Edwards, California
Edwards AFB Crashpad — TDY lodging that feels like home
Looking for an Edwards AFB crashpad? Edwards sits in the high desert of Kern County, about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, and the 412th Test Wing, Air Force Test Center and Test Pilot School keep a steady stream of test crews, engineers and students on long TDYs. A furnished crashpad in Rosamond or Lancaster at the government lodging rate beats a hotel room by a wide margin when you're here for weeks or months.
Mission
412th Test Wing — the Air Force's flight test center, home of the Air Force Test Center and the USAF Test Pilot School
Host units
412th Test Wing (host) · Air Force Test Center headquarters · U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School · NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center and AFRL Rocket Propulsion Division
Commute
Rosamond to the West Gate is about 20 minutes east on Rosamond Boulevard; Lancaster runs 35 to 45 minutes via SR-14 or Avenue I, and Palmdale adds another 10 to 15 minutes on top of that.
Homes near the gate
Crashpads serving Edwards AFB
1 fully furnished property positioned for the Edwards AFB commute.
Why stay in a crashpad near Edwards AFB?
Edwards is where the Air Force tests everything it flies. The 412th Test Wing runs the Combined Test Forces on the F-35, B-21, KC-46 and dozens of smaller programs, the Air Force Test Center is headquartered here, and the USAF Test Pilot School graduates classes of test pilots and flight test engineers after roughly a year of study. That mission means TDYs measured in months rather than days, and the base is remote — the nearest real towns are Rosamond, Lancaster and Palmdale, 20 to 50 minutes from the West Gate. On-base lodging at the High Desert Inn fills with TPS students, test teams and contractor surges, and off-base hotels are thin. A crashpad gives you a kitchen, a real bed, laundry and a DTS-ready receipt for a stay that would otherwise mean months of hotel living.
Who we host at Edwards AFB
- Test Pilot School students and staff on year-long courses
- Developmental test aircrew and flight test engineers on F-35, B-21, KC-46 and other programs
- Defense contractor and program office teams supporting test campaigns
- AFMC staff, inspectors and acquisition teams on short TDYs
- Maintainers and instrumentation crews attached to Combined Test Forces
Per diem, DTS, and your wallet
Every Edwards AFB stay is priced at or below the Edwards government lodging rate. You'll receive itemized, DTS-ready receipts for your travel voucher — for a typical TDY that means zero out-of-pocket lodging cost. Read the full breakdown in our TDY per diem guide, or run your own numbers: the per diem calculator and the on-base lodging calculator use the same rates DTS does. PCSing here instead? Check BAH for Edwards AFB.
Local intel
Edwards AFB crashpad FAQs
Can I stay off base at Edwards on TDY?
Yes, if the High Desert Inn issues a non-availability number. Call 661-275-7666 first; if they can't house you, lodge commercially at the FY2026 Bakersfield/Ridgecrest (Kern County) rate of $132 lodging plus $74 M&IE. Note that Lancaster and Palmdale are in Los Angeles County, but your TDY location is Edwards, so the Kern County rate applies — confirm with your orders.
Where do TDY travelers actually live around Edwards?
Rosamond is closest to the West Gate (about 20 minutes) and is where most TPS students and long-TDY crews land. Lancaster has more restaurants, shopping and rental inventory at 35 to 45 minutes. California City and Mojave work if you're using the North Gate.
Do you have crashpads at Edwards AFB right now?
We're expanding at Edwards. Send us your dates, unit and how many people you're bringing and we'll match you with a furnished house or confirm what we can have ready for your report date.
Mission-ready lodging
TDY to Edwards AFB? Lock in your lodging.
Send your dates and reason for stay — we'll match you with a furnished crashpad near Edwards Air Force Base at the government rate.