California has more military bases within its borders than most states: a whopping 32 bases are in CA, some from every military branch. The Navy and Marine Corps’ bases are clustered most heavily around San Diego. To learn more about each specific military base just click their name below.
California Military Bases
Air Force Bases

Beale Air Force Base in Marysville, CA
Marysville, California Military Bases
Just east of Marysville, California, Camp Beale is one of the larger US Air Force bases on the west coast. The military camp hosts the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, which is assigned to the Air Combat Command. It’s also a part of the 12th Air Force. The 9th Reconnaissance Wing is responsible for collecting intelligence that […]

Edwards Air Force Base in Edwards, CA
Edwards, California Military Bases
Edwards Air Force Base has been host to some of the most extensive aircraft testing in the United States. While the base started out humbly, it now has much acclaim. History of Edwards The area surrounding what we now know as the Edwards AFB was used as a water stop on the Southern Pacific Railroad […]

Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, CA
El Segundo, California Military Bases
Los Angeles Air Force Base is located in El Segundo, California. The base is located very near the Los Angeles Airport. The base is garrisoned by the 61st Air Base Wing, and is home to the Air Force Space Command’s Missile Systems Center headquarters also known as SMC or Space Missile Command. In 1961, the […]

Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA
Fairfield, California Military Bases
All of the air force military bases located all over the United States and even the whole world have long and treasured histories that not only contribute to the continued success of each military installations but also adds to the reputation of these military bases. One Air Force Base in particular has one such history, […]

Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, CA
Lompoc, California Military Bases
Vandenberg Air Force Base is located northwest of Lompoc, California in what used to be Camp Cooke. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). Vandenberg is responsible for space and missing testing by the Department of Defense with a mission to place satellites in polar orbit […]

March Air Reserve Base Air Force in Riverside, CA
Riverside, California Military Bases
March Air Reserve Base is one of the oldest military camps established in the United States, with its history beginnings dating back to 1918. It is located in the southern part of the state, between Moreno Valley and Riverside. During the past century, it was one of the most strategic points on the Western side […]

Mcclellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA
Sacramento, California Military Bases
Former base for archive purpose only. Not active anymore
Sacramento offers a wide variety of museums: from aircraft and aerospace museums to railroad, art and of course history. The number of temporary and permanent museums in the area will generally pique the interest, and one of the museums that can definitely give you a lot of insight into the rich history and culture of […]
Army Bases

Fort Irwin Army Base in Barstow, CA
Barstow, California Military Bases
Fort Irwin has a rich and varied history that goes back almost 15,000 years. It is believed that the Native Americans of the Lake Mojave Period lived in the area, though the first recorded Native American settlements and pioneer explorations didn’t occur until 1796. Father Francisco Barces from Spain traveled the Mojave Indian Trail that […]

Presidio Of Monterey Army Base in Monterey, CA
Monterey, California Military Bases
Presidio of Monterey, California is an active military base in Monterey run by the US Army. It is among the oldest in the area and has tight connection with the Spanish times. History The Spanish orders were clear in the 18-th century. The troops had to conquer the American continent in the name of their […]

Fort Hunter Liggett Army Base in Monterey, CA
Monterey, California Military Bases
There are hundreds of military bases scattered all throughout the United States as well as many other countries. They are owned and operated by each of the five branches of the military. Among these bases is Fort Hunter Liggett, one of four bases operated under the Army in the state of California. Fort Hunter Liggett […]

Camp Parks PRFTA Army Base in Dublin, CA
Dublin, California Military Bases
Camp Parks (PRFTA) is one of the less active bases within the United States, but one of the oldest ones in the area. Located in the eastern side of San Francisco, the base can be described as a sleeping giant. It is currently semi-active, but always ready to wake up whenever a war or a […]

Camp Haan Army Base in Riverside, CA
Riverside, California Military Bases
Former base for archive purpose only. Not active anymore
In November 1940, development began for a Coast Artillery Antiaircraft Replacement Training Center that as next to March Army Air Field now called Marsh Air Reserve Base. Known as Camp Haan, the base opened in 1941 at the height of World War II for the United States. At the time, it seemed necessary to build […]

Camp Roberts Army Base in Monterey, CA
Monterey, California Military Bases
Located on either side of the Salinas River in California, Camp Roberts is situated right in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. The land here once belonged to Native American Indians who hunted and fished these lands exploring areas all around where the camp is now located. Camp Roberts is just off Highway 101, which […]

Camp San Luis Obispo Army Base in San Luis Obispo, CA
San Luis Obispo County, California Military Bases
Camp San Luis Obispo at one time served as an Infantry Division Camp and Cantonment Area for the US Army during the second World War. Today, it’s still maintained and includes a heliport, warehouse complex, workshops, maintenance facilities, administrative buildings, chapels, two service clubs, two theaters, laundry and post exchange. The history of Camp San […]

Sierra Army Depot Army Base in Herlong, CA
Herlong, California Military Bases
Base Contact Information Sierra Army Depot: 530-827-4343, DSN-312-855-4343 Public Lodging: 530-827-4662, DSN-312-855-4154 ID and Visitors Information: 530-827-4108 Geography and Area Information The Sierra Army Depot is located at 40°15′58.19″N 120°09′09.43″W in the unincorporated community of Herlong California directly off of State Highway 395 and covers 36,000 acres (56.25sqmi). Due to the nature of the Depots […]
Coast Guard Bases

ISC Alameda Coast Guard Base in Alameda, CA
Alameda, California Military Bases
Integrated Support Command Alameda is a wide installation located in the western part of California, in Alameda. The base belongs to the United States Coast Guard. It is located on a small island that can also be accessed through a long bridge. Coast Guard Island, as it is referred to, spreads over almost 70 acres […]

Tracen Petaluma Coast Guard Base in Petaluma, CA
Petaluma, California Military Bases
TRACEN Petaluma is one of the three training sites operated by the United States Coast Guard to educate and improve the skills of its military units. The other two centers are located in Virginia and New Jersey. The one in Petaluma is one of the two centers that host the A schools. The other such […]
Joint Bases

Los Alamitos Joint Forces in Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos, California Military Bases
Base Contact Information Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos Base Operations: 562-795-2151, DSN: 312-972-2000 Billeting: 562-795-2124 Base Police: 562-796-2100. Geography and Area Information Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base, or Los Alamitos Army Airfield, is a jointly used military airfield located at 33°47′24″N 118°03′05″W, one mile south east of central Los Alamitos California. The facility […]

San Joaquin Depot Joint Operations San Joaquin County, CA
San Joaquin County, California Military Bases
Base Contact Information San Joaquin Depot Base Operations Office: 209-839-4050, DSN: 462-4050 Billeting/Lodging/PCS Information: 209-982-2230, DSN: 462-2230 Geography and Area Information The San Joaquin Depot is actually composed of two separate facilities within San Joaquin County California; Tracy and Lathrop. The center point of both facilities falls approximately 16 miles south of Stockton California directly […]
Marine Bases

MCLB Barstow Marine Corps Base in Barstow, CA
Barstow, California Military Bases
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow is located in the immediate proximity – only 6 kilometers – of the city with the same name, in the southern part of California. The installation is run by the United States Marine Corps. It is better known among the officials for the Logistics Bases’ Maintenance Center. There are only […]

Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in San Diego, CA
San Diego, California Military Bases
Camp Pendleton, California is the most important base located on the western side of the United States. It is the base with the most ambitious, intense and successful amphibious training activities. Located close to the ocean in South California, the camp is in the middle of nowhere, close to the Cleveland National Forest. History The […]

MCAS Miramar Marine Corps Base in San Diego, CA
San Diego, California Military Bases
MCAS Miramar, California is located about 15 km from San Diego and is operated by the US Marine Corps. The airfield the base hosts is named in the honor of M. A. Mitscher, a courageous commander who led during World War II. If the base is famous in the Marine Corps for its techniques and […]

MCRD San Diego Marine Corps Base in San Diego, CA
San Diego, California Military Bases
The Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is one of the largest training centers in the world. It deals with the recruitment and training of all the interested males living in the western side of the Mississippi River. More than 20000 males are recruited and instructed in basic operations on a yearly basis. The base […]

Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Twentynine Palms, CA
Twentynine Palms, California Military Bases
Twentynine Palms, California – also known as MCAGCC (Combat Center) – is run by the Marine Corps and located in the San Bernardino County. By the 2010 census, the base hosted 8413 individuals. The terrain consists of small, yet abrupt mountains, turning the place into a perfect training field for troops under severe conditions. Believe […]

Mountain Training Center Marine Corps Pickel Meadows, CA
Pickel Meadows, California Military Bases
Mountain Training Center is a military facility located in a hardly accessible area in California. It is located in the Tolyabe Forest, about 30 kilometers away from Bridgeport. The base was established with the clear purpose to train elite forces in the harshest environments. It is operated by the United States Marine Corps. Mission Mountain […]

Camp Pendleton’s Camp Talega Part of San Diego, CA
, California Military Bases
Camp Talega is based north on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. This camp is the only section not a part of San Diego County. The camp’s nickname used to be ‘Tent Camp 3 ½.’ Ever since 1958, This camp commenced out as a tent camp when the Base was first occupied by the Marine Corps […]
Navy Bases

NAWS China Lake Navy Base in China Lake, CA
China Lake, California Military Bases
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is established in the western part of the Mojave Desert area of California, unlike most expectations. Whenever they run into this name, people automatically think it has something to do with China. In fact, China is among the multitude of countries where the United States of America don’t have […]

Naval Base Coronado Navy Base in San Diego, CA
San Diego, California Military Bases
Naval Base Coronado is located over the San Diego bay and operated by the US Navy. The base was built on Silver Strand, close to the Pacific Ocean. It is an important and vital base for the US Navy due to hosting around 30 tenant units. It hosts more than 5000 military troops, with 7000 […]

NAS Lemoore Navy Base in Lemoore, CA
Lemoore, California Military Bases
NAS Lemoore, California is located in the central part of the state and covers two counties – Fresno and Kings. A small part of it – the Lemoore station – is one of the few military based census designated areas. The military base is actually a jet base. It is the most important and largest […]

North Island Naval Complex Navy Base in San Diego, CA
San Diego, California Military Bases
North Island Naval Complex is among the largest and most significant military facilities the United States Navy controls and owns. The place was established in San Diego Bay, on the northern part of Coronado peninsula. It is one of the multitude of military bases operated by the US Navy in California. The base is commanded […]

Point Loma Navy Base in San Diego, CA
San Diego, California Military Bases
Base Contact Information Naval Base Point Loma base operator (619) 553-1011, DSN 553-1011 Housing (619) 556-8443 Public Affairs (619) 553-7175 Geography and Area Information Naval Base Point Loma is located in San Diego California at 32°40′37″N, 117°14′41″W on the Pacific coast. The peninsula the base occupies is directly west of Coronado Island, another US Naval […]

NAS Point Mugu Navy Base in Poing Mugu, CA
Point Mugu, California Military Bases
Naval Air Station Point Mugu is one of the military bases established in the United States of America that no longer operate as independent bases. The air station is located in the southwestern side of California, in Ventura County. The base popularity and usage didn’t always place it among the most important ones in the […]

Naval Battalion Center Navy Base in Port Hueneme, CA
Port Hueneme, California Military Bases
Naval Battalion Center is the main source and official name for the best civil engineers in the United States Navy. The professionals working in this group are generally referred to as the Seabees. In fact, this name is actually more popular than the official one. It comes from the two initials of the name – […]

NS San Diego Navy Base in San Diego, CA
San Diego, California Military Bases
Naval Station San Diego is one of the multitude of military bases in California owned and operated by the United States Navy. In fact, this is the largest one located on the West Coast. It is the base with the most important operations in the Pacific. It hosts more than 50 ships on 13 piers. […]

Naval Medical Center Navy Base in San Diego, CA
San Diego, California Military Bases
Coming as one of the dozens of military installations of California, Naval Medical Center California is one of the most complete facilities and benefits from some of the latest technologies in the medical world. The center is more than just a basic medical clinic. It also hosts a few laboratories for drug screening operations and […]

Naval Air Facility Navy Base in El Centro, CA
El Centro, California Military Bases
Naval Air Facility El Centro is one of the multitude of military bases located in California. It was established in the southern part of the state, in Imperial County, only about 10 kilometers away from El Centro. The base is actually an airport and only deals with military operations. It is commanded by Captain James […]

Naval Hospital Pendleton Navy Base Camp Pendleton, CA
Camp Pendleton, California Military Bases
Naval Hospital Pendleton is among the ramified network of medical facilities operated and owned by the United States Navy in the United States of America. The US Navy is probably the military field with the largest such network in the country. There are multiple clinics and centers spread around each particular state. This one is […]

Naval Postgraduate School Navy Base in Monterey, CA
Monterey, California Military Bases
Naval Postgraduate School is one of the accredited institutions owned and run by the United States Navy. The university is based on research studies exclusively. It was established in Monterey, right on the western side of California. It is one of the most prestigious universities on the American West Coast. At the same time, its […]

NWS Seal Beach Navy Base in Seal Beach, CA
Seal Beach, California Military Bases
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach is one of the military facilities with multiple detachments. It is located in Seal Beach, in the southwestern part of California. All of its three detachments are located in the same state, in San Diego, Concord and Fallbrook. The one in San Diego is the most important one. The base […]

Chocolate Mountain Range Navy in Chocolate Mountain, CA
Chocolate Mountains, California Military Bases
Chocolate Mountain Range is one of the widest and most important training sites in the United States of America. The range covers not less than 1850 square kilometers and is about 30 kilometers in breadth and 75 kilometers in length. The area is restricted and no one can get in, except for the authorized personnel. […]

Military Ocean Terminal Concord Navy Base Concord, CA
Concord, California Military Bases
Base Contact Information Military Ocean Terminal Concord base operations: (925) 246-4041, DSN: 488-8000 Geography and Area Information Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) is located at 37° 59′ 39″ N, 121° 58′ 58″ W just north of the city of Concord California in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. The base is comprised of two sections, […]