Air Force Base Hotels To Visit
My husband and I love to travel.
How can anyone afford to vacation nowadays when hotel costs are higher than ever? When I went to visit my hubby at tech school I found out a major military traveling hack: Air Force Inns. You could end up cutting your vacations costs by more than half by staying at the Air Force Inns and using your Military discounts at popular attractions all over the United States.
Staying at a hotel is one of the highest costs of vacationing. The average price of a hotel is about $90-200 per night (unless you’re OK with rats and bed bugs) which really adds up! When I went to visit my hubby at tech school I stayed at the Air Force Inns. For $62 per night, I had a one bedroom family suit that included a full kitchen, living room, bathroom, and washer/dryer (and it included a pack and play for my son). My favorite part: I felt safe because I was on a Military base.
Thats when we came up with an idea: we would make a “bucket list” of bases that have Air Force Inns and plan vacations around those locations. While Air Force Inns are located around the world, the list includes locations in the United States only. Find out more about Air Force Inns here.
Hanson AFB, MA
The base itself features a swimming pool, bowling alley, seaside recreation area, outdoor recreation and a 9-hole regulation golf course. The outdoor recreation has picnic spots, grilling areas with same day propane refills and kayaks and conoes to rent. Nearby attractions include wine tours, the provincetown ferry, baseball games, water parks and Six Flags New England. This base is also located about 30 minutes from Boston which is one of my favorite cities. My favorite things to do in Boston are the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium. Quincy Market is also well known for shopping and amazing restaurants.
Niagara Falls AFB, NY
I’ve always wanted to go to Niagra Falls. My husband has gone there as a child with his family but I have never gone. Needless to say, I was pretty excited to find out that there is an Air Force Inn at Niagra Falls AFB. Niagra Falls is a well known waterfall that is located across the boarder of NY and Canada. Attractions include hiking, camping, boating, fishing, shopping, Niagra Falls state park, golf, wineries, and more. Click here for more things to do in Niagra Falls.
Andrews AFB, MD
Washington DC is another area I am dying to visit. Andrews AFB is located less than a half hour from Washington DC. Landmarks on my bucket list include: Washington Monument, Fords Theatre, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Abraham Lincoln Memorial, and of course, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I can just see my husband running around like a kid in a candy store, he loves Military history.
Homestead AFB, FL
Less than an hour from Miami, Homestead has plenty of museums, shopping, wineries, and is also located near the Everglades National Park. Of course when we go there, we will probably spend most of our time on the beaches of Miami.
Side note– A lot of these attractions have discounts for Military families. Have you got your Ultimate Discount list yet? It includes over 50 pages of Discounts, codes, and special instructions. Vacationing has never seemed more affordable!
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Patrick AFB, FL
Patrick AFB is located about an hour from Orlando, which includes attractions such as Sea world, Busch Gardens, Gatorland, Legoland. BONUS: Most of those places also give discounted tickets for Military families.
Luke AFB, AZ
I have never been to Arizona but it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. Luke AFB is located right outside of Phoenix. Phoenix is home of some amazing attractions that include: The Heard Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona Science Center, North Mountain Preserve, Papago Park and Phoenix Zoo. Also, the Grand Canyon is about three and a half hours away, which is completely doable for a day trip!
Vandenberg AFB, CA
Vandenberg AFB is located on the beaches of California and is home of USAF Space Launch! Honestly, looking at pictures of this base- I probably wouldn’t even leave it. However, I might take a day trip (or two) to Santa Barbara which is about an hour away. Santa Barbara has beautiful beaches and is home of the Santa Barbara Zoo, Museum of Natural History, Museum of Art, and Botanic Garden. Santa Barbara also has things to do such as bike tours, boat tours, dolphin & whale watching, and scuba & snorkeling.
Nellis AFB, NV
Located about 30 minutes from Las Vegas, this vacation probably would not emulate “The Hangover” for us. Vegas has a lot more than strip clubs and casinos and can be an awesome family friendly vacation. I would absolutely love to try the High Roller Ferris Wheel on the Linq, take a helicopter ride of Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, go indoor skydiving, and see a show at the Colosseum. Adventure at it’s best!
Hill AFB, UT
Hill AFB is located about 30 minutes from Salt Lake City. The city has so many family attractions that the kids would love. Just to name a few: Utah’s Hogle Zoo, Gallivan Center, Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, Natural History Museum, Clark Planetarium, and Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. I have always wanted to go to a planetarium!
Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, AK
Admittedly there isn’t much out in Alaska but my husband says it’s one of the most beautiful places in the US. He says theres nothing like the mountains and wildlife. Elmendorf is located about 15 minutes from Anchorage, which is the most populated city in Alaska. There are plenty of things you can do to soak in the wildlife like glacier & wildlife cruises, eco tours, kayaking, rafting, railroad tours and flightseeing.
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Disclaimer: I can not speak for the price, condition, or amenities of all Air Force Inns, I have only been to Keesler in Biloxi, MI. Find out more by visiting DoD Lodging or calling the specific Base Hotel. Keesler Air Force Inns would not let me book my room until 3 days prior to my arrival, other locations may have the same rule.
