Port Royal
A walkable, waterfront town with parks, boutiques, and local restaurants that military families genuinely rave about — small-town feel with quick access to the station.
Commute: 10–20 min
All Installations
U.S. Marine Corps · Beaufort, South Carolina
Where the Corps Flies Fifth-Gen
MCAS Beaufort is Marine aviation's East Coast home for the F-35B Lightning II, hosting Marine Aircraft Group 31's fighter-attack squadrons under the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. If your orders landed you in the Lowcountry, here's the real rundown on housing, commute, and your first 30 days.
The Station
Home of the F-35B on the East Coast
MCAS Beaufort's mission is to operate as home base for Marine Aircraft Group 31 and its squadrons, plus tenant U.S. Navy strike fighter squadrons, under the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The station is mid-transition from F/A-18 Hornets to F-35B Lightning IIs: VMFA-533 became the first operational F-35B squadron to fly out of Beaufort, and VMFAT-501 runs the core F-35B pilot training pipeline for the Fleet Marine Force.
About 4,700 personnel serve here across the F/A-18 and F-35B squadrons — a community that's used to the noise, the deployment tempo, and the rhythm of carrier qual detachments.
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island shares the greater Beaufort community — it's a separate installation, but plenty of spouses, employers, and schools serve both, so don't be surprised when local resources reference both gates.
Where You'll Actually Live
Pick Your Zip Code
Three real choices — the closer you stay to the water, the shorter the drive; the further out, the more house for the money.
Your PCS Checklist
Get Sorted
From your first orders to closing on a house — sorted by where you actually are.
Your move:
0 of 7 done0%
Read your orders line by line
Report date, gaining command, dependent authorization, and any special instructions — mistakes here cascade into every later step.
Set up your move through the Defense Personal Property System
Schedule your household-goods counseling session and pick a move type (full move, PPM/DITY, or partial DITY).
Schedule your household goods pickup
Book your packout date with your Personal Property Office as early as your report date allows.
Update DEERS and get new dependent ID cards if needed
Confirm every family member's DEERS record is current before you leave — it gates TRICARE, base access, and commissary privileges at the new station.
Check your VA home loan entitlement before you house-hunt
Pull your Certificate of Eligibility now so you know your buying power before you start touring homes.
Confirm TRICARE coverage at your gaining region
TRICARE regions changed in 2024 — confirm your plan and provider network transfer automatically.
Military spouse with a professional license? Check reciprocity in your new state
Many states now have expedited licensure compacts for military spouses — confirm before you arrive so there's no gap in income.
Can I Afford This?
What You Can Actually Afford Here
Real basic pay, real BAH, real nearby home values — not a guess.
On the Map
Where MCAS Beaufort Actually Sits
The installation's actual location — pan, zoom, get directions.
Where People Live
Officers, Enlisted, and Where They Land
Real, opt-in reports from people stationed here — never an exact address, just the general area.
Not enough reports yet to show a map for MCAS Beaufort.
Every ZIP area needs at least 2 reports before it appears here — that floor keeps any single answer from being identifiable. Be one of the first to help map this base below.
Do you live near MCAS Beaufort? Help us improve this.
Four quick questions, no login, completely anonymous. We only ever collect your general ZIP area — never your street address or name.
Local Favorites
Where You'll Actually Hang Out
Real spots around Beaufort, SC -- a 10-mile paved trail through salt marsh, the state's only publicly-climbable lighthouse 15 miles out, and a veteran-owned taco spot near Boundary Street.
Outdoor recreation
Spanish Moss Trail
10-mile paved multi-use trail through Beaufort's neighborhoods and salt marsh, popular with locals for walking, biking, and stroller/wheelchair access.
Source: Official trail site + Beaufort SC official tourism site -- verified Jul 18 2026
Outdoor recreation
Hunting Island State Park
State park roughly 15-17 miles from downtown Beaufort with beach, maritime forest, and the state's only publicly-climbable lighthouse.
Source: SC State Parks -- verified live Jul 18 2026
Historic
Old Sheldon Church Ruins
Greek Revival church ruins built 1745-1753, burned twice (Revolutionary and Civil War era), about 17 miles north of Beaufort in Sheldon -- quieter than the downtown Historic District.
Source: Beaufort County government -- verified live Jul 18 2026
Family
Highway 21 Drive-In
The only drive-in movie theater in the Lowcountry -- three screens, double features Thu-Sun, on-site playground, discounted military tickets.
Source: Official site -- verified live Jul 18 2026
Family
Pigeon Point Park
Neighborhood park (not the downtown Waterfront Park tourist draw) with a recently renovated playground, picnic areas, and live oaks with Spanish moss, free parking.
Source: Beaufort Insider local news -- verified Jul 18 2026
Restaurant
Veteran-OwnedPoncho's Tacos & Beer
Locally operated Mexican restaurant and bar popular with military families around Parris Island graduation weekends.
Source: beaufortsc.org official listing -- verified Jul 18 2026
Jodi's List
Veteran-Owned Around Beaufort
The Lowcountry's veteran-business community, verified — straight from the directory.
SOUTHERN FENCE OP LLC
other · Seabrook, SC
5.7 mi from base
MANIFEST TECHNOLOGY LLC
other · Beaufort
8.7 mi from base
MMS TRANSPORTATION, LLC
other · St Helena Island, SC
10.4 mi from base
DJ MAJESTY, LLC
other · Ridgeland, SC
15.8 mi from base
PALMETTO FIRE CONSULTANTS LLC
other · Bluffton, SC
16.1 mi from base
BRYANT AND SONS TRUCKING, LLC
other · Bluffton
17.6 mi from base
US SUPPLY CORPORATION
other · Hilton Head Island, SC
18 mi from base
AVITSEN LLC
other · Bluffton, SC
20 mi from base
Listings from Jodi's List, the veteran-owned business directory.
Own a veteran business near MCAS Beaufort?Get Listed Free →On-Base Resources
Week-One Essentials
Golf Course
On-Base Lodging
Exchange
Commissary
Fitness Centers
Child Development Center
Key Phone Numbers
We only publish numbers we've verified — none are on file for this installation yet. The base operator directory on the official site is the reliable source.
Live From the Installation
What's Happening On Station
Pulled from MCAS Beaufort's official public channels — updated automatically.
No updates ingested for MCAS Beaufort yet.
This feed pulls straight from the installation's official public channels once its news feed is connected — check the base's official site in the meantime.
The Playbook
Your First 30 Days
01
Lock housing before you land
Port Royal and Lady's Island rentals move fast every PCS season, and Laurel Bay's on-base neighborhood has its own waitlist. Decide rent-vs-buy early — a VA loan preapproval costs nothing and strengthens every offer.
02
In-process + DEERS same week
Knock out in-processing, DEERS updates, and TRICARE region transfer in week one — everything downstream keys off it.
03
School registration early
Beaufort County School District enrollment windows fill fast every summer — register as soon as you have an address, not after you arrive.
04
Plug into the community
MAG-31 family readiness groups and the veteran-business network above are the real intel channels here. Use them before you pay retail for anything.
Land in the Lowcountry With Keys in Hand
Zero-down VA loans for eligible buyers, all 50 states from day one, and Personal Bankers who know the Beaufort market. Start before you out-process.
Subject to credit approval and VA eligibility. The Veteran Alliance is a fintech company, not a bank; banking services provided through partner institutions.
Your Next Backyard
Life beyond the gate.
Quick Question
Where are you at with housing near Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort?
Local Favorites
Things to Do
Outdoor recreation
Spanish Moss Trail
10-mile paved multi-use trail through Beaufort's neighborhoods and salt marsh, popular with locals for walking, biking, and stroller/wheelchair access.
Source: Official trail site + Beaufort SC official tourism site -- verified Jul 18 2026
Outdoor recreation
Hunting Island State Park
State park roughly 15-17 miles from downtown Beaufort with beach, maritime forest, and the state's only publicly-climbable lighthouse.
Source: SC State Parks -- verified live Jul 18 2026
Historic
Old Sheldon Church Ruins
Greek Revival church ruins built 1745-1753, burned twice (Revolutionary and Civil War era), about 17 miles north of Beaufort in Sheldon -- quieter than the downtown Historic District.
Source: Beaufort County government -- verified live Jul 18 2026
Family
Highway 21 Drive-In
The only drive-in movie theater in the Lowcountry -- three screens, double features Thu-Sun, on-site playground, discounted military tickets.
Source: Official site -- verified live Jul 18 2026
Family
Pigeon Point Park
Neighborhood park (not the downtown Waterfront Park tourist draw) with a recently renovated playground, picnic areas, and live oaks with Spanish moss, free parking.
Source: Beaufort Insider local news -- verified Jul 18 2026
From the People Who Live Here