What to Know for a PCS to the Pentagon

Many wonder what the term "The Pentagon" encompasses. The Pentagon has an air of mystery because it houses some of the U.S. military’s most powerful operations, yet unlike most military installations, everyday access is not widely available. The Pentagon is the Department of War’s headquarters, and the names are often used interchangeably.

Wondering what it's like to PCS to the Pentagon? Read on for more details, since there's a chance that sometime in your military career, you'll spend time in one of the largest office buildings in the world.

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Get to Know the Pentagon

The Pentagon is an enormous office complex that's shaped like a pentagon when viewed from above. About 25,000 military and civilian employees walk from 16 parking lots, climb 131 stairways, and traverse about 17.5 miles of corridors daily.

Those assigned to the Pentagon won’t find many of the typical features of military bases, such as housing, but there are amenities that both civilians and military members have access to, like shopping, food options, ID offices, dry cleaning, and banking.

The Pentagon's Location

Many misunderstand where the Pentagon is located because it straddles Washington, DC, and Virginia. The Pentagon is in Arlington, Virginia, near the banks of the Potomac River, but it uses six Washington, DC, zip codes as designated mailing addresses.

The Pentagon is in the National Capital Region (NCR), and it's also part of the DMV (Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia). You may also see the nickname NoVA (Northern Virginia) when researching the area.

Where Is NoVA?

The NoVA region encompasses many counties and cities. Generally speaking, NoVA stretches from the northeastern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia, along the borders of Maryland and Washington, DC, down to Fairfax and Prince William counties.

Military Installations Near the Pentagon

Because of the area's dense military activity, many installations are near the Pentagon. These are the primary military bases in DC (collectively) near the Pentagon.

Where to Live Near the Pentagon

The Pentagon doesn't have on-base housing. The surrounding bases of Fort Belvoir, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (closest Army bases), Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Joint Base Andrews (closest Air Force bases), and NSA Fort Meade, Maryland, all have housing options for eligible service members.

Most people who are assigned to work at the Pentagon live in Washington, DC, Virginia, or Maryland. Choosing an off-base home often comes down to weighing personal preferences associated with budget, commute, and school accessibility.

Where Should Military Families Live Near the Pentagon?

Arlington (Pentagon City is one of many Arlington neighborhoods), Alexandria, Springfield, Woodbridge, and Stafford are some of the popular off-base options to live in Northern Virginia.

Housing costs generally increase the closer you are to Washington, DC, major employment centers, and highly rated school districts. Communities such as Arlington and Alexandria often offer shorter commutes but come with higher home prices and rental rates. Families looking for more space and affordability often consider areas farther south, including Stafford, where larger homes are more common but commuting times are typically longer.

The NoVA Housing Market

Northern Virginia's housing market is highly competitive. Homes and rental properties move quickly, and cash offers are common in many neighborhoods. Military families relocating from lower-cost areas may find both rental and home purchase prices significantly higher than expected, making it important to plan ahead and budget accordingly.

Before choosing a location, consider factors such as commute times, school preferences, housing budget, and lifestyle priorities. Because housing markets and regulations vary across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC, it's also helpful to work with a real estate professional who is familiar with your preferred area and licensed in that location.

For a closer look at one of the region's most popular military-friendly communities, explore our guide to Living in Alexandria, VA.

Commuting to the Pentagon

Public transportation is an integral way of commuting to the Pentagon. Service members use public transportation for multiple reasons. It saves time and money because the military provides a stipend, and parking at the Pentagon is limited. Not all employees have an official space, and if they do, it could easily be a 20-minute walk to enter the building.

To help commuters, the Pentagon has both Metro and bus routes conveniently at the entrance. Express buses and shuttles pick up and drop off military commuters daily in popular commuting Alexandria neighborhoods, Arlington neighborhoods, and Springfield neighborhoods, and on some bases, such as Fort Belvoir and JBAB.

Pentagon Commuting Realities

How bad is the Pentagon commute? This is a common question, and it depends on both the location you choose and your tolerance for traffic. Pentagon City is the ideal choice for a walkable location with virtually no commute.

If you want a more affordable home with land, find a property with more space down south in Stafford, but plan for traffic times that could take hours each way. However, you can investigate public transportation options, like the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), to reduce commute length.

MilitaryByOwner is the place to connect with Pentagon homes for rent, Pentagon homes for sale, military housing availability, and the best places to live in northern VA.

Pentagon School Options for Military Families

Since the Pentagon is in an urban area, the local governments of Washington, DC; Virginia; and Maryland offer multiple outstanding public schooling options. There are many private schools, but they frequently come with a high price tag. Resources for homeschoolers are abundant, and many are free.

There are many school choices, but it’s a balancing act to mix commute times and housing payments with your desired school district. Learn more about schools near the Pentagon:

Join local Facebook or online neighborhood groups for military members for insights on educating children in the greater Washington, DC, region. You can ask specific questions like, "What is the best Arlington high school?"

Check out GAMS—National Capital Region Military Spouses for quick military spouse connections near the Pentagon.

Military Family Support

There's abundant support for military families on and around the Pentagon. The Washington, DC, area is inundated with various entities that provide support systems. From employment to education and recreation, groups are eager to share opportunities with military families.

Some recognizable organizations include Military Officers Association of America, National Military Family Association, Hiring Our Heroes, and Blue Star Families.

There isn’t a better region among military destinations for military spouses to take advantage of the amazing number of resources designed specifically for them. The area provides outlets to further education, examine career resources, or volunteer for the multitude of worthy causes for both military and non-military related organizations.

Things to Do Near the Pentagon

There's a host of activities to do near DC. It's helpful to talk to military families who've already lived in the area, or local family and friends, to get an idea of must-see attractions. Time passes quickly, and before military families know it, they're scrambling to fit in last-minute adventures before their next PCS.

There’s something for everyone: festivals, museums, food, wine, and sports. Events like the Cherry Blossom Festival, Marine Corps Marathon, and National Christmas Tree Lighting require planning since those openings fill quickly.

Read publications like the Washingtonian, The DC Patch, and military family Facebook groups to stay up-to-date with local events.

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Popular Destinations Near the Pentagon

Visiting Mount Vernon
The Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring
National Christmas Tree Lighting
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Professional football, baseball, basketball, and hockey games
Great Falls National Park
Shenandoah Valley

The challenge is to become flexible enough to take advantage of unexpected opportunities that pop up. Impromptu invitations to one-of-a-kind events are common because of many nearby bases or thanks to any number of family-friendly military organizations in the NCR.

After families check off famous tourist attractions like the Smithsonian museums and monuments, it’s common to stick close to home and tour the local area, especially in Alexandria, given its historical significance.

One of the first tours military families often take is of the Pentagon itself. Schedule your tour well in advance, as they fill up quickly. Consider using the Metro instead of trying to find a parking space.

Your PCS to the Pentagon

Life near the Pentagon moves quickly, but it also offers experiences that are difficult to find anywhere else in the military. From exploring the nation's capital to connecting with military families from every branch of service, an assignment in the National Capital Region can be both professionally rewarding and personally memorable.

Research housing options, understand commuting realities, and take advantage of the many resources available to military families. Before long, you'll be settling into your new community and making the most of everything the Pentagon area has to offer.

Download our free guide below to learn more about housing, schools, commuting, and military life in the National Capital Region.

What to Know for a PCS to the Pentagon

Dawn M. Smith