Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force air base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command (AMC), located three miles (5 km) east of the central business district of Fairfield, in Solano County.
Travis AFB includes approximately 7,260 active USAF military personnel, 4,250 Air Force Reserve personnel and 3,770 civilians.
Travis has a major impact on the community as a number of military families and retirees have chosen to make Fairfield their permanent home. It is the largest employer in the city and Solano County as well, with a workforce contributing more than $1 billion annually to the local economy.
The base’s host unit, the 60th Air Mobility Wing, is the largest wing in the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command, with a versatile fleet of 26 C-5 Galaxies, 27 KC-10 Extenders, and 13 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
In addition, the base’s former Strategic Air Command Alert Facility is now a U.S. Navy complex that typically supports two transient Navy E-6B Mercury TACAMO aircraft assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron THREE (VQ-3), home-based at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.
The base is also host to the David Grant USAF Medical Center, a 265-bed, $200 million Air Force teaching hospital, which serves both in-service and retired military personnel.
Education
The Travis Unified School District includes Vanden High School, Golden West Middle School, Travis Education Center, Travis Community Day School, Center Elementary School, Scandia Elementary School, and Travis Elementary School. The District serves Travis Air Force Base families as well as parts of Fairfield and Vacaville.
Golden Hills Community School is part of the Solano County Office of Education. All others are part of the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District.
CalPoly’s Maritime Academy is a public university in nearby Vallejo, and is the only maritime academy on the West Coast. Each summer, first- and third-year cadets spend two months aboard the 500-foot vessel, Golden Bear, applying technical knowledge from the classroom and leadership skills from the Corps of Cadets. They get to take on real-world responsibilities, navigating the Pacific and beyond, while gaining firsthand experience at sea and on shore.
Parks & Recreation
The San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge encompasses the largest remaining continuous patch of pickleweed-dominated tidal marsh in the northern San Francisco Bay. At one time, these wetlands surrounding San Pablo Bay were one of the largest tidal marsh complexes on the Pacific Coast of North America.
Nut Tree Plaza, a popular tourist destination for road-trippers since the 1920’s, sits just north in Vacaville. It continues to be a unique destination for locals and travelers alike, offering dozens of restaurants, retail shopping, and even a small amusement park.
Just across Interstate 80 sits the Vacaville Premium Outlets, a complex of over 90 luxury retail shops ranging from Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, to Jelly Belly and Le Creuset. The Outlets are a popular destination for Bay Area residents year-round.
Living near Travis AFB provides stability to military families, offering a sense of permanence and belonging within a welcoming community. With shorter commute times, service members can spend more time with their loved ones and even engage in leisure activities. Residents can participate in base events, access strong support networks, and enjoy base amenities such as small schools, excellent medical facilities, and recreational opportunities.
Real estate in the Fairfield area has historically been quite strong, in part because of its close proximity to Travis AFB. Buying a home in nearby Fairfield is a wise financial decision for military members wishing to invest in real estate. And, with a steady influx of military personnel rotating through Travis AFB, there’s a consistent demand for rental properties in the area. Purchasing a home now can offer the opportunity to generate rental income if you’re posted elsewhere in the future, providing a source of financial freedom and security to military families. For active-duty service members, purchasing a home close to base couldn’t be more better; members stationed at Travis may be eligible for housing allowances and tax benefits, and with the VA Home Loan and a GI Joe Homes Agent, homeownership has never been easier or more financially advantageous.
The Fairfield area boasts a diverse range of housing options, from suburban neighborhoods to rural estates, each catering to various lifestyles. Additionally, the region enjoys a great, mild climate year-round, offers abundant outdoor recreational activities, features multiple cultural attractions, and maintains excellent schools, enhancing the overall quality of life for military families.
Buying a home while stationed at Travis Air Force Base offers military families the chance to establish roots, build equity, and enjoy the benefits of homeownership in a thriving community with numerous amenities and opportunities for personal and financial growth.