Located just outside Fayetteville, North Carolina, Fort Bragg is loved for its location. With the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, this duty station sets the stage for endless adventure.
Getting to Know the Fort Bragg Area
Fayetteville, NC, is a vibrant city with a rich history and a welcoming atmosphere. It blends Southern charm with modern amenities, offering a mix of cultural attractions, outdoor activities, and a lively downtown featuring historic sites, beautiful parks, and annual events. And it’s also home to the renowned Fort Bragg.
But Fort Bragg isn't the only military installation to call this beautiful region home. The military community stretches across the state.
Military bases near Fort Bragg:
Other bases within easy driving distance:
- Charlotte Air National Guard
- Raleigh National Guard
- Camp Lejeune
- New River MCAS
- Stone Bay
- Coast Guard Wilmington
- MOTSU
Fort Bragg Housing and Commuting Options
With nine distinct neighborhoods, Corvias provides homes and community for thousands of military family members who choose to live on post. Off base, you'll find single-family homes, apartments, townhomes, and historic lofts in downtown Fayetteville if that's what you’re searching for.
While many Fort Bragg families choose to make Fayetteville their home, others spread out into neighboring towns of Spring Lake, Raeford, Hope Mills, and Whispering Pines.
Choosing where to live depends on what side of the post you’ll be reporting to. Fort Bragg is large enough that you probably don’t want to increase your commute time by driving across it to get to work every day.
About 20 minutes to the east of Fort Bragg’s All American gate is popular Fayetteville. Spring Lake is about as close to the base as you can get. It’s located outside the north end of Fort Bragg and puts you near the Randolph Gate, the north post commissary, gas station, and on-base housing.
Those looking to create distance between work and home can direct their house hunt to Hope Mills and Raeford or even further toward Sanford or Pinehurst.
Account for road construction, which has become the norm, and the unique rush hour traffic created by 57,000 military service members driving to Fort Bragg and Pope Field each day.
To get a baseline idea, here’s a breakdown of average commute times to Fort Bragg without excessive traffic:
- Spring Lake: <5 minutes
- Fayetteville: 20 minutes
- Hope Mills: 20 minutes
- Raeford: 30 minutes
- Pinehurst: 45 minutes
- Sanford: 42 minutes
- Whispering Pines: 45 minutes
The median home cost in Fayetteville, NC, is about $240,000 at this time, while the average price to rent is $1,400 per month. To get an idea of your new budget and how much house you can afford, be sure to take a look at the North Carolina BAH Rates.
Sample BAH rates for Fort Bragg:
- E-5 with dependants: $1,785
- E-8 with dependants: $2,109
- O-3 with dependants: $2,142
- O-6 with dependants: $2,595
Military Spouse Employment
Opportunities for education and volunteering are abundant near Fort Bragg. Fayetteville State University and other colleges and schools are located in the area. Those interested in diving into part of the local community can donate their time to organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Triangle, and more.
Military spouses wanting to continue their careers will be interested to know that the unemployment rate for Fayetteville trends lower than the national unemployment rate. The area has some large employers near Fort Bragg, such as Cape Fear Health Systems, the City of Fayetteville, and the County Board of Educators. If your expertise falls outside those industries, you might find it worth driving to Raleigh.
Photo by Aranxa Esteve on Unsplash
Things to Do Near Fort Bragg
With typically mild weather all year, locals use the outdoors as their backdrop for nearly everything! Street festivals and outdoor concerts take place nearly every week. The Sicily Drop Zone, Markethouse in downtown Fayetteville, and ZipQuest Waterfall & Treetop Adventure are a few military family local favorites.
Coming up with fun day trips and weekend getaways is no trouble at all. Raven Rock State Park, NC Aquarium, and North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro are all within a few hours' drive. If you’re looking to make a longer trip out of it to unplug and play tourist, Asheville, Wilmington, and Charleston make incredible quick weekend destinations complete with irresistible charm and mouth-watering food.
Fort Bragg offers a mix of exciting opportunities and challenges. With its rich military history, strong community, and ample amenities, it’s a place where service members and their families can thrive. Whether exploring the local area or settling into base life, you’ll find plenty of resources and support to make your transition smooth and enjoyable.
Download MilitaryByOwner's free Military Family Guide to Fort Bragg (Liberty) to find out everything you need to know before your move.
