10 Largest Navy Bases In The U.S.

If you’re curious about the United States Navy and where they are housed, take a look at the 10 largest navy bases in the U.S.

The United States is home to what is widely considered as the most powerful military in the world. Therefore, it’s also home to some of the largest military bases in the world. Many of these bases take up vast amounts of land and are, in a way, their own city within a city due to the number of people who work and live there on a daily basis. For a short time I lived about an hour from one of the U.S.’s largest Marine bases, Camp Lejeune. Many times I would have to pass Lejeune for work and it seemed to go on for miles and miles as I drove up the highway. The idea of military bases has always intrigued me because, for the most, normal civilians cannot go on the base whenever they want. Security is no joke when you’re within even a few miles of these bases. While I’ve been around Marine and Army bases, I’m not too familiar with the Navy bases around our country. My grandfather was in the Navy and stationed in Rota, Spain decades ago, but that’s about the extent of my knowledge of the Navy’s bases. However, I do think their ships are awesome, especially when fighter jets are able to land on them. If you think that’s pretty cool also, check out the 10 most powerful navy ships in the world today.

According to Quora, there are currently more than 320,000 active duty personnel in the United States’ Navy. They all of course, need somewhere to live and train whether they’re stationed in the country or overseas. According to the U.S. Navy, there are 45 United States Navy bases around the globe that house a number of personnel and equipment. Many cases those “on base” make up a large percentage of the population of the city where the base is located. When you’re in a city that houses a major base, there’s no mistaking you’re close to a base.

Because these bases are so integral to our country’s military power and security, we decided to come up with our own list of largest navy bases in the U.S. To come up with this list we used sites such as Naval-technology and MilitaryInstallations, to combine population, square miles, and facilities to figure out what we would consider as the largest Naval bases. 

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 10 largest Navy bases in the U.S. and what makes them so big.

10. Naval Air Station Patuxent River

Location: Maryland

Population: 22,800

Square miles: 10

Home to three major Navy commands, including the Naval Air Systems Command headquarters, and the NAWC Aircraft Division.

9. Naval Station Mayport

Location: Florida

Population: 47,170

Square miles: 5.3

The number nine on our list of largest navy bases in the U.S. contains 1,381 housing units, 20 naval vessels, 6 helicopter squadrons, and houses up to 34 ships.

8. Naval Base San Diego

Location: California

Population: 48,000

Square miles: 3.1

Houses 60 Navy ships, 2 Coast Guard cutters and home base to 150 commands.

7. Naval Air Station Corpus Christi

Location: Texas

Population: 47,287

Square miles: 5.3

The naval air station is home to Training Air Wing Four and Corpus Christi Army Depot. It also houses a special aircraft belonging to the Department of Defense. The base mainly focuses on aviation training.

6. Naval Air Station Jacksonville

Location: Florida

Population: 53,590

Square miles: 5.3

This Naval airport serves multiple missions and hosts more than 100 tenant commands.

5. Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor

Location: Washington

Population:81,504 (35,908 retirees)

Square miles: 5.3

This Washington state-based base comes in at number 5 on our list of the 10 largest navy bases in the U.S. The base supports a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, along with a number of other ships and submarines.

4. Joint Base Pearl Harbor

Location: Hawaii

Population:54,170

Square miles: 43

The well-known Pearl Harbor Base, the number four on our list of largest navy bases in the U.S. has more than 160 commands as well as ships, submarines and aircraft. It is also a popular destination for tourists.

3. Naval Station Norfolk

Location: Virginia

Population: 149,000

Square miles: 5.3

The Port’s Operations Department controls over 3,100 ship movements a year. More than 100,000 flight operations are conducted annually from the base.While more than 75 ships and 134 aircraft are based at the naval station.

2. Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base

Location: Texas

Population: 165,878

Square miles: 5.3

This Texas base has 40 separate commands while supporting training of troops in all branches of the military.

1. Naval Base Coronado

Location: California

Population: 84,100

Square miles: 89

Coronado is home to eight Navy installations,16 helicopter squadrons, two fixed-wing squadrons, two aircraft carriers, four SEAL teams and Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) squadrons.

So, next time you’re traveling around the country take a look at these 10 largest navy bases in the U.S. and see if you might luck up and get a tour.