California has the largest military population in the United States, with over 157,000 active-duty personnel and more than 800,000 veterans. The military contributes over $90 billion annually to the state's economy and supports over 700,000 jobs.
Planning a 2026 move? Your housing budget starts with your allowance, so see our 2026 BAH rates explainer for what changed this year, and our San Diego BAH 2026 guide if you have orders to the state's largest Navy hub.
The state is home to 44 military installations, supporting every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force.
List of Military Bases in California
U.S. Coast Guard Bases
- Air Station Sacramento
- Air Station San Francisco
- Base Alameda
- Sector Humboldt Bay
- Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach
- Sector San Diego
- Sector San Francisco
- USCGC Aspen
- USCGC George Cobb
- TRACEN Petaluma
U.S. Air Force Bases
- Beale Air Force Base
- Edwards Air Force Base
- Los Angeles Air Force Base
- March Air Reserve Base
- Travis Air Force Base
- Vandenberg Space Force Base
U.S. Army Bases
- Camp Parks PRFTA
- Fort Hunter Liggett
- Fort Irwin
- Monterey Presidio
- Sierra Army Depot
U.S. Marine Corps Bases
- Camp Pendleton
- Camp Roberts
- Camp San Luis Obispo
- Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
- Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center
- Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
- Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
U.S. Navy Bases
- Naval Air Facility El Centro
- Naval Air Station Lemoore
- Naval Base Coronado
- Naval Base Point Loma
- Naval Base San Diego
- Naval Base Ventura County
- Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake
- Naval Support Activity Monterey
- Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
Joint and Specialized Bases
- Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos
- Military Ocean Terminal Concord
- San Joaquin Depot
Featured Military Bases in California
1. Air Station Sacramento
Location: Sacramento, CA Mission: Medium-range patrols & search-and-rescue
- Commissioned in 1978
- Operates 6 HC-27J Spartan aircraft
- Notable missions: Challenger disaster (1986), Deepwater Horizon response (2010)
Visit Air Station Sacramento
2. Beale Air Force Base
Location: Marysville, CA Mission: High-altitude reconnaissance and refueling operations
- Home to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing
- Operates U-2 Dragon Lady & RQ-4 Global Hawk
- Established in 1942 as Camp Beale, converted to an Air Force base in 1948
Visit Beale Air Force Base
3. Camp Pendleton
Location: Oceanside, CA Mission: Largest Marine Corps training base
- Established in 1942
- Over 125,000 acres of training grounds
- Trained Marines for D-Day, Korea, Vietnam, and Middle East operations
Visit Camp Pendleton
4. Edwards Air Force Base
Location: Kern County, CA Mission: Flight testing and space exploration
- Largest Air Force base by land area
- Home to NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center
- First supersonic flight (1947) & first Space Shuttle landing (1981)
Visit Edwards Air Force Base
