TINKER AIR FORCE BASE: IN-DEPTH WELCOME CENTER

Introduction

Welcome to Tinker Air Force Base, located in Midwest City, a suburb in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area. Named after Major General Clarence L. Tinker, the first Native American Major General, Tinker AFB hosts more than 26,000 military and civilian employees covering about 9 square miles. It is the largest employer in the state of Oklahoma. We hope this guide helps you get settled in your new posting and helps take some of the stress out of moving. 1. Where Is Tinker Air Force Base? 2. Google Map View 3. Getting There – Directions to the Base 4. Entering Tinker Air Force Base and Amenities

• Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel
• Tinker Air Force Base Visitor Center
• Tinker Air Force Base DEERS Office
• Tinker Air Force Base Gate Hours
• Tinker Air Force Base Commissary
• Tinker Air Force Base BX
• Tinker Air Force Base Barber Shops
• Tinker Air Force Base Post Office
• Tinker Air Force Base Finance Office
• Tinker Air Force Base Legal Office
• Tinker Air Force Base Library
• Tinker Air Force Base Hotels

5. Where Should I Live Near Tinker Air Force Base? 6. What Schools are Near Tinker Air Force Base? 7. What’s the Weather Like at Tinker Air Force Base? 8. Things to Do Around Tinker Air Force Base

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 Tinker AFB?

Tinker Air Force Base Welcome & Visitors Center

S Air Depot Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73145

Phone

: 1 (405) 734-5191

Hours:

• Monday-Sunday

  : 0600-2200

Tinker AFB Map

Directions to Tinker Air Force Base

Driving Directions

From Wichita, Kansas

1. Take I-135 S/KS-15S/US-81
2. Take the exit onto I-35 S/Kansas Turnpike toward Oklahoma City
3. Keep left at the fork to stay on I-35 S, follow signs for Okla. City/Dallas
4. Take the exit onto I-40 E toward Ft. Smith
5. Take exit 157B toward Air Depot Blvd/Tinker Gate
6. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Tinker AFB, and merge onto S Air Depot Blvd
7. Enter Tinker AFB through Tinker Gate

From Dallas, Texas

1. Take 1-35E
2. Merge onto I-35E N
3. Keep left to stay on I-35 N
4. Merge onto I-35 N/I-40 E/US-62 E toward Wichita/Ft Smith
5. Continue on I-35 N/I-40 E
6. Keep left at the fork to continue on I-40 E/US-270 E, follow signs for Fort Smith
7. Take exit 157B toward Air Depot Blvd/Tinker Gate
8. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Tinker AFB, and merge onto S Air Depot Blvd
9. Enter Tinker AFB through Tinker Gate

From Will Rogers World Airport

1. Head south on Terminal Dr toward Guy Fuller Dr
2. Turn slightly right to stay on Terminal Dr
3. Continue onto S Meridian Ave
4. Turn right onto Newcastle Rd
5. Continue onto SW 29th St
6. Turn left to merge onto I-44 E
7. Use the right lane to stay on I-44 E
8. Take exit 120B for Interstate 40 E toward Ft Smith
9. Merge onto I-40
10. Continue on I-35 N/I-40 E
11. Keep left at the fork to continue on I-40 E/US-270 E, follow signs for Fort Smit
12. Take exit 157B toward Air Depot Blvd/Tinker Gate
13. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Tinker AFB, and merge onto S Air Depot Blvd
14. Enter Tinker AFB through Tinker Gate

Greyhound Bus Station in Oklahoma City, OK

1. Head east on Reno Ave toward N Eastern Ave/S Martin Luther King Ave
2. Turn right onto I- 40 Srv Rd/Tinker Diagonal St
3. Slight left to merge onto I-40 E
4. Take exit 157B toward Air Depot Blvd/Tinker Gat
5. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Tinker AFB, and merge onto S Air Depot Blvd
6. Enter Tinker AFB through Tinker Gate

Amtrak Station in Oklahoma City, OK

1. Head west on W Sheridan Ave toward S E K Gaylord Blvd
2. Turn left onto S E K Gaylord Blvd
3. Turn left onto Oklahoma City Blvd
4. Use the right lane to take the ramp onto I-40 E
5. Merge onto I-40 E
6. Continue on I-35 N/I-40 E
7. Keep left at the fork to continue on I-40 E/US-270 E, follow signs for Fort Smith
8. Take exit 157B toward Air Depot Blvd/Tinker Gate
9. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Tinker AFB, and merge onto S Air Depot Blvd
10. Enter Tinker AFB through Tinker Gate

Flights To Tinker AFB

More than likely, you will be flying through Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, OK. You can catch Taxi and transportation services like Lyft and Uber here at this civil-military airport.

Tinker Air Force Base Transportation Office

Tinker AFB Household Goods/Transportation Office

7330 Century Blvd. Bldg. 469 Tinker AFB, OK 73145 Phone: 1 (405) 739-3059 Hours:

• Monday-Friday: 0700-1600
• Saturday/Sunday: Closed
• Federal Holidays: Closed

Entering Tinker Air Force Base and Amenities

All drivers on base must have a valid military ID, veterans or retiree ID, a valid driver’s license, and a valid driver’s insurance card. All visitors must stop by the Visitor Control Center through the Tinker Gate off of S Air Depot Blvd.

Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel

For all military personnel arriving during duty hours, contact your unit or squadron of assignment immediately. Any personnel arriving after duty hours, on a weekend, or on a holiday, the 24-hour arrival location is the Indian Hills Inn located at 4002 Mitchell Drive. Your Commander Support Staff (CSS) will in-process you from there and schedule you for your mandatory in-processing and Newcomer’s Welcoming/Orientation briefings. You will need these items for your appointment: IDA worksheet, orders, and mandates, envelope from your losing base, any graduation certificates that apply, and all travel receipts. And remember, if you are bringing any dependents with you, bring all legal documentation that applies.

Tinker AFB Visitor Center

Tinker Air Force Base Welcome & Visitors Center

S Air Depot Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73145

Phone

: 1 (405) 734-5191

Hours

:

• Monday-Sunday

  : 0600-2200

DEERS Tinker AFB

Tinker AFB ID Card & DEERS Office

7701 Arnold St. Tinker AFB, OK 73145

Phone

: 1 (405) 734-8753

DEERS Tinker AFB Hours

• Monday-Friday

  : 0730 - 1530

• Saturday/Sunday

  : Closed

• Federal Holidays

  : Closed

Tinker AFB Gate Hours

Tinker Air Force Base has ten gates. The main gate is the Tinker Gate off of S Air Depot Blvd that will lead you right through the Visitor’s Control Center.

• Tinker Gate

  - Main Gate: Open 24/7

• Hope Gate

  : Mon-Fri 0530-1730

• Lancer Gate

  : Open 24/7

• Piazza Gate

  : Open 24/7

• Eaker Gate

  : Mon-Fri 0600-0:00

• Liberator Gate

  : Mon-Fri 0530-0830 & 1430-1730

• Gott Gate

  : Temporarily Closed

• Hruskocy Gate

  : Mon-Fri 0530-1730

• Vance Gate

  : Mon-Fri 0530-1730

• Truck Entry

  : Mon-Fri 0600-1600

Tinker Commissary

3250 S Air Depot Blvd. BLDG 690 Oklahoma City, OK 73145

Phone

: 1 (405) 734-5965

Tinker Commissary Hours

• Monday-Friday: 0830-2000
• Saturday: 0830 - 1900
• Sunday: 1000 - 1700

Tinker AFB BX

3360 N Avenue Bldg. 685 Tinker AFB, OK 73145

Phone

: 1 (405) 733-4561

Tinker AFB Exchange Hours

• Monday-Saturday

  : 0900 - 1800

• Sunday and Holidays

  : 1000 - 1800

Tinker AFB Barber Shops

3360 N Avenue Bldg. 685 Tinker AFB, OK 73145

Phone:

1 (405) 732-5032

Tinker AFB Barber Shop Hours

• Monday-Saturday

  : 0800 - 1800

• Sunday and Holidays

  : 1100 - 1600

Tinker AFB Post Office

3681 H Ave. Bldg. 478 Oklahoma City, OK

Phone

: 1 (405) 741-1783

Tinker AFB Post Office Hours

• Monday-Friday: 0900 - 0400
• Saturday/Sunday: Closed

Tinker AFB Finance

Tinker AFB Finance Office

6001 Arnold Street Tinker AFB, OK 73145

Phone

: 1 (405) 739-2747

Tinker AFB Finance Office Hours

• Monday-Friday

  : 0730 - 1630

• Saturday-Sunday

  : Closed

Tinker AFB Legal Office

4835 Air Depot Blvd. Bldg. 1002 Tinker AFB, OK 73145

Phone

: 1(405) 739-5811

Tinker AFB Legal Office Hours

• Monday-Wednesday

  : 0800 - 1600

• Thursday

  : 0800 - 1430

• Friday

  : 0800 - 1600

• Saturday-Sunday

  : Closed

Tinker AFB Library

6120 Arnold St. Bldg. 5702 Tinker AFB, OK 73145

Phone

: 1 (405) 734-2626

Tinker AFB Library Hours

• Tuesday-Thursday

  : 1000 - 1800

• Friday

  : 1000 - 1700

• Saturday

  : 0900 - 1700

• Sunday-Monday

  : Closed

Hotels Near Tinker AFB

Tinker AFB has many hotel selections within Oklahoma City. 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. Best Western Plus Midwest City Inn & Suites 6701 Tinker Diagonal, Midwest City, OK 73110

Phone

: 1 (405) 737-6060 2. Home2 Suites by Hilton OKC Midwest City Tinker AFB 1820 Warren Dr, Midwest City, OK 73110

Phone

: 1 (405) 610-6994 3. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Midwest City - Tinker AFB 5653 Tinker Diagonal, Midwest City, OK 73110

Phone

: 1 (405) 733-1339 4. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oklahoma City Midwest City/Del City 5400 Main St, Del City, OK 73115

Phone:

1 (405) 604-0552 5. Candlewood Suites Midwest City 5300 Main St, Del City, OK 73115

Phone

: 1 (405) 604-5300

Where Should I Live Near Tinker Air Force Base?

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.

Cities Near Tinker Air Force Base

Tinker Air Force Base is a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area within Midwest City, Oklahoma. This means that immediately surrounding the base, you will have many choices on where to live that will be convenient.

Best Places to Live Near Tinker Air Force Base

Midwest City

Midwest City is a suburb of Oklahoma City. One of the biggest advantages to living in Midwest City is its proximity to the base, and it’s only minutes from downtown Oklahoma City. Here you will enjoy lower costs of living than Oklahoma City proper, and there's a more close-knit, military community thanks to the location of Tinker AFB.

Edmond

Many opt to live a little farther from base in communities like Edmond. Edmond is still within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area but on the north site farther from the base. It still boasts a larger population, being the 5th largest city in the state. There are plentiful parks and countryside to the north of the city, and it has a highly-rated school system.

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

Tinker AFB Schools

There are no schools on base at Tinker AFB. However, schools serving Tinker Air Force Base are a part of the Mid-Del School System. Where your student-age children will go will be based on your location. For on-base residents, students will attend Tinker Elementary School, which is located just off-base. For older students, they will attend Jarman Middle School or Midwest City High School. Bus transportation is provided for students.

Tinker AFB Weather

The weather around Tinker Air Force Base in the Oklahoma City area sees a wide range of temperatures over the course of the year. Summers are hot and muggy, while winters can get cold and typically windy. Rarely, though, do temperatures go over 102 degrees or below 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring sees a decent amount of precipitation, and the wet season can last most of the summer. April and May especially can see the risk of severe weather, including tornadoes. Be sure to always be prepared and have multiple ways to receive severe weather updates.

Things to Do Near Tinker AFB

With the base within the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area, there is no shortage of things to do within the city, and just outside of it. Downtown you have plenty of dining, shopping, and entertainment choices, including seeing an Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game. The city is also known as the “Horse Show Capital of the World,” with more national and international horse show events than any other city in the world. On the north side of the city, you will find the Martin Park Nature Center. Here you can enjoy plentiful trails through woods and grasslands, plus playgrounds for the kids and a nature center.

Suggested Reads

: 18 Of the Best Things to Do Around Tinker AFB and 18 of the Best Restaurants Near Tinker AFB

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

Conclusion

Relocating can be a stressful experience, but we hope this guide has given you a clearer picture of the area surrounding the base. We hope that you find your next adventure here around the base, whether in the downtown area of Oklahoma City or the many camping and hiking spots outside of the city.  

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