Fort BlissRelocation Guide

How to Relocate to Fort Bliss: A Guide

You have received your orders and you are heading to Fort Bliss, Texas. Congratulations! Home to the 1st Armored Division, “Old Ironsides,” the post has a population of around 8,500 people. Named for LTC William Bliss, an Army Officer and son-in-law of President Zachary Taylor (1849-150), the post was first established in 1849 as an outpost in the El Paso del Norte and then formally established as a permanent Fort in 1878. Fort Bliss covers approximately 1,700 square miles with 1.12 million acres dedicated to training, making it the second largest US Army installation worldwide. While the main area of the post is located adjacent to El Paso, TX, the post, including the training areas, occupies both Texas and New Mexico.

Accessing Fort Bliss

To enter the post, you will need to show your military ID and all of-age passengers must present a valid ID (driver’s license, passport, etc). If you don’t have your military ID, you will need your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. Your vehicle will likely be searched if entering the post for the first time or without military ID. So you may want to include some extra time in your travel plans to allow for such a delay. All non-DOD persons can expect to obtain a visitors pass at certain gates with Visitor Control Centers (VCC).

If entering through the Fred Wilson Gate, once you pass through the Access Control Point, turn right onto Sheridan Rd then turn left on Lawrence St and right onto Pershing Road. Follow Pershing Road until you see the Welcome Center on your left.

If entering through the Buffalo Soldier Gate, once you pass through the Access Control Point, follow Buffalo Soldier Road until you reach JEB Stuart Road and turn right. Then turn left onto Pershing Road and continue until you see the Welcome Center on your right.

Weather at Fort Bliss

Fort Bliss is nestled in the northeast corner of El Paso, which is affectionately known as “The Sun City.” The nickname is with good reason: The sun shines 302 days per year on average, according to the National Weather Service. And while the arid, windy climate of the Chihuahuan Desert helps keep humidity at bay, those same conditions have the potential to kick up dust and lower visibility. Average temperatures at Fort Bliss are high 90s to low 70s in the summer and mid 60s to low to mid 30s in the winter.