If it's your first time moving to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, a.k.a, the Army’s mother ship, there’s a lot of research to do! You’ve probably asked around and heard a lot of mixed feelings about Fort Bragg and Fayetteville. The base has legions of fans and some detractors, mostly because of preconceived notions and unpreparedness for arrival at an iconic military base and town.
The two names—Fort Bragg and nearby Fayetteville—are often used interchangeably for several reasons. Simple geography is one. There’s little room between where Fort Bragg ends and Fayetteville begins. Another reason is the huge population of military families that immerse themselves not only on base but also within the neighborhoods of Fayetteville. Lastly, it’s known that without each other, Fayetteville and Fort Bragg wouldn’t be as successful and productive as they are today.
Understanding the Fort Bragg/Fayetteville dynamic is just the first of many important things you need to know before moving to Fort Bragg. Here are 14 more.
There is certainly a particular lifestyle associated with living in a military-dominant town, but there are plenty of things to do and see, especially for a first time PCS. To maximize your time at Fort Bragg and get outing ideas, download the free Military Family Guide to Fort Bragg later in this post.
You’ll find a strong military presence near Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Raeford, Sanford, Spring Lake, and Hope Mills. Depending on where the service member works on Fort Bragg, one of these cities may be closer to their job.
Fort Bragg is spread over 250 square miles and encompasses 163,000 acres. The base is the largest Army installation by population, with nearly 50,000 active duty members, about 16,000 civilian employees, and 77,000 active duty family members.
But there are many more you might not know about. Here are a few more Fort Bragg units:
If your PCS is sending you to North Carolina, take a look at these Fort Bragg homes for sale and rent.
Pope Airfield and Simmons Army Airfield are the two airfields associated with Fort Bragg.
On Fort Bragg, you'll find one primary school for kids in grades PK to first grade, five elementary schools serving PK to grade 5, one intermediate school that educates grades two through five, and two middle schools that teach grades six through eight. Localities operate high schools, depending on where you live.
Some of Fort Bragg’s amenities include dozens of restaurants, medical clinics, fitness outlets, and churches. Families also love the ice rink, campgrounds, libraries, and convenient hotels. There are two very large commissaries, North and South Post, and the CDC system operates 12 facilities.
Fort Bragg homes for rent move quickly, so stay current with our updated listings.
However, the entire region attracts golfers year-round due to enviable playing weather. Pinehurst Resort, the “Anchor Site of the U.S. Open,” is under an hour’s drive away, at about 35 miles.
Amtrak has a historic station in downtown Fayetteville, and further out, a regional airport with easy access takes flyers to major cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington, DC, every day. If you prefer to drive to an international airport, Raleigh is the nearest large city, about 1.5 hours away.
Going west to the mountains is a 2+ hour drive, while heading east to the beach in Wilmington is about two hours.
Hot to warm to mild temperatures are the norm, with higher than average humidity. Occasional colder temperatures and some winter weather change up the scenery and provide coveted snow days simply because there isn’t the support to maintain roads properly.
Fort Bragg and Fayetteville have enjoyed growth opportunities in many capacities, which is a good thing. However, with improvement comes the necessary harassment of growth—traffic. Accommodating tens of thousands of people on and off post each day proves challenging at the heart of commute times, especially if a construction project is active.
Throughout the year, major non-profits host conferences. Career/job-bolstering events are also the norm on and off base.
As it's often said of any new military destination, especially one as storied as the Fort Bragg/Fayetteville area, your experience living there is framed by what you embrace about the location. Half the battle of moving to Ft. Bragg is learning where to live and finding fun things to do.