NAVAL STATION ROTA
NAVY
Spain
NAVAL STATION ROTA
NAVY
Spain
Naval Station Rota
Sustain the Fleet, enable the warfighter, and support the family.
Base Essentials
Naval Station Rota, known as "the gateway to the Mediterranean," sits on a 6,100-acre Spanish base on the Bay of Cadiz and was established in 1953 following a facilities-use agreement between the United States and the Kingdom of Spain. Located near the Strait of Gibraltar at the halfway point between the United States and Southwest Asia, it is a strategic focal point for U.S. and Allied forces, enabling the refueling, rearming, resupplying, and repairing of U.S. and NATO forces operating in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The installation hosts more than 40 tenant commands and five forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, an important link in NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense.
Base Details
Type
Naval Station
Branch
NAVY
Command
Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central
Status
Active
Est.
September 26, 1953
Acres
—
Active Duty
—
Civilian
—
Population
—
Economic Impact
—
Naval Station Rota History
Named After
Coming soon
History
We're currently compiling history information for Naval Station Rota.
Units Stationed
Unit
Nickname
Type
Commander, Naval Activities Spain (host command; commanding officer of Naval Station Rota)
COMNAVACT Spain
Other
COMNAVACT Spain
Other
Commander, Task Force 65 / Destroyer Squadron 60 (Forward Deployed Naval Forces surface combatants)
CTF 65 / DESRON 60
Squadron
CTF 65 / DESRON 60
Squadron
521st Air Mobility Operations Group
521 AMOG
Group
521 AMOG
Group
725th Air Mobility Squadron
725 AMS
Squadron
725 AMS
Squadron
Commander, Task Force 68 (Naval Expeditionary Forces, EUCOM and AFRICOM)
CTF 68
Other
CTF 68
Other
Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic Detachment Rota
NCTAMS LANT Det Rota
Other
NCTAMS LANT Det Rota
Other
U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain
USNH Rota
Other
USNH Rota
Other
Naval Munitions Command
Other
—
Other
Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella - Rota
NAVSUP FLC Rota
Other
NAVSUP FLC Rota
Other
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8, Detachment Rota
EODMU 8 Det Rota
Other
EODMU 8 Det Rota
Other
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia, Public Works Department Rota
NAVFAC EURAFSWA PWD Rota
Other
NAVFAC EURAFSWA PWD Rota
Other
Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center Detachment Rota
FDRMC Det Rota
Other
FDRMC Det Rota
Other
American Forces Network Rota
AFN Rota
Other
AFN Rota
Other
Historic Timeline
1953
U.S.-Spain facilities agreement signed; Rota established
1955
Groundbreaking on the base
2005
Commander, Task Force 68 established
—
View Key Moments
(3)
1953
U.S.-Spain facilities agreement signed; Rota established
Rota was established in 1953, following the signing of an agreement for facilities use between the United States and Kingdom of Spain.
1955
Groundbreaking on the base
The agreement required two years of surveys, negotiations and planning which led to groundbreaking on the base in 1955. Rota Naval Base was constructed under the technical supervision of the Navy's Bureau of Yards and Docks, with some 10,000 concrete tetrapods placed as a seawall protecting a large artificial harbor.
2005
Commander, Task Force 68 established
CTF 68, which commands all Naval Expeditionary Forces in the EUCOM and AFRICOM areas of responsibility, was established March 17, 2005 (source: https://cnreurafcent.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAVSTA-Rota/About/Tenant-Commands/Commander-Task-Force-Six-Eight/).
Phone Directory
Key phone numbers for Naval Station Rota.
Naval Station Rota Base Gates
Entry points, hours, and access requirements for Naval Station Rota.
Gate hours can change suddenly during special exercises, holidays, and operational periods. We always recommend confirming details before you travel.
Visitor Access
What you need to know to get on Naval Station Rota.
Sponsor Required
How are you entering the base?
I have a DoD ID / CAC
Active duty, civilian employee, retiree, or dependent.
I'm visiting someone
Sponsored visit — a DoD ID holder will vouch for you.
I need a day pass
No sponsor — process through the Visitor Control Center.
Commercial / Delivery
Truck drivers, contractors, and vendors.
Quick summary
NS Rota is a Spanish base, so access is stricter than at most U.S. installations and gates are manned by the Spanish Navy. Visitors without a DoD ID must be sponsored by a member of the force or civilian component (not a dependent), with most passes requested via the U.S. Security Department at least two working days ahead. Guests must stay with their sponsor at all times while on base.
Verified from
installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/naval-station-rota· September 10, 2026
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PCS & Newcomers
Everything you need to know for your move to Naval Station Rota.
Welcome center hours and contact details can change. We recommend confirming before you visit or call.
Fleet & Family Support Center
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday
In-Processing
Before travel, contact your sponsor with your arrival details, and note that all dependents must have overseas screening forms approved by Naval Hospital Rota before traveling. Hand-carry your original orders, overseas screening forms, tickets, and receipts for reimbursement. Upon arrival, newcomers report to Naval Station Admin, the Naval Hospital, and Base Security for documentation and ID processing, and must complete check-in with their Command Pay and Personnel Administrator within the allotted time. The Naval Station Rota Housing Service Center in Bldg. 1960 (commercial 011-34-956-82-2398 or 011-34-956-82-1345, DSN 314-727-2398 or 314-727-1345, Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) assists arriving personnel.
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Sponsor Program Information
Temporary Lodging Details
Open PCS Checklist (6 Items)
Trusted Base Intel. Since 1966.
Join 200,000+ personnel for base news, PCS tips, exclusive discounts, and critical benefits info.
Always free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sponsor Program Information
Temporary Lodging Details
Housing & BAH
On-post housing, cost of living, and BAH info for Naval Station Rota.
On-Base Housing
Navy Housing Service Center (HSC), Naval Station Rota (government-owned Navy family housing, not privatized)
Visit website421
units
On-base family housing at Naval Station Rota is government owned and managed by the Navy Housing Service Center. The Las Palmeras site contains 421 two, three, and four bedroom homes for officers and enlisted personnel, single-story Spanish-style duplex and detached homes dating to the early 1960s with central heat and air conditioning, appliances, and fenced yards…
2026 BAH Calculator
Dependency Status
With Dependents
$XX,XXX per year
E-5
Location
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Data Sources
BAH rates: Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), effective January 1, 2026. Rates set annually by DoD based on rental survey data.
View Full BAH Rates
Schools & Education
K-12 schools, colleges, and education resources near Naval Station Rota.
School Liaison Officer
School Liaison Officer (Bldg. 41)
1
Elementary Schools
View schools
1
High Schools
View schools
2
Colleges & Universities
View colleges
Education Resources
Notes, tuition & more
Education Benefits
Check Your GI Bill Eligibility
Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and more.
Where To Live
Most personnel attached to Naval Station Rota live in one of four nearby communities: Rota, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Chipiona and Sanlucar de Barrameda. The base's official welcome guide notes that each city has its own feeling as well as positives and negatives. Service members who will live in the local community process through the Housing Services Center, which holds a mandatory housing brief every Friday for those living off base. Rota is the walkable, more urbanized option beside the base, El Puerto de Santa Maria is the suburban option on the other side of the installation, and Chipiona and Sanlucar de Barrameda trade proximity for more land, more space and a more immersive Spanish experience.
Rota
Small Town
The town the base is named for and the community closest to it. Homes in Rota tend to be within easy walking distance to the beach, restaurants and stores. Because it is more urbanized, there are fewer standalone homes; most homes are townhouses, duplexes or apartments. Parking can be challenging during the summer months when the city is packed with tourists, so the base recommends looking for homes or apartments with a designated parking spot or garage.
Commute: The closest of the four communities to the installation.
Easy walking distance to the beach, restaurants and stores
El Puerto de Santa Maria
Suburban
The city on the other side of the base from Rota, described in the base welcome guide as more of the suburbs. Homes tend to be larger single-family houses, many with larger yards and several with pools. The city has several distinct neighborhoods, from beachside Vistahermosa and homes in the campo (farm) area to Valdelagrana, which is its own micro community.
Commute: The city on the other side of the base from Rota.
Larger single-family homes with yards, several with pools; beachside Vistahermosa neighborhood; Valdelagrana micro community
Chipiona
Small Town
Located north of Rota along the coast, Chipiona is a quieter beach town with a bustling city center of shops and restaurants. Homes in this area tend to provide more land and space for your rent.
Quieter beach town; more land and living space for the rent; bustling city center with shops and restaurants
Sanlucar de Barrameda
Small Town
The furthest of the four communities from Rota, this area is for those looking for an immersive Spanish experience or to get away from the base community outside work. There are several neighborhoods outside the city center with larger homes on large plots of land.
Most immersive Spanish living option; larger homes on large plots of land outside the city center
Taxes & Finance
State tax policy and financial info for service members at Naval Station Rota.
Spouse Income Tax
Working-spouse reality at Rota is defined by the NATO SOFA and the US-Spain Agreement on Defense Cooperation: MilitaryIN…
Additional Tax Notes
View full details below.
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Pet Policies at Naval Station Rota
Pet policies, vet services, and resources at Naval Station Rota.
Emergency Vet
Coming soon
On-Base Vet Clinic
Coming soon
Restricted Breeds
—
Prohibited Animals
—
Dog Parks
—
Boarding & Kennels
—
Pet Guidance
Required Vaccinations
Pet Shipping Tips
Facilities & Services
On-base services and facilities at Naval Station Rota.
Commissary
1
Rota Commissary
Click2Go Available
Exchange
NEX
Mon-Sat 09:00-19:00; Sun 10:00-18:00
Medical
2
U.S. Naval Hospital Rota — Hospital
Childcare & Youth
CDC Available
Youth Programs
MWR & Recreation
3
Fitness Center
Golf Course
Employment & Education
Coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Naval Station Rota.
01
What are the gate hours?
Coming soon
02
How do I get a visitor pass?
Coming soon
03
What is the cost of living like?
Coming soon
04
Are there on-base housing options?
Coming soon
05
What schools are nearby?
Coming soon
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Data & Methodology
How we source this −
Information is compiled from DoD publications, official installation websites, and reviewed by military personnel. Independent publication — not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense.