Where military families live in San Diego, base by base

This is the starting point for a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move to San Diego. It maps the eight main installations, lists the neighborhoods families tend to pick for each one, and links to a full guide per base. Distances are driving miles from route planners and are approximate. Rents use HUD's Fair Market Rents, not asking rents, so you can compare areas on the same yardstick before you check your BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing).

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Navy

1. 1Naval Base San Diego (32nd Street) — Main gate is Gate 6 at 32nd St, open 24/7
2. 2Naval Air Station North Island — Main gate at Third St and Alameda Blvd
3. 3Naval Amphibious Base Coronado — Enter at the Tarawa Rd gate off Orange Ave
4. 4Naval Base Point Loma — Front gate on the Point Loma peninsula

Marine Corps

1. 5MCAS Miramar Main Gate — Main (East) Gate, open 24/7, visitor center here
2. 6MCRD San Diego — Visitors use Gate 5 off Washington St
3. 7Camp Pendleton Main Gate — South end of the base, on the Oceanside border

Medical

1. 8Naval Medical Center San Diego (Balboa) — Navy hospital in Balboa Park

Pins are approximate and placed at each installation's published address or main gate. Sources: Military OneSource, Naval Medical Center San Diego, MCRD Museum Foundation, Military.com, checked October 5, 2026.

See these on the full San Diego map

Coastal or inland: the real trade-off

HUD's Fair Market Rent (FMR) is set at roughly the 40th percentile of local rents, so many listings will be higher. It is still the cleanest way to compare ZIP codes. The FY2027 numbers took effect October 1, 2026, and many South Bay ZIPs dropped from FY2026: National City's 2-bedroom figure fell from $2,340 to $2,220, and Otay Ranch's 91915 fell from $4,170 to $3,810. For what your rank actually gets, see San Diego BAH rates for 2026. For why the coast is cooler, see Why it's hotter inland than at the beach.

Navy: 32nd Street, North Island, Point Loma

Naval Base San Diego (3455 Senn Rd) is the 32nd Street base on the bay, with the 24/7 main gate (Gate 6) at 32nd St and Harbor Dr. National City is about 2 miles away and western Chula Vista about 5. The Blue Line trolley stops at Pacific Fleet station at 32nd St, which helps South Bay commuters. Barrio Logan is closest of all but sits in the county's Portside air-quality focus area. Full breakdown in Living near Naval Base San Diego.

NAS North Island (main gate at 300 Alameda Blvd) and Naval Amphibious Base Coronado (3632 Tulagi Rd, Tarawa Rd gate) are both on Coronado. Living in Coronado means a short drive and Coronado Unified schools, at the county's highest rents. Imperial Beach is the budget option down the Silver Strand, about 10 miles from North Island. See Living near NAS North Island.

Naval Base Point Loma (front gate 140 Sylvester Rd) sits at the tip of the peninsula. Point Loma and Ocean Beach are the natural picks; both are in San Diego Unified. Departures from San Diego International Airport fly over parts of Point Loma. See Living near Naval Base Point Loma.

Marine Corps: Miramar, MCRD, Camp Pendleton

MCAS Miramar's main gate is on Miramar Way off I-15 and is open 24/7, with the visitor center at the gate. Mira Mesa is about 3 miles away and Scripps Ranch about 4. Santee, about 16 miles out, is cheaper. VeteranPCS calls Poway Unified a top choice for Miramar families. See Living near MCAS Miramar.

MCRD San Diego (1600 Henderson Ave) is next to the airport and Point Loma; visitors without a military ID enter at Gate 5 off Washington St. Families coming for boot camp graduation should read the MCRD graduation guide.

Camp Pendleton's main gate is at 20250 Vandegrift Blvd on the Oceanside border, with other gates at Las Pulgas, San Onofre, Cristianitos and Fallbrook. The base covers about 125,000 acres, so your unit's location matters more than the main gate. Military OneSource says about 27% of family members live on base. See Living near Camp Pendleton.

Navy Medicine: Balboa

Naval Medical Center San Diego (34800 Bob Wilson Dr) is inside Balboa Park. North Park, Hillcrest and South Park border the park, so a short commute is possible without a freeway. North Park, Hillcrest and South Park have their own pages.

Before you sign a lease, read The military clause in a California lease and work through the PCS to San Diego checklist. If you're weighing a car-light life near the trolley, Do I need a car in San Diego? is worth five minutes.