Colorado
United States Air Force Academy
📍 Colorado Springs, Colorado
The Air Force's premier officer commissioning source, developing cadets through a rigorous four-year academic, military, and athletic program near Colorado Springs.
BAH Rates
MHA: CO008 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$2,076/mo
E-5 with Dependents$2,412/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,794/mo
O-3 with Dependents$3,036/mo
O-3 without Dependents$2,475/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Military family housing managed by Academy Homes (Hunt Companies) — mix of single-family homes and duplexes in Pine Valley and Douglass Valley neighborhoods; newer construction on the north side
- Off-base: Most permanent party and retirees live in Colorado Springs or Monument; BAH is competitive ($1,900-$2,600/month); rental costs are rising due to Colorado's population growth
- Wait times: On-base wait lists vary by rank, typically 1-4 months; family-size homes in higher demand
- Top pick: Monument and north Colorado Springs (Briargate, Northgate) — 10-20 min commute via I-25, excellent Academy School District 20, and mountain views
- Note: Elevation is 7,258 ft — winters are real with significant snow; budget for snow tires/AWD
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Monument — 10-15 min north of the North Gate on I-25, top-rated Lewis-Palmer School District 38, small-town feel with a historic downtown and family-friendly vibe
- Briargate / Northgate — North Colorado Springs, 15-20 min commute, excellent D-20 schools, modern suburban developments with parks and trails
- Gleneagle — Small community just south of the North Gate, 5-10 min commute, Academy D-20 schools, popular with military families wanting proximity
- Downtown Colorado Springs — 25 min south, vibrant arts and dining scene, older historic homes, more urban feel; commute through Garden of the Gods corridor is scenic but longer
- Black Forest — Rural wooded area east of the Academy, larger lots (1-5 acres), quiet country feel, 20-25 min commute via back roads
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Woodmen-Roberts Elementary⭐ 8/10
Academy District 20, top-rated
Douglass Valley Elementary⭐ 7/10
On USAFA grounds, DoDEA
🏫 Middle Schools
Eagleview Middle School⭐ 7/10
Academy District 20
Challenger Middle School⭐ 6/10
Academy District 20
🏫 High Schools
Air Academy High School⭐ 7/10
Academy District 20, close to base
Pine Creek High School⭐ 8/10
Academy District 20, top-rated
Gates & Commute
- North Gate — Primary gate from I-25 Exit 156, 5-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:00 AM), 24/7 operations, most direct route to Colorado Springs via I-25
- South Gate — Accessed from North Gate Blvd/Stadium Blvd, shorter waits but more restricted hours, best for Pine Valley housing and football games
- Tip: North Gate backs up significantly during cadet events (football games, graduation, Parents' Weekend); check the USAFA events calendar
- Tip: I-25 between Monument and Colorado Springs can be a parking lot during snowstorms; the North Gate exit ramp queues onto the highway during rush hour
Internet Providers
- Xfinity (Comcast) — Dominant cable provider in Colorado Springs/Monument; speeds up to 1.2 Gbps; widely available and reliable
- CenturyLink / Quantum Fiber — DSL and expanding fiber coverage in newer developments; fiber up to 940 Mbps where available
- Ting / Metronet — Fiber providers expanding in select Colorado Springs neighborhoods; check per-address availability
- Starlink — Popular for Black Forest and rural properties where wired broadband is limited; excellent for remote work
- Top pick: Xfinity cable for most neighborhoods; Ting/Metronet fiber if available at your address
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary at the Cadet Area; shoppette and Class Six available
- The Promenade Shops at Briargate — 20 min south; outdoor lifestyle center with national retailers, restaurants, and a movie theater
- Chapel Hills Mall — 20 min south; traditional enclosed mall with Macy's, Dillard's, and food court
- Downtown Monument — Charming historic downtown with local boutiques, coffee shops, and farm-to-table restaurants; weekly farmers market in summer
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base King Soopers (Kroger), Safeway, Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Costco all along the I-25 corridor
Gyms & Recreation
- USAFA Fitness Center — State-of-the-art facility with indoor track, pools, climbing wall, weight rooms, and extensive group fitness classes
- Outdoor Recreation — Equipment rental (ski/snowboard, camping, mountain bikes), discounted lift tickets to Colorado ski resorts (Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail), and guided trips
- On-base: Two 18-hole golf courses (Eisenhower Blue and Silver courses with mountain views), hiking/biking trails throughout the 18,000-acre reservation, Falcon Stadium, and the iconic Cadet Chapel (currently under renovation, reopening 2027)
- Pike National Forest — Adjacent to the Academy; Rampart Range Road offers off-roading, dispersed camping, and trail access to the Front Range
- Garden of the Gods — 15 min south; iconic red rock formations with hiking, rock climbing, and biking — free admission, a Colorado Springs must-do
- Skiing: Breckenridge and Keystone are 2 hours west on US-24/Hwy 9; Monarch Mountain is 2.5 hours southwest
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: GS and NAF positions through USAJobs; 10th ABW, USAFA academic/faculty support, and AAFES/commissary hire regularly
- Colorado Springs defense: Peterson SFB (30 min), Schriever SFB (45 min), and Cheyenne Mountain SFS all offer additional cleared positions
- Defense contractors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Booz Allen, and Raytheon all have major Colorado Springs operations
- Private sector: Colorado Springs' tech, healthcare (UCHealth, Penrose-St. Francis), and tourism sectors are growing; significant remote-work community
- Remote work: Excellent broadband throughout the area; Mountain Time Zone is compatible with both East and West Coast schedules
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides career counseling, LinkedIn optimization workshops, and Colorado Springs job fairs
Local Attractions
- Garden of the Gods — Free, breathtaking red rock formations with accessible paved trails, rock climbing permits, and a visitor center; 15 min south
- Pikes Peak — 'America's Mountain' at 14,115 ft; summit via the Pikes Peak Highway, Cog Railway, or Barr Trail (advanced hikers); 30 min to the toll road entrance
- USAFA Cadet Chapel — Iconic mid-century modern architecture (reopening 2027 after renovation); the Cadet Area offers free public tours when open
- Manitou Springs — Quirky historic town 20 min south at the base of Pikes Peak with mineral springs, art galleries, the Penny Arcade, and the Manitou Incline (advanced hike)
- Old Colorado City — Historic district with 1800s architecture, art galleries, boutiques, and excellent dining; 20 min south
- Weekend trips: Royal Gorge Bridge (1 hr), Breckenridge skiing (2 hrs), Great Sand Dunes National Park (2.5 hrs), Denver (1 hr), Rocky Mountain National Park (2.5 hrs)
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
The iconic USAFA Cadet Chapel at the Air Force Academy
neighborhood
Monument, Colorado — top choice for USAFA families
housing
On-base family housing in the Pine Valley neighborhood
nature
Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, 15 minutes from USAFA
downtown
Downtown Colorado Springs, the urban hub for Academy families
restaurant
Farm-to-table dining in downtown Monument, Colorado