ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE: IN-DEPTH WELCOME CENTER

Welcome to Altus Air Force Base, located in Altus, Oklahoma and home to the 97th Air Mobility Wing. Altus is a smaller town of roughly 20,000 residents. However, you are relatively close to a few larger cities. Lawton, home to 100,000 people, is less than an hour's drive away.

Oklahoma City, the state capital, is only 230 miles away. Sitting on approximately 3500 acres, Altus AFB is home to around 2000 active duty personnel and their families, offering a variety of Air Force jobs and opportunities for everyone.

We hope this guide helps you get settled in your new posting and gain some familiarity with Altus AFB.

1. Where Is Altus AFB? 2. Google Map View 3. Getting There – Directions to Altus AFB 4. Entering Altus AFB and Base Amenities

• Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel
• Altus AFB Visitor Center
• Altus AFB Gate Hours
• Altus AFB DEERS Office
• Altus AFB Commissary
• Altus AFB BX
• Altus AFB Barber Shop
• Altus AFB Post Office
• Altus AFB Finance Office
• Altus Legal Office
• Altus AFB Library
• Altus AFB Hotels

5. Where Should I Live Near Altus AFB? 6. Altus AFB Schools 7. Altus AFB Weather 8. Things to Do Near Altus AFB

Where Is Altus Air Force Base?

Airman and Family Readiness Center

Building 52 308 N. First St. Altus AFB, OK 73523

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-6761

Hours

:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

  – 0730 – 1630

• Thursday

  – 0730 - 1230

Altus AFB Map

Altus Air Force Base Directions

Altus is located in the southwest corner of Oklahoma at the intersection of US Highway 62 and State Highway 283. The base main gate is on Falcon Road.

Altus AFB is serviced by Lawton Municipal Airport and the Will Rogers World Airport located in Oklahoma City. It is advised you coordinate travel plans with your sponsor to obtain transportation from the airport. If you fly into Lawton and need further assistance, a military representative will be there from 0430 until the last flight arrives that night.

If you do end up driving yourself to Altus AFB, the driving directions from Lawton Airport and Will Rogers Airport are below. All highways leading to the base are well-marked.

Driving Directions From Lawton Municipal Airport

1. Head west on US-62
2. In 45 miles, turn right on to S. County Road 207
3. Turn left onto Ordnance Rd.
4. Enter the roundabout, First St.

Driving Directions From Will Rogers World Airport

Note

: This route avoids tolls.

1. Head west on I-40
2. In 78 miles, take exit 66 onto US-183 toward Cordell
3. Turn left onto S. Fourth St toward Cordell, Hobart
4. In 35 miles, turn right onto E. 11th St.
5. In 10 miles, turn left onto E. Boundary Rd.
6. Continue onto US-238
7. Turn left onto US-283
8. In 10 miles, turn left onto E. Tamarack Rd.
9. In 2.9 miles, make a U-turn
10. Keep right onto Veterans Dr.
11. Enter the roundabout, First St.

Altus Air Force Base Transportation Office

The best place to find information regarding moving your personal property to Altus AFB is the Traffic Management Office.

Traffic Management Office

Building 52 308 N. First St. Altus AFB, OK 73523

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-6829

Hours

:

• Monday-Friday

  – 0730 – 1630

Entering Altus Air Force Base and Amenities

Be sure to bring a valid military ID when entering Altus AFB. Visitors should check in at the Visitor Center.

Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel

Check-in procedures vary for all military installations. For thorough instructions on Altus AFB’s processing and reporting procedures, please click here. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you have all relevant documents such as your orders and a valid form of identification. If arriving from overseas, immunization records will also be important. Keep in mind that if you are moving to Altus AFB with any dependents, you should bring their legal documentation.

A Newcomer’s Orientation is held on the third Thursday of every month at Club Altus. This orientation is mandatory for all arriving military personnel. Spouses are encouraged to attend the orientation.

Altus AFB Visitor Center

Pass and ID Office

307 B Ave. Altus AFB, OK 73523

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-6340

Pass and ID Office hours

• Monday-Friday

  - 0600 - 1700

Altus AFB DEERS Office

The Pass and ID Office is a great resource for Altus Airmen and families. Here you will find information regarding in-processing, assignments, reenlistments, retirements, evaluations, decorations, ID cards, and Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

Pass and ID Office

307 B Ave. Altus AFB, OK 73523

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-6340

Pass and ID Office hours

• Monday-Friday

  - 0600 – 1800

Altus AFB Gate Hours

Altus AFB has three gates that are open at all hours.

• Main Gate

  - 24/7

• Jasmine Gate

  – 24/7

• South Gate

  – 0600-1800

Altus Air Force Base Commissary

205 First St. Altus, OK 73521

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-6529

Altus Air Force Base Commissary Hours

• Monday

  - Closed

• Tuesday-Friday

  - 0900 - 1900

• Saturday

  - 0800 – 1900

• Sunday

  - 1100 – 1800

Altus AFB BX

Building 18 105 First St. Altus, OK 73523

Phone

: 1 (580) 482-8733

Altus AFB BX Hours

• Monday- Friday

  – 0600 -2000

• Saturday

  - 0800 – 2200

• Sunday

  - 1000 – 1830

Altus AFB Barber Shop

Building 18 105 First St. Altus, OK 73523

Phone

: 1 (580) 482-8221

Altus Barber Shop Hours

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

  - 1000 - 1600

• Tuesday and Weekends

  – Closed

Altus AFB Post Office

204 S. Third St. Altus AFB, OK 73523

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-6364

Altus AFB Post Office Hours

• Monday-Friday

  - 1000 - 1400

• Weekends

  – Closed

Altus Air Force Base Finance Office

The Personal Financial Management Program provides financial counseling. Here, the staff will help you build short-term and long-term financial goals.

Personal Financial Management Program (Airman & Family Readiness Center)

Building 52 308 N. First St. Suite 1201 Altus AFB, OK 73523

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-6944

Altus AFB Finance Office Hours

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

  - 0900 – 1500

• Thursday

  – Closed at 1400

• Weekends

  – Closed

Altus AFB Legal Office

Legal Services/JAG Building 52 308 N. First St. Suite 1701 Altus AFB, OK 73523

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-7294

Altus AFB Legal Office Hours

• Monday- Friday

  - 0730 - 1630

• Weekends

  – Closed

Altus AFB Library

Building 65 109 E. Ave. Altus AFB, OK 73523

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-6302

Altus AFB Library Hours

• Monday-Thursday

  - 1030 – 1900 (

  Thursdays

  closed 1300 – 1500 for training)

• Friday

  – 1100 – 1800

• Saturday

  – 1200 – 1600

• Sunday

  – Closed

Hotels Near Altus Air Force Base

There are a handful of hotels in Altus. These are just a few for you or your family to consider. 1. Red River Inn Building 82 307 B Ave. Altus, OK 73521

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-7356

2. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Altus 2812 E. Broadway St. Altus, OK 73521

Phone

: 1 (580) 481-1212

3. Econo Lodge Inn & Suites 2515 E. Broadway St. Altus, OK 73521

Phone

: 1 (580) 477-3000

Where Should I Live Near Altus AFB?

Major Cities Near Altus Air Force Base

Altus AFB is located next door to Altus, OK, about an hour away from Lawton, OK; and an hour and a half away from Wichita Falls, TX.

Best Places to Live Near Altus Air Force Base

Altus

Altus AFB lies 4 miles east of downtown Altus. Altus offers convenient proximity to the base and a smaller town feel. It’s a great, laidback place to raise a family. If you prefer an even more serene residence, nearby towns like Martha and Friendship offer little bustle while maintaining a close drive to the base.

Lawton

Lawton, the sixth most populated city in Oklahoma, is a good option if you prefer towns with a little more action and amenities. You can make the drive from Lawton to base in under an hour.

Wichita Falls

If you head south and cross the Texas state line, the more populated option is Wichita Falls, home to over 100,000 residents. At about 90 minutes away from the base, this drive is a bit lengthier than Lawton and a lot lengthier than living in Altus-proper.

Hot Tip: Look for Altus AFB homes and apartments for rent or sale, and find BAH, PCS, TLA & ETS military housing information at AHRN.com.

Altus Air Force Base Schools

Altus Public Schools is a kindergarten through 12th grade school district serving the area around Altus AFB. Altus Public School District oversees seven campuses that are home to 3300 students. Schools are divided into two grades per school; however, there is a convenient exception that will benefit Altus AFB families. L. Mendel Rivers Elementary sits less than two miles from base and hosts students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade.

If you live on base, or in the immediate vicinity of Altus AFB off base, your child’s school is a short walk or drive away and they won’t have to jump between as many campuses while progressing through elementary school.

After completing fourth grade, students will then move on to Altus Intermediate School for grades five and six. From there, Altus Junior High, then Altus High School.

Before it’s time for kindergarten, you may need a daycare center. The Child Development Center on base provides a nurturing environment for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. Child care is available Monday-Friday from 0800-2100.

Altus AFB Weather

Altus’ weather lives in the extremes. Summers are hot and humid while winters are cold and dry with occasional snowfall. At 1.1 average inches of snow, January is predictably the snowiest month. Rain falls throughout the year but it’s usually manageable. On average, the rainiest month is May at 3.7 inches.

The year begins with high temperatures in the 50s and lows in the mid-30s. With spring, temperatures creep up to pleasant levels for a few months until the humidity begins to increase in May. With June and summer comes the heat, with highs routinely in the 90s and lows in the 70s. September brings some needed relief with cooler temperatures and early October brings the end of the traditional muggy season.

November brings high temperatures of 64 degrees, which is great for building a fire for your Thanksgiving feast. The cold returns in December with still-tolerable 54-degree highs.

Things to Do on Altus Air Force Base

The base offers fun things to do in Atlus, Oklahoma, for all ages, especially those who love the outdoors. Quartz Mountain State Park is about 20 miles north of Altus AFB and a great way to spend a day or a week. It features campsites, hiking and bike trails, ATV rentals, and lake activities such as boating and canoeing.

If you stick closer to town, a couple of family-friendly activities are the local bowling alley, Town & Country Lanes, or the Heritage Park Theatre 7, which shows all the current blockbusters.

Another perk of Altus is you’re relatively close to some diverse cities as well. Norman is a two-hour drive away and offers a college town feel; catch a game at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, home to the storied Oklahoma Sooners football program. Even Dallas, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, is less than a four-hour drive south if you want to spend the weekend enjoying the big city.

Be sure to check out our full things to do in Atlus, Oklahoma and restaurant guides for a more detailed breakdown.

Hot Tip: Connect with military-trusted businesses and deals exclusively for Altus AFB at MyBaseGuide.

Make the Most of Your Stay at Altus Air Force Base and Enjoy the Activities!

Relocating can be stressful. We hope this guide comes in handy and gives you an idea of what to expect upon your arrival and stay at Altus Air Force Base. Altus is a great place to call home and we hope you have an excellent experience during your time there. Be sure to try everything that the base offers from the different facilities that they have, to the best restaurants and fun activities that you and your family can enjoy.

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Updated by:

Allison Kirschbaum