Located in Northern California’s Solano County, Travis Air Force Base is a major hub for US military airlift and aerial refueling operations. The installation is home to the 60th Air Mobility Wing, along with the 621st Contingency Response Wing, 349th Air Mobility Wing, as well as over 50 partner organizations. More than 26,000 active-duty servicemembers, reservists, and civilian employees are assigned to Travis.
Its location between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento also gives servicemembers and military families access to everything from major cities and employment centers to wine country and outdoor activities.
But what is it like to call Travis AFB home? From housing and healthcare to schools, childcare, employment, and life in Northern California, here’s what servicemembers and military families should know before settling in.
Whether you’re PCSing on your own or with family, Travis AFB offers several housing options and resources to help you find the right fit.
One important consideration is cost. Travis is in a relatively high-cost-of-living area, so it can be helpful to compare your BAH with local housing expenses and factor in commute, schools, childcare, and other household costs before deciding where to live.
A PCS comes with plenty of logistics, but the Travis Military & Family Readiness Center can help servicemembers and families navigate them.
The center provides assistance with relocation, employment, financial readiness, transition, deployments, and other aspects of military life. It can also connect families with information and referrals for additional resources on and off base.
Whether you need help preparing for your move or getting connected once you arrive, the center can be a valuable resource throughout your assignment.
Servicemembers and eligible family members have access to extensive healthcare resources through David Grant USAF Medical Center at Travis AFB.
David Grant is the largest Air Force medical center in the continental US and provides a broad range of healthcare services to military beneficiaries. The medical center also serves as a teaching hospital and supports both Department of War (DoW) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries across Northern California.
As with any PCS, TRICARE beneficiaries should update their information and confirm their healthcare options after moving, particularly if ongoing or specialty care is needed.
If you’re moving with school-age children, your school options will depend largely on where you choose to live.
School-age children living on Travis AFB are served by Travis Unified School District. Scandia Elementary and Travis Elementary are located on base, while Center Elementary, Golden West Middle School, and Vanden High School are located adjacent to the installation. Families living outside the district may attend schools in other nearby districts based on their home address.
The installation’s School Liaison Program can help families navigate school transitions, including enrollment, local school options, special education, college and career readiness, and other issues affecting military-connected students.
Travis AFB has three Child Development Centers offering weekly and, when available, hourly childcare for children ages six weeks to five years. Families seeking full-time care can submit requests through MilitaryChildCare.com.
The installation also has a Family Child Care program, which provides licensed home-based childcare and can help accommodate extended work hours and other unique scheduling needs.
For older children, Travis offers School Age Care for ages 5-12, including before- and after-school care, as well as youth programs for preteens and teens.
Because childcare spaces can fill quickly, if you know you’ll need care you may want to begin researching your options as soon as you receive orders.
A PCS can mean a career transition for military spouses, but Travis AFB offers resources to help make the process a little easier.
The Military & Family Readiness Center provides employment readiness services for military spouses, including support with the challenges that can come with relocating, such as transferring professional licenses and rebuilding career connections in a new area.
Travis is also one of the first installations participating in the Global Military Spouse Connection (GMSC), a Department of the Air Force pilot program launched in 2026. The program gives eligible spouses of active-duty Air Force servicemembers the opportunity to connect with federal employment resources before arriving at their new duty station.
Through the program, qualified spouses can submit their resumes to a centralized talent pool. Human resources professionals and hiring managers at Travis can then review those resumes for potential matches with current or anticipated federal job openings. Participation doesn’t guarantee employment, but it can give eligible spouses a head start on their job search before a PCS is complete.
Military spouses interested in employment assistance or the GMSC program can contact the Military & Family Readiness Center for more information.
Travis AFB offers a variety of recreational facilities and programs that can make it easier to stay active and connect with the military community.
Outdoor Recreation offers equipment rentals, an indoor rock wall, an aquatic center, RV storage, an equestrian center, and other recreational resources. Organized activities can also help servicemembers and families take advantage of Northern California’s hiking, biking, camping, paddling, skiing, and other outdoor opportunities.
The installation also has a commissary and exchange, giving families convenient access to many everyday necessities.
Programs and events offered throughout the year can also provide opportunities for newly arrived servicemembers and families to meet others and get more involved in the Travis community.
One of the biggest advantages of a Travis AFB assignment is its Northern California location. The installation sits near Fairfield and Vacaville, between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento.
That puts a wide range of destinations within reach for day trips and weekends. Families can explore the restaurants, museums, entertainment, and attractions of San Francisco and Sacramento, spend time in nearby wine country, or head farther into Northern California for hiking, camping, skiing, and other outdoor recreation.
If you’re arriving from a duty station with four distinct seasons, Northern California weather may take some adjustment.
The Travis area generally experiences warm, dry summers and relatively mild, wet winters. Most of the area’s annual rainfall occurs between November and March, while summer months typically see little precipitation.
The region’s climate also makes outdoor recreation possible throughout much of the year, although conditions can vary considerably depending on where you travel. A trip toward the coast, into the mountains, or farther inland can mean very different temperatures and weather.
Once you arrive, getting familiar with Northern California’s seasonal conditions can help you plan everything from your daily commute to weekend travel.
Travis AFB traces its history to World War II. Construction of the installation began in 1942, and Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base officially activated in 1943. Its location quickly made it an important aerial port and supply transfer point for operations in the Pacific.
The base was renamed Travis Air Force Base in 1951 in honor of Brigadier General Robert F. Travis, who was killed when a B-29 crashed at the installation in 1950.
Over the decades, Travis developed into a major center for strategic airlift, aerial refueling, and global mobility.
A new duty station comes with plenty to learn, but knowing what to expect can make settling in easier. At Travis AFB, you’ll find an established military community, extensive healthcare and family resources, a major global mobility mission, and access to destinations throughout Northern California.
Whether you’re arriving on your own or with a family, getting familiar with your housing, schools, childcare, employment, and support options early can help you settle in — and make the most of your time at Travis.