MACDILL AFB: IN-DEPTH WELCOME CENTER

Introduction

Welcome to MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida! Located just eight miles south of the city of Tampa, MacDill AFB is home to the 6th Air Refueling Wing. This Air Mobility Command base is capable of rapidly deploying air refueling support anywhere in the world. MacDill AFB hosts over 51 tenant units, including the United States Central Command and the United States Special Operations Command pushing the on-base population to nearly 20,000 active-duty personnel. With large communities surrounding it, including Tampa, there’s plenty to explore in the area. Keep reading or click any of the sections to guide you through your transition to living on MacDill AFB.

1. Where Is MacDill Air Force Base?
2. Google Map View
3. Getting There–MacDill Air Force Base Directions
4. Entering MacDill Air Force Base and Base Amenities
   • Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel
   • MacDill AFB Visitor Center
   • MacDill AFB DEERS Office
   • MacDill AFB Gate Hours
   • MacDill AFB Commissary
   • MacDill AFB Exchange
   • MacDill AFB Barber Shops
   • MacDill AFB Post Office
   • MacDill AFB Finance Office
   • MacDill AFB Legal Office
   • MacDill AFB Library
   • MacDill AFB Hotels
5. Where Should I Live Near MacDill Air Force Base?
6. MacDill Air Force Base Schools
7. MacDill Air Force Base Weather
8. Things to Do Near MacDill Air Force Base

Where Is MacDill Air Force Base?

MacDill Air Force Base Welcome & Visitors Center

6801 S. Dale Mabry Hwy MacDill AFB, FL 33621

Phone

: 1 (813) 828-2737

Hours

:

• Monday-Friday

  – 0600-1500

• Saturday/Sunday

  – Closed

• Federal Holidays

  – Closed

MacDill Air Force Base Installation Map

MacDill Air Force Base Directions

Located in the Tampa Bay area, there are multiple ways for you to reach the base. Tampa is a tourist destination and features various modes of transportation and major highways that make navigating the area easy.

Driving Directions

From Miami

1. Take I 95 N to the Florida Turnpike,
2. Exit 54 to I -595
3. Exit for I 75 toward Naples
4. Exit 256 for SR-619-TOLL//Crosstown Expressway.
5. Exit 1B right to S. Dale Mabry to MacDill Main Gate.

From Orlando

1. From I 4 Merge onto FL 618 W/Roy Selmon Expressway Way
2. Merge onto US -92 E/W Gandy Blvd via Exit 1A
3. Take the FL 573 S ramp toward MacDill AFB.
4. Turn slight right onto S. Dale Mabry Highway/FL-573.

From Tampa International Airport

1. Take the Spruce exit to Dale Mabry
2. Turn right onto South Dale Mabry
3. South Dale Mabry will end at the MacDill Main Gate (open 24 hours)

From St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport

1. Follow Airport Pkwy to FL-686 E/Roosevelt Blvd
2. Continue on FL-686 E/Roosevelt Blvd N
3. Take US-92 E/Gandy Blvd N to FL-573 S/S Dale Mabry Hwy

From Union Station

1. Turn left onto N Nebraska Ave
2. Turn right onto E Kennedy Blvd
3. Turn left onto N Tampa St
4. Merge onto FL-618 Toll/Selmon Expressway
5. Merge onto W Gandy Blvd
6. Turn right onto FL-573 S
7. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto FL-573 S/S Dale Mabry Hwy.

Union Station Railroad

Tampa’s Union Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located about 30 minutes out of MacDill AFB. It services over 100,000 Amtrak travelers every year.

Hart Bus Service

Covering around 1000 square miles and with over 200 buses in its fleet, the Hart Bus Line provides transportation to the Tampa Bay area. They have lines to both downtown Tampa and Tampa International Airport.

Flights To MacDill Air Force Base

The Tampa Bay area has two major airports to choose from. The more popular airport is Tampa International Airport. Next door is also the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. There are no military shuttles that currently run to the airports, so you will have to rely on public transportation, rideshares such as Uber or Lyft, rental cars, or taxis.

MacDill Air Force Base Transportation Office

MacDill Air Force Base Household Goods/Transportation Office

2909 Night Hawk Pl MacDill AFB, FL 33621

Phone

: 1 (813) 828-6722

Hours

: Call for hours

Entering MacDill Air Force Base and Base Amenities

All drivers on base must have a valid military ID, veteran or retiree ID, a valid driver’s license, and valid driver’s insurance card. For visitors passes, head to the Visitor’s Center and sign in.

Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel

Step one when you arrive at MacDill AFB is to contact your unit. They will direct you to your Commander Support Staff located in the Military Personnel Flight for in-processing. Any personnel that arrive after 4:30 PM, on weekends, or on federal holidays need to go to the 24-arrival point. This is located at the MacDill Inn, Building 350.

MacDill Air Force Base Visitor Center

MacDill AFB Welcome and Visitor Center

6801 S. Dale Mabry Hwy MacDill AFB, FL 33621

Phone

: 1 (813) 828-2737

Hours

:

• Monday-Friday

  – 0600-1500

• Saturday/Sunday

  – Closed

• Federal Holidays

  – Closed

MacDill Air Force Base DEERS Office

Closed on every 4th Monday. Open 1st Saturday 0800-1200. Walk-ins are accepted from 0730 - 1530 or until capacity is reached for the day.

MacDill AFB ID Card & DEERS Office

8011 Tampa Point Blvd, Bldg 411, MacDill AFB, FL 33621

Phone

: 1 (813) 828-6673

Hours

:

• Monday-Friday

  – 0730-1530

• Saturday/Sunday

  – Closed

• Federal Holidays

  – Closed

MacDill Air Force Base Gate Hours

MacDill AFB has four gates into the installation. The Dale Mabry Gate is considered the main entrance to the base.

• Dale Mabry Gate

  : 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Commercial Lane: 1500 - 1730. Monday through Friday and all day on weekends

• Bayshore Gate

  : 0500 - 2100 hours, 7 days a week

• Tanker Way Gate (Commercial vehicle gate)

  : 0530 - 1500 Monday-Friday closed Saturday, Sunday, and select Holidays

  • Morning POV Traffic

    : 0530 - 2000

• MacDill Gate: Monday-Friday (closed weekends and holidays)

  0500 - 0900 (Inbound and Outbound) 1500 - 1800 (Outbound only)

MacDill Commissary

2908 N. Boundary Blvd. MacDill AFB, FL 33621

Phone

: 1 (813) 828-3361

MacDill AFB Commissary Hours

• Everyday

  : 0900 - 1900
• Note: There are no Early Bird hours until further notice.

MacDill AFB Exchange

3108 N Boundary Blvd Building #926 MacDill AFB, FL 33608

Phone

: 1 (813) 840-0511

MacDill AFB Exchange Hours:

• Monday-Saturday

  – 0900-1800

• Sunday

  – 1000-1600

MacDill Air Force Base Barber Shops

Main Exchange Barber Shop 3108 N Boundary Blvd # 926, Tampa, FL 33621

Phone

: 1 (813) 840-0087

MacDill AFB Main Exchange Barber Shop Hours

• Monday-Friday

  – 7:30 AM-4 PM

• Saturday

  – 9 AM-4 PM

• Sunday

  – 10 AM-4 PM

MacDill Air Force Base Post Office

8106 Condor St, MacDill AFB, FL 33621

Phone

: 1 (813) 828-4680

MacDill AFB Post Office Hours

• Monday-Friday

  – 0800 - 1630

• Saturday and Sunday

  – Closed

MacDill Air Force Base Finance Office

2606 Brown Pelican Ave MacDill AFB, FL 33621

Phone

: 1 (813) 828-5377

MacDill AFB Finance Office Hours

• Monday-Friday

  – 9 AM-3 PM

• Saturday and Sunday

  – Closed

MacDill Air Force Base Legal Office

8208 Hangar Loop Dr, Tampa, FL 33621

Phone

: 1 (813) 828-4421

MacDill AFB Legal Office Hours

• Monday-Thursday

  – 8 AM-4 PM

• Friday

  – 9AM-4 PM

• Saturday and Sunday

  – Closed

MacDill AFB Library

8102 Condor Street Building #252 MacDill AFB, FL 33621

Phone

: 1 (813) 828-3607

MacDill AFB Library Hours

• Mondays & Tuesdays

  – 8 am-2 pm;

• Wednesdays & Thursdays

  – 11:30 am-6:30 pm;

• Fridays & Saturdays

  – 10 am-3 pm.

• Note

  : Curbside service only until further notice.

MacDill AFB Hotels

The Tampa Bay area provides numerous options for lodging near MacDill AFB. Below is a selection of hotels with high ratings, nearest to the base. But there are plenty more in Tampa proper.

Sleep Inn & Suites Tampa South

6231 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33611

Phone

: 1 (813) 831-4020

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tampa Bay Area-Tampa South

4620 W Gandy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33611

Phone

: 1 (813) 835-6262

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Tampa South

4505 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33611

Phone

: 1 (813) 542-4500

Hotel South Tampa & Suites

3314 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33629

Phone

: 1 (813) 832-4656

Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection

1207 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606

Phone

: 1 (855) 829-2536

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

Where Should I Live Near MacDill 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.

Major Cities Near MacDill Air Force Base

MacDill AFB sits near two major cities in Florida.Tampa lies just eight miles north of the base and St. Petersburg twelve miles to the west. Tampa boasts about 340,000 people living in it and has numerous options for housing off base. The same is true of St. Petersburg, with a population of about 245,000. The Tampa Bay area is known for its beaches and outdoor activities. St. Petersburg so much so that it’s known as “The Sunshine City.”

Best Places to Live Near MacDill Air Force Base

South Tampa

It’s hard to beat the community of South Tampa in the SOHO/Hyde Park neighborhoods if you are looking to live off-base. Your commute, depending on the time of day, will be around 15-25 minutes. The perfect location tucked between the base and downtown Tampa, you are also never far from a beach. There are plenty of dining and entertainment options in the community and in nearby downtown plus the opportunity for plenty of outdoor activities, all near MacDill AFB.

Pinellas County

The Tampa Bay area population is booming and will continue to attract new residents with Jeff Vinik’s plans to revamp downtown Tampa. Tampa City council continues to put high priority on transportation efforts, but the traffic can be quite horrendous. So keep in mind if you plan to live in the surrounding areas of St. Petersburg or Clearwater area that your commute will be around 45 minutes to an hour plus, especially during rush hours. There are often daily pile-ups on the Howard Frankland Bridge (275) and the Gandy Bridge (US-92). And many residents who live on that side of “the bridge” prefer to take the Courtney Campbell Causeway (60) over to Tampa. With the commute being taken into consideration there are plenty of amazing places to live on this side of town.

St. Petersburg

St. Pete is home to the Tampa Bay Rays, full of nightlife with great bars and restaurants, shopping, top-rated museums, and access to some of the best beaches in the United States. Some of the top neighborhoods to live in include Downtown St. Petersburg, Old Northeast, and Snell Isle.

Clearwater

Rated the #1 beach in the United States for the third year in a row by Tripadvisor and in the top 10 list for the best beaches in the world, Florida residents love to live near Clearwater Beach. With fresh seafood restaurants and nearby indoor-outdoor shopping malls, the Clearwater area is one of the best places to live near Tampa.

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

MacDill Air Force Base Schools

Students living on base will attend schools in the Hillsborough County School District. Kindergarten through 5th Grade students will attend Tinker Elementary located on MacDill AFB. There are buses for older students going to Monroe Middle School and Robinson High School. Special permission must be granted for Hillsborough County School District for those not living on base.

MacDill Air Force Base Weather

Get ready for long summers at MacDill AFB. The summer can typically range into the mid-nineties and brings oppressive humidity levels. Spring and fall are milder and boast some of the best weather for outdoor activities. Winters are short, can be windy, but the temperature rarely drops below 39 degrees, typically staying closer to 50 degrees on the low end.

Things to Do Near MacDill Air Force Base

From the Tampa Riverwalk to the Yuengling Brewing Company, Tampa offers a wide variety of outdoor activities offering scenic waterfront views and entertainment. A multitude of beaches awaits you in every direction from the base. Downtown has world-class dining experiences, and don’t forget you are only 30 minutes away from Busch Gardens Theme Park, boasting some of the most exciting roller coasters in the country. For a full and detailed list click the link of things to do and restaurants nearby.

Hot Tip: Connect with military-trusted businesses and deals exclusively for MacDill 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 MacDill AFB. You will be living in a sprawling community near the base, be sure to take advantage of the entertainment, sun-soaked beaches, and beautiful ocean views.  

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