Fort Gordon is located just a few miles southwest of Augusta, Georgia. Augusta straddles the Georgia and South Carolina state line and the Savannah River. Once at Fort Gordon, you’ll officially become residents of the Central Savannah River Area, a.k.a. the CSRA.
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Fort Gordon's Ideal Location
Fort Gordon is one of those military installations you might not hear much about until you learn about PCSing to the area. One of Fort Gordon's best secrets is its "center of everything" map location. So if you’re one to maximize every new adventure a duty station offers, you’re in for a treat. You’ll have easy access to big metropolitan and historical cities, and have about a three-hour drive from the beach and mountain activities.
Fort Gordon is 140 miles east of Atlanta, 80 miles southwest of Columbia, South Carolina, and 122 miles northwest of Savannah, Georgia. If you have connections at other military bases nearby, these are the closest to Fort Gordon.
Military Installations Near Fort Gordon
Fort Gordon Housing
On-Base Housing
Balfour Beatty operates on base Fort Gordon homes via Providence Family Homes if you’re interested in living in military housing. The company manages six neighborhoods, with houses with two- to five-bedroom layouts in townhomes and single-family homes. The community is pet-friendly and walkable, and amenities include playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, and a fitness center.
Fort Gordon Homes Off-Base
You’ll find that many military families prefer living in off-base Fort Gordon homes after a PCS move. The cities around Fort Gordon are affordable, but military members choose their locations because of their specific features. They usually find homes in one of the following three cities.
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- Augusta has every convenience you might want in shopping, dining, and entertainment.
- Evans is family-friendly and was ranked #1 by Money as "Best Place to Live 2020."
- Grovetown has the shortest commute, wide-open spaces, and a rural feel.
Fort Gordon BAH Information
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S.-based allowance determined by geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status for a PCS move. It provides service members' compensation rates based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets when government quarters are not provided.
Learn more about your Basic Allowance for Housing and see the Army BAH rates for Fort Gordon with MilitaryByOwner's military BAH calculator.
A sample of Fort Gordon’s BAH categories for zip code 30905:
- E-5 with dependents: $2,028
- O-4 with dependents: $2,403
Life at Fort Gordon
Regardless of whether you live on- or off-base, you’ll find tight-knit communities with plenty of opportunities to experience the best of outdoor living, including festivals, concerts, and recreational activities such as nearby hiking trails and river activities.
Check out some of the popular things to do near Fort Gordon:
- Augusta Canal Cruise
- Augusta Green Jackets Minor League Baseball
- Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival
- The annual Border Bash for the GA vs. SC college football game
- Morris Museum of Art
- Augusta Riverwalk
- Savannah Rapids Visitor Center
- Riverside Park
- Columbia County Amphitheater
Photo by Wavebreakmedia from Getty Images via Canva.com
Military Family Life
If you weren’t familiar with PCSing to Fort Gordon, you probably have at least heard of Augusta, thanks to the historic golf tournament, The Masters. Each year, the tournament takes over the city for the first two weeks of April, and the excitement ripples into military family life. Golf draws flocks of tourists to Augusta, and the entire region buzzes with celebratory events.
Luckily, service members can attend The Masters through a lottery or by obtaining a limited number of donated official badges. Don’t worry if you miss your chance; you can join fellow golf enthusiasts on the "Best Golf Course in the Army," Eisenhower Lakes Golf Club.
Or, if you can’t play at The Masters, try one of these: The Best Golf Courses Near Military Bases.
If you’re looking for traditional military support groups and organizations to connect with the community, these are great places to start.
- Fort Gordon Military Spouses
- Fort Gordon Child and Youth Services
- Fort Gordon Army Community Service
- Fort Gordon MWR
- Fort Gordon Chapel & Religious Services/Organizations
Fort Gordon Schools
Three school districts serve families living in the Fort Gordon area.
Children living on Fort Gordon attend Richmond County schools: Freedom Park Elementary and The Academy of Richmond County. Children residing in Evans and Groveton attend Columbia County Schools. If your family lives in North Augusta, South Carolina, kids will attend school in Aiken County.
For more information about schools around Fort Gordon and the contact information for the Student Liaison Officer, check out Fort Gordon MWR’s School Support Services.
If you've made a PCS move to the South before, Fort Gordon is a good introduction, thanks to its modern meets traditional vibe, plus easy access to bucket list vacation spots, like Charleston, S.C. Augusta has all of the familiar stores and restaurants you're used to, but there’s plenty of Southern charm to add character and hospitality to the community.
