭐ 5/10
Fairfield, IB program available
Vacaville High School⭐ 7/10
Nearby Vacaville, strong programs
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Air Base Pkwy) — Primary entry, 10-20 min morning peak (6:00-8:00 AM), direct access from I-80
- Hospital Gate — Serves David Grant Medical Center, shorter lines, limited to hospital visitors during certain hours
- South Gate — Convenient for Vacaville commuters, 5-10 min waits, access to housing areas
- Note: I-80 corridor traffic between Sacramento and Bay Area can back up gates; check traffic before departing
Internet Providers
- Comcast Xfinity — Dominant provider in Fairfield/Vacaville, plans up to 1.2 Gbps with wide coverage
- AT&T Fiber — Expanding in Vacaville and Green Valley; symmetrical gigabit where available
- Sonic — Regional fiber provider gaining traction; 10 Gbps in some areas, strong privacy reputation
- T-Mobile/Verizon 5G Home — Decent fixed wireless coverage throughout Solano County
- Top pick: Sonic or AT&T Fiber where available; Xfinity as fallback
Shopping & Dining
- Nut Tree Plaza (Vacaville) — Major shopping destination with Best Buy, HomeGoods, restaurants, and family entertainment
- Vacaville Premium Outlets — 120+ outlet stores, major draw for Bay Area and Sacramento shoppers
- Groceries: Nugget Market (local favorite, upscale), Safeway, Raley's, Costco, and Travis Commissary on-base
- Dining: The Brass Tap (Vacaville), BackDoor Bistro, Buckhorn Steakhouse (Winters), and Fenton's Creamery at Nut Tree
- Fairfield: Solano Town Center mall and extensive dining along Travis Blvd corridor
Gyms & Recreation
- Travis Fitness Center — Large facility with weight rooms, cardio area, basketball courts, and indoor track
- Outdoor Recreation — Rents boats, RVs, camping gear; offers discounted tickets to Napa Valley wine tours and SF attractions
- On-base: Bowling alley, golf course (Cypress Lakes), swimming pool, equestrian center with stables and trails
- Napa Valley — World-famous wine country 25 min west; hundreds of wineries, Michelin-starred restaurants, and hot air balloon rides
- Lake Berryessa — 25 min north, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking; one of California's largest freshwater lakes
- Suisun Marsh — Largest contiguous brackish marsh on the West Coast; kayaking and birdwatching
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: David Grant Medical Center is a major employer; AAFES, commissary, and CDC also hire regularly
- Defense contractors: Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and smaller firms supporting AMC operations
- Healthcare: Kaiser Permanente (Vacaville and Napa), NorthBay Healthcare, Sutter Health — major regional employers
- Sacramento: State government jobs ~45 min away; growing tech scene in midtown/downtown
- Bay Area commute: Some spouses commute to SF/Silicon Valley (1-1.5 hrs each way); possible but grueling — hybrid/remote roles more viable
- Travis Spouse Employment: Airman & Family Readiness Center runs job fairs and career workshops tailored to the Northern California market
Local Attractions
- Napa Valley (25 min west) — World-class wine tasting, gourmet dining, Wine Train, and hot air balloon rides; a bucket-list destination
- San Francisco (1 hr southwest) — Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, and world-class museums
- Sacramento (45 min northeast) — California State Capitol, Old Sacramento, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento Kings (NBA)
- Lake Tahoe (2 hrs east) — Skiing in winter, hiking and lake beaches in summer; one of America's most beautiful alpine lakes
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo) — Marine-life themed amusement park, 30 min southwest
- Point Reyes National Seashore — Stunning coastal hiking, lighthouse, and whale watching, 1.5 hrs west
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
C-17 Globemaster III on the Travis flight line
neighborhood
Browns Valley neighborhood in Vacaville, top family pick
housing
On-base family housing at Travis AFB
nature
Napa Valley vineyards, 25 minutes west of Travis
downtown
Nut Tree Plaza in Vacaville, the area's shopping hub
restaurant
Farm-to-table dining at a Napa Valley restaurant