MCAS BEAUFORT: IN-DEPTH WELCOME CENTER

Introduction

Welcome to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort located in Beaufort County, South Carolina. MCAS Beaufort was first built in 1943 and today serves approximately 7,000 active duty service members and 700 civilian workers. If you are moving shortly with Permanent Change of Station Travel Orders (PCS) with little to no knowledge of the area you are moving to or its surrounding areas, don’t worry. We got you. This guide has been put together to assist you as you get settled in at your new base and help remove some of the stress of moving. 1. Where Is MCAS Beaufort? 2. Google Map View 3. Getting There – Directions to MCAS Beaufort 4. Entering MCAS Beaufort and Base Amenities

• Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel
• MCAS Beaufort Visitor Center
• MCAS Beaufort Gate Hours
• MCAS Beaufort DEERS Office
• MCAS Beaufort Commissary
• MCAS Beaufort MCX
• MCAS Beaufort Barber Shop
• MCAS Beaufort Post Office
• MCAS Beaufort Finance Office
• Grand Forks Legal Office
• MCAS Beaufort Library
• MCAS Beaufort Hotels

5. Where Should I Live Near MCAS Beaufort? 6. MCAS Beaufort Schools 7. MCAS Beaufort Weather 8. Things To Do Near MCAS Beaufort

COVID-19 Notice

Due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, many businesses, venues, and parks may be temporarily closed or operating under restricted hours. Therefore, a place we mention here may not currently be open or available for the time being.

Where Is MCAS Beaufort?

MCAS Beaufort Visitor Center

859 Geiger Boulevard Beaufort, SC 29904

Phone

: 1 (843) 228-7750

Hours

:

• Monday-Friday:

   0730 - 1600

• Saturday, Sunday, and all federal holidays:

  Closed

MCAS Beaufort Map

MCAS Beaufort Directions

Driving Directions

From Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport

1. From the airport, head east on Airways Ave
2. Keep left to stay on Airways Ave
3. Use the right lane to take the ramp onto I-95 N
4. Merge onto I-95 N
5. Take exit 8 to merge onto US-278 E
6. Turn left onto Argent Blvd
7. Turn left onto SC-170 E
8. Slight left onto US-21 N/Parris Island Gateway
9. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto US-21 N/Trask Pkwy
10. Turn right onto Geiger Blvd

From Charleston International Airport

1. From the airport, head northeast on International Blvd toward Dreamliner Dr
2. Make a U-turn at Dreamliner Dr
3. Slight right (signs for I-526 W/Savannah)
4. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Savannah/I-526 W and merge onto I-526 W
5. Merge onto I-526 W
6. Turn right onto SC-7 S/Sam Rittenberg Blvd (signs for Savannah)
7. Turn right onto US-17 S
8. Use the right lane to take the US-21 S ramp to Beaufort
9. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto US-21/Trask Pkwy
10. Turn left onto Geiger Blvd.

From Greyhound Bus Lines

1. From the station, turn onto State Rd S-10-39
2. Turn left onto Meeting St/State Rd S-10-39
3. Turn left at the 1st cross street onto Rivers Ave
4. Use the left 2 lanes to turn slightly left
5. Merge onto I-526 W
6. Turn right onto SC-7 S/Sam Rittenberg Blvd (signs for Savannah)
7. Turn right onto US-17 S
8. Use the right lane to take the US-21 S ramp to Beaufort
9. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto US-21/Trask Pkwy
10. Turn left onto Geiger Blvd

From Savannah Amtrak Station

1. From the station, head southeast on Seaboard Coastline Dr toward Telfair Rd
2. Turn left onto Telfair Rd
3. Turn right onto W Gwinnett St
4. Turn right to merge onto GA-21 S/I-516 E
5. Take exit 5 to merge onto I-16 E toward US-17 N/Savannah
6. Keep left to stay on I-16 E
7. Keep right at the fork to continue on US-17 N, follow signs for Louisville Rd/Gwinnett St/Charleston
8. Turn right onto SC-315 N
9. Continue onto SC-170 E
10. Continue onto May River Rd
11. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto SC-170 E
12. Slight left onto US-21 N/Parris Island Gateway
13. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto US-21 N/Trask Pkwy
14. Turn right onto Geiger Blvd

Flights To MCAS Beaufort

More than likely, you will be flying through Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport or Charleston International Airport, since those are the two closest major airports to the base. You can grab Taxi and other car transportation services, such as Lyft and Uber, from the airport to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Additionally, you can travel by rental car or bus.

MCAS Beaufort Transportation Office

MCAS Beaufort Household Goods/Transportation Office

612 Drayton Street MCAS Beaufort, SC 29904

Phone

: 1 (843) 228-7124

Hours

:

• Monday-Friday

  : 0800 - 1630

• Saturday/Sunday

  : Closed

• Federal Holidays

  : Closed

Entering MCAS Beaufort and Base Amenities

In order to enter the Air Station, you must either be accompanied by your DoD sponsor, or be screened for access by our Security Office. A security background check is required, as is verifying eligibility through your sponsor.

Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel

One of the first things all military personnel must do after arriving at MCAS Beaufort is check in. All new arrivals must take their original orders to their command to be endorsed before visiting the Installation Personnel Administration Center (IPAC). If you are checking in after normal working hours, or during the weekend, make sure you check in with the Air Station Officer of the Day (OOD) in Building 601, MCAS Headquarters, at the duty desk. Please also make sure that one of your first stops is the Welcome Center—while there you can get a map of Beaufort, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, and MCRD Parris Island. In addition to the maps, you can also get on and off base telephone books and information on the Lending Locker. The Lending Locker includes air mattresses, dishes, pots, pans, televisions, microwaves, and more. All of these amenities in the Lending Locker are free of charge for service members and their families. The Welcome Center is located next to the Marine Corps Exchange.

Air Station Officer of the Day (OOD)

Building 601, MCAS Headquarters Room 125B

MCAS Beaufort Visitor Center

859 Geiger Boulevard Building 859 MCAS Beaufort, Beaufort, SC 29906

Phone

: 1 (843) 228-7750

Hours

:

• Monday-Friday

  – 0730 - 1600

• Saturday, Sunday, and all federal holidays

  – Closed

MCAS Beaufort DEERS Office

MCAS Beaufort ID Card & DEERS Office

1075 Geiger Blvd. Beaufort, SC 29904

Phone

: 1 (843) 228-7941

Hours

:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

  – 0730 - 1600

• Wednesday

  – 0900 - 1600

• Saturday, Sunday, and all federal holidays

  – Closed

MCAS Beaufort Gate Hours

The base has a total of two gates.

• Gate #1 (Main Gate):

  Open 24/7

• Gate #2 (The Commercial Gate):

  Monday-Friday 0600 - 1800 and Saturday-Sunday Closed

MCAS Beaufort Commissary

407 Wake Blvd. Beaufort, SC 29902

Phone

: 1 (843) 228-2383

MCAS Beaufort Commissary Hours

• Monday:

  Closed

• Tuesday

  -

  Friday

  : 1000 - 1900

• Saturday:

  1000 - 1800

• Sunday:

  1100 - 1800

MCAS Beaufort Exchange

1283 Geiger Blvd. Beaufort, SC 29904

Phone

: 1 (843) 228-7769

MCAS Beaufort Exchange Hours:

• Monday-Friday:

  0600 - 2200

• Saturday and Sunday:

  0800 - 2200

MCAS Beaufort Barber Shop

Bldg. 1283 Geiger Blvd. Located inside the MCX MCAS Beaufort, SC 29904

Phone

: 1 (843) 228-6130

MCAS Beaufort Barber Shop Hours:

• Monday - Wednesday and Friday

  : 0630-1500

• Thursday

  : 0630-1330

• Saturday

  : 0900-1600

• Sunday

  : 0800-1500

MCAS Beaufort Post Office

1283 Geiger Blvd. Beaufort, SC 29904

Phone

: 1 (800) 275-8777

MCAS Beaufort Post Office Hours

• Monday-Friday

  : 0900 - 1300 & 1330 - 1600

• Saturday-Sunday

  : Closed

MCAS Beaufort Finance Office

807 Hoeffecker Street MCAS Beaufort, SC 29904

Phone

: 1 (843) 228-8423

MCAS Beaufort Finance Office Hours

• Monday-Friday

  : 0800 - 1630

• Saturday-Sunday

  : Closed

MCAS Beaufort Legal Office

619 Geiger Boulevard Building 619 MCAS Beaufort, Beaufort, NC 29904

Phone

: 1 (843) 228-7330

MCAS Beaufort Legal Office Hours

• Monday-Friday

  : 0800-16:00

• Saturday-Sunday

  : Closed

MCAS Beaufort Library

860-886 Geiger Blvd. Beaufort, SC 29904

Phone

: 1 (843) 228-7682

MCAS Beaufort Library Hours

• Monday-Thursday

  : 0700-1845

• Friday

  : 0700-1345

• Saturday

  : 0900-1345

• Sunday

  : Closed

Hotels Near MCAS Beaufort, SC

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort has several hotel selections. We’ve selected a few for you to consider if you or family members need a stay at one of the hotels near the base.

1. Hilton Garden Inn Beaufort

1500 Queen St Beaufort, SC 29902

Phone

: 1 (843) 379-9800

2. Holiday Inn & Suites Beaufort

2225 Boundary St Beaufort, SC 29902

Phone

: 1 (843) 379-3100

3. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson

2450 Boundary St Beaufort, SC 29906

Phone

: 1 (843) 379-4000

4. Hampton Inn Beaufort

2342 Boundary St Beaufort, SC 29902

Phone

: 1 (843) 986-0600

5. Home2 Suites by Hilton Beaufort

3658 Trask Pkwy Beaufort, SC 29906

Phone

: 1 (843) 379-4663

Hot Tip: Download MyBaseGuide’s MCAS Beaufort Military Relocation Guide for information about hotels nearby.

Where Should I Live Near MCAS Beaufort?

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

Major Cities Near MCAS Beaufort

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort offers multiple choices on where to live that will be convenient and not far from base. These include Laurel Bay and Shell Point.

Best Places to Live Near MCAS Beaufort

Laurel Bay

Laurel Bay is approximately 5 miles west of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The population is around 7,000. The median age of the population is 24 years old and the median home price is about $200,000. The primary perk of living at Laurel Bay is the close proximity to the base. Depending on traffic, the drive should not be more than 10 minutes or so.

Shell Point

Shell Point, SC, also offers a short commute. Although this neighborhood is not as close to MCAS Beaufort as Laurel Bay, it still boasts a close proximity of about 7 miles. Shell Point has a population of about 2,600. The median age at Shell Point is 36 and the median home price is around $230,000.

Hot Tip: Look for Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort homes and apartments for rent or sale, and find BAH, PCS, TLA & ETS military housing information at AHRN.com.

MCAS Beaufort Schools

Beaufort County School District and Laurel Bay Schools serve the children of MCAS Beaufort service members. The Beaufort County School District serves approximately 22,000 students and offers five early childhood centers, 17 elementary schools, seven middle schools, and 5 high schools. Laurel Bays Schools offers Galer Elementary, Elliott Elementary School, Bolden Elementary School, and Bolden Middle School. Check out our full guide to MCAS Beaufort schools for a more detailed rundown.

MCAS Beaufort Weather

At MCAS Beaufort the temperature varies from 42°F to 90°F and rarely drops below 29°F or climbs above 96°F. The hot season is from May 25 to September 16, with an average daily high temperature above 84°F. The cool season lasts from December 1 to February 28, with an average daily high temperature below 66°F. The rainy season lasts from May 29 to September 16, with a greater than 35% chance of rain on a daily basis.

Things to Do Near MCAS Beaufort

MCAS Beaufort offers residents plenty of fun activities in and around Beaufort—everything from museums to waterparks. MCAS Beaufort is only about a 1.5 hour drive to Charleston, SC, and only about a 50 minute drive from Savannah, GA, both of which promise to provide nearly limitless sights and attractions for you to enjoy. For more information on what is happening around the base check out our things to do article and restaurant articles!

Hot Tip: Connect with military-trusted businesses and deals exclusively for Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort at MyBaseGuide.

Conclusion

Relocating can oftentimes be an overwhelming and unenjoyable experience, 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 Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and the surrounding area. We hope that you enjoy your new adventure in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Whether you decide to lay down roots in Laurel Bay or you decide to settle down at Shell Point, we’re certain you will settle right in and enjoy your time while stationed at MCAS Beaufort.