If you haven’t stayed at a military campground or hotel, you might wonder what the big deal is. Let’s look at why so many military families hit the road and use apps like FamCamps to find the best military lodging sites to set up their temporary homes.
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Military Lodging and Campgrounds Are Accessible and Convenient
Military lodging facilities and campgrounds are all over the country and near or on U.S. installations abroad. Active-duty families use these on-base lodging options for affordable, safe, and convenient respites, especially during a PCS move.
Military retirees can also use the facilities for vacations or because they’ve embraced the permanent home/RV lifestyle, traveling the country with the freedom to come and go as they please. Military lodging for veterans ranges anywhere from bare-bones campsites without electricity to full-hook-up sites, beach cottages, simple cabins, basic inns, and resort-style hotels. The appeal is widespread among military ID card holders. Here’s what makes them so appealing.
Why Military Campgrounds and Lodging Are Popular
1. They fit your military budget.
Unless you’re using points with your credit card, you get more for your money on base. Sure, you can haggle with the hotel management for a lower rate and hunt for military travel deals, but is that how you want to spend your time during a chaotic PCS move?
For the price of a regular hotel room, you probably could reserve a suite on base and give the kids their own room for the same price. Everyone knows a PCS is expensive. Military discounts and savings, especially when moving, are a major reason to stay in military lodging or a military campground.
2. They offer additional safety and security.
Safety is arguably the most compelling reason to stay on base. By law, military installations screen who is allowed through the gate. The process isn’t perfect, but there's significantly more security compared to a typical campground. You have no idea who is sleeping in the tent next to you, nor do you have many options to secure your belongings while you’re away from your site.
Whether sleeping in a tent, a camper, or a military hotel, the installation is safer than many civilian facilities. The sense of security offers one less thing to worry about when traveling with your family.
3. There's a built-in convenience factor.
Most lodging facilities and military campgrounds sit directly on military installations. They’re easy to find and extremely convenient when you're in the middle of a military move and need a place to stay while you’re looking for a home or packing up your house. And the shoppette, exchange, commissary, post office, pools, laundry, restaurants, and more are just a few miles away.
Pet parents know that finding a pet-friendly hotel is one of the most challenging chores of the whole PCS or vacation process. Military lodging tends to be more accommodating, with fewer breed restrictions and less expensive for pets.
If there isn’t availability, don’t forget to check the installation for pet care centers. You may find pet boarding available at reasonable prices with military discounts.
4. Some locations add a touch of luxury.
Some military lodging facilities are more than a great place to crash for the night, offering resort and luxury features that break up the routine of a PCS and feel more like a vacation destination.
Military lodging such as the New Sanno in Tokyo, Shades of Green in Orlando, and Hale Koa in Honolulu deserve to be your reason to vacation and give you something to look forward to after a long PCS.
Some in-demand locations, including those listed above, require active duty orders to make a reservation, while others do not. It's important to check the hotel's reservation policy before planning your big vacation. If there isn’t a vacancy when you need it, don’t forget to ask about a wait or cancellation list.
Military Camping and Lodging Facility FAQs
1. What do I need to book a military lodging facility?
To reserve a campsite or book a room at one of the military lodging facilities, you’ll need:
- A current military ID or CAC card
- Credit or debit card
- Orders (if receiving PCS rates and priority placement)
- Dates for reservation
- Pet info (if applicable)
2. What are the best FamCamps?
Here are a few of the most popular military campgrounds.
Seward Military Resort, Alaska
Located on Alaska’s stunning Kenai Peninsula, this military recreation destination offers cabins and RV sites surrounded by mountains, forests, and abundant wildlife. It’s an ideal spot for fishing, hiking, kayaking, and exploring the nearby Kenai Fjords.
Barking Sands Beach Cottages, Kauai
Sitting along Kauai’s western shore, Barking Sands gives military families a chance to sleep steps from the beach. Its relaxed setting makes it an especially appealing option for enjoying the quiet side of rural Kauai without the crowds of a traditional resort.
Kilauea Military Camp, Hawaii
Kilauea Military Camp has cabins and recreational facilities surrounded by volcanic landscapes right inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. Families can explore the park’s trails, craters, and unforgettable views from their doorstep.
Bellows Air Force Station, Oahu
With beachfront cabins and camping, Bellows offers military families a chance to enjoy one of Hawaii’s most beautiful beaches without paying premium prices.
The Hale Koa Campground and Beach Cottages at Secret Beach on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, also on Oahu, are ideal for low-traffic, private beach access for young swimmers, paddle boarding, kayaking, and snorkeling. The MCBH Marina offers rentals, including pontoon boats for venturing out to the well-loved sandbar for a day of relaxing in the sun.
Big Bear Recreation Facility, Southern California
Nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains, just a couple of hours from San Diego and Los Angeles, Big Bear is a mountain escape featuring cabins, camping, and year-round outdoor recreation. Families enjoy boating and hiking in warmer months and skiing, snowboarding, and sledding during the winter.
Fort Fisher Recreation Area, North Carolina
South of Wilmington, North Carolina, Fort Fisher provides cabins and campsites with beach access. This laid-back coastal destination is ideal for swimming, fishing, and outdoor exploration.
Okuma Beach, Okinawa, Japan
On Okinawa’s northern coastline, Okuma Beach is a tropical getaway with beachfront cabins, camping, and plenty of water-based recreation. With its white-sand beach, clear Okinawan waters, miniature golf course, and Surfside Grill & Bar, it feels more like a resort vacation than a typical military campground.
3. What kind of amenities are found at military family campgrounds?
Military lodging facilities usually include full RV hookups, clean bathhouses, a laundry room, access to the mini-mart, playgrounds, a commissary, a gas station, and free Wi-Fi at the check-in location. Some locations include private beach access, miniature golf courses, pools, hiking trails, on-site restaurants, and outdoor recreation equipment.
Interested in experiencing the convenience and comfort of military lodging for veterans yourself? If you’d like to learn how the systems work, plan a staycation in your region. Duty stations like Washington, DC, Hawaii, and the Florida panhandle have multiple installations with on-base lodging and camping options. It’s a low-stakes way to see if military lodging will work for your family's PCS or vacation in the future.
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