FORT WAINWRIGHT, ALASKA: IN-DEPTH WELCOME CENTER

Welcome to Fort Wainwright, Alaska located in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska, which is currently ranked as one of the top 100 growing cities in the United States. Fort Wainwright’s population includes the following units and supported commands: US Army Alaska (USARAK); 1-25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team; USARAK Aviation Task Force; Medical Department Activity—Alaska and Bassett Army Community Hospital Dental Activity (DENTAC); Veterinary Command (VETCOM), Northern Warfare Training Center (NWTC); Cold Regions Test Center (CRTC), 402nd Army Field Support Battalion; Network Enterprise Center - FWA, 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron (USAF), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), U.S. Army Reserve, BLM Alaska Fire Service, and Arctic Support Command.

We hope this guide assists you as you get settled in at your new posting and helps remove some of the stress of moving.

1. Where Is Fort Wainwright? 2. Google Map View 3. Getting There – Directions to the Post 4. Entering Fort Wainwright and Post Amenities

• Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel
• Fort Wainwright Visitor Center
• Fort Wainwright DEERS Office
• Fort Wainwright Gate Hours
• Fort Wainwright Commissary
• Fort Wainwright PX
• Fort Wainwright Barber Shops
• Fort Wainwright Post Office
• Fort Wainwright Finance Office
• Fort Wainwright Legal Office
• Fort Wainwright Library
• Fort Wainwright Hotels 

5. Where Should I Live Near Fort Wainwright? 6. What Schools are Near Fort Wainwright? 7. What’s the Weather Like in Fort Wainwright? 8. Things to Do Near Fort Wainwright

Where Is Fort Wainwright, Alaska?

Fort Wainwright Visitor Center

Main Gate Gaffney Road Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 361-6144

Hours: 

• Monday-Friday:

  0600-2100

• Saturday-Sunday:

  0800-2200

Fort Wainwright Map

Fort Wainwright, Alaska Directions

Driving Directions

From Fairbanks International Airport

1. Head south on Airport Way
2. Keep left to continue toward Airport Way
3. Continue onto Airport Way
4. Take the ramp to S Fairbanks
5. Merge onto AK-3 N/Robert Mitchell Expy
6. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for AK-2 N/Fort Wainwright and merge onto AK-2 W
7. Turn right onto Airport Way/Gaffney Rd
8. At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on Airport Way/Gaffney Rd
9. The destination will be on the right

From Anchorage 

1. Head north on I St toward W 4th Ave
2. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto W 4th Ave
3. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto H St
4. Turn left onto W 6th Ave
5. Continue onto AK-1 N/E 5th Ave
6. Continue straight onto AK-3 N
7. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for AK-2 N/Fort Wainwright and merge onto AK-2 W
8. Turn right onto Airport Way/Gaffney Rd
9. At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on Airport Way/Gaffney Rd
10. The destination will be on the right

From Alaska Railroad Corporation 

1. Head southeast on Fox Ave toward Phillips Field Rd
2. Turn left onto Phillips Field Rd
3. Slight right toward Driveway St
4. Continue onto Driveway St
5. Sharp right onto Barnette St
6. Turn left onto Airport Way
7. At the traffic circle, continue straight onto Airport Way/Gaffney Rd
8. The destination will be on the right

From Alaska Railroad Fairbanks Depot

1. Turn right onto Johansen Expy
2. Continue onto Lazelle Rd
3. Turn right to stay on Lazelle Rd
4. Lazelle Rd turns slightly left and becomes Canol Srv Rd
5. Turn right onto River Rd
6. Turn left onto Gaffney Rd
7. The destination will be on the right

From 101 - Transit Center

1. Head east on 6th Ave toward Lacey St
2. Turn right onto Noble St
3. Turn left onto Airport Way
4. At the traffic circle, continue straight onto Airport Way/Gaffney Rd
5. The destination will be on the right

Flights to Fort Wainwright

More than likely, you will be flying through Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, since it is the closest airport to Fort Wainwright, Alaska. You can grab taxis and other car transportation services, such as Lyft and Uber, from the airport to Fort Wainwright. Additionally, you can travel by rental car or bus to reach the Fort Wainwright location.

Fort Wainwright Transportation Office

Fort Wainwright Household Goods/Transportation Office

Santiago Avenue Bildg 3401 Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 353-1155

Hours: 

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday:

  0800 - 1600

• Wednesday:

  1000 - 1600

• Saturday/Sunday:

  Closed

• Federal Holidays:

  Closed

Entering Fort Wainwright and Post Amenities

All drivers on post must have a valid military ID, veteran or retiree ID, a valid driver’s license, and a valid driver’s insurance card. Visitors who do not have official US Government identification must enter through the Visitor Center. Photo identification, vehicle registration, and building number of your destination are required at the Visitor Center in order to obtain a Visitor Badge.

Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel

Upon checking in for in-processing at Fort Wainwright, soldiers must sign in at the Welcome Center at Building 3401. Monday-Friday between 0730-1630, report to the Military Personnel Division front desk. After duty hours and holidays report to Building 3419 or call 1 (907) 353-4311 for instructions.

Upon arrival at the airport, call 1 (907) 353-4311 for in-processing details. If soldiers elect to take a taxi from the airport, all applicable travel fees will be reimbursed from the finance department during in-processing. Make certain to bring all necessary paperwork, including several copies of your orders, any financial paperwork, medical and dental records, and any legal assistance matters to in-processing when you check in.

In-processing normally takes 4 days to complete, and soldiers must be in uniform while completing the process. For more information call 1 (907) 353-2273 for specific instructions.

Fort Wainwright Visitor Center

4470 Gaffney Rd. Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 361-6144

Hours: 

• Monday-Friday:

  0530-2100

• Saturday-Sunday:

  0800-2100

DEERS Fort Wainwright

Fort Wainwright ID Card & DEERS Office

3401 Santiago Avenue Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 353-2266

Fort Wainwright DEERS Office Hours

• Monday, Tuesday, and Friday:

  0730 - 1630

• Thursday:

  1300-1630

• Saturday/Sunday:

  Closed

• Federal Holidays:

  Closed

Fort Wainwright Gate Hours

Fort Wainwright has a total of four gates. The Main Gate on Gaffney Road is the location of the Visitor Control Center.

• Gate #1 (Main Gate/Gaffney Road):

  Open 24/7

• Gate #2 (Trainer Gate/Trainor Road):

  Monday-Friday 0530-2100 and Saturday-Sunday 0700-2100

• Gate #3 (Richardson Gate/Richardson Highway):

  Closed to everyone except special traffic requests.

• Gate #4 (Badger Gate/Badger Road):

  Monday-Sunday 0500-2000

Fort Wainwright Commissary 

3703 Oak Ave. Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 353-6218

Fort Wainwright Commissary Hours

• Monday-Sunday:

  0900 - 2000

Fort Wainwright Exchange

Bldg. 3703B Ft Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 356-1357

Fort Wainwright Exchange Hours

• Monday-Saturday:

  1100 - 1900

• Sunday:

  1000 - 1800

Fort Wainwright Barber Shop

Oak Ave., Main PX Bldg 3703B Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 356-1133

Fort Wainwright Barber Shop Shop Hours

• Monday-Friday:

  0700 - 1730

Fort Wainwright Post Office 

3726 Neely Rd. Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 356-7602

Fort Wainwright Post Office Hours

• Monday-Friday:

  1030-1300 & 1400-1630

• Saturday-Sunday:

  Closed

Fort Wainwright Finance Office

Army Community Service 3401 Santiago Avenue Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 353-1307

Fort Wainwright Finance Office Hours

• Monday-Friday:

  0800-1600

• Saturday-Sunday:

  Closed

Fort Wainwright Legal Office 

1562 Gaffney Rd. Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 353-6518

Fort Wainwright Legal Office Hours

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday:

  0900-1600

• Thursday:

  Closed

• Saturday-Sunday:

  Closed

Fort Wainwright Library

3700 Santiago Ave. Fort Wainwright, AK 99703

Phone:

1 (907) 353-2642

Fort Wainwright Library Hours

• Monday-Friday:

  1000-1800

• Saturday & Sunday:

  Closed

Fort Wainwright Hotels 

Fort Wainwright has several hotel selections. We’ve selected a few for you to consider if you or your family members need a stay at one of the hotels near the post.

1. Clarion Hotel & Suites Fairbanks

95 10th Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701

Phone:

1 (907) 891-7231

2. Bridgewater Hotel

723 1st Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701

Phone:

1 (907) 452-6661

3. Hampton Inn & Suites Fairbanks

433 Harold Bentley Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701

Phone:

1 (907) 451-1502

4. Wedgewood Resort

212 Wedgewood Dr. Fairbanks, AK 99701

Phone:

1 (800) 528-4916

5. Candlewood Suites Fairbanks

551 Harold Bentley Ave Fairbanks, AK 99701

Phone:

1 (907) 328-3200

Hot Tip: Download MyBaseGuide's Fort Wainwright Military Relocation Guide for information about hotels nearby.

Where Should I Live Near Fort Wainwright?

If you’re considering living on post, check out the available post housing options. Otherwise, read on to find out more about living off post.

Major Cities Near Fort Wainwright

Fort Wainwright offers multiple choices on where to live that will be convenient and not far from the post.

Best Places to Live Near Fort Wainwright

Fairbanks

Fairbanks offers family-friendly neighborhoods for those who are stationed at Fort Wainwright. These neighborhoods are only a short drive to the post and offer a variety of reasonably priced rentals and homes for sale. Not only are Fairbanks neighborhoods a short drive to Fort Wainwright, but the city also offers plenty of indoor and outdoor activities for individuals and families.

North Pole

The City of North Pole is only about a 20-minute drive from Fort Wainwright and offers a selection of homes and rentals. North Pole’s claim to fame is that it was once the home of Bob Ross, the famous painter and television host, who said that the beautiful landscape of North Pole helped inspire his works of art over the years.

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

Fort Wainwright Schools

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District provides educational services to all of the children of Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks. For those students who live on Fort Wainwright, the schools include Arctic Light, Ladd Elementary School, Hunter Elementary Schools, Tanana Middle School, and Lathrop High School. Arctic Light is the only school located on Fort Wainwright. Additional school options include private schools and homeschooling.

Fort Wainwright Weather

At Fort Wainwright, the temperatures throughout the year vary dramatically, typically hovering from lows of -13°F to highs of 73°F. Temperatures will rarely drop below -39°F or climb above 83°F.

The summers at Fort Wainwright are mostly warm and cloudy with no humidity, while the winters are frigid and typically snowy. Additionally, the winters often see dramatic temperature shifts, with temperatures sometimes reaching 25°F during the day and -35°F during the night.

Things to Do Near Fort Wainwright 

Fort Wainwright offers residents plenty of fun activities at nearby Fairbanks—everything from museums to relaxing hot springs. Fort Wainwright is a day’s drive to Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, where you can spend a weekend enjoying the city’s many attractions, including guided tours, shopping, dining, and a whole lot more. Additionally, Fort Wainwright is only a day’s drive from the Canadian border, for those interested in exploring Canada’s wild, expansive Northwest Territories.

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

Uncover the Adventure Waiting for You at Fort Wainwright, Alaska!

Relocating can oftentimes be overwhelming, but it is our hope that this guide will help give you a better idea of what you can expect to look forward to at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and the surrounding area. We hope that you enjoy your new adventure in Fairbanks, Alaska while stationed here, whether you decide to lay your roots in one of the nearby neighborhoods in Fairbanks or the North Pole.  

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

 

Suggested reads:

The Military Family's Guide to Living in Alaska

What Are the Military Bases in Alaska?

Lackland Air Force Base: In-Depth Welcome Center

Updated by:

Allison Kirschbaum