Tampa, Florida
MacDill AFB Crashpad — TDY lodging that feels like home
Looking for a MacDill AFB crashpad? MacDill sits on the tip of the Interbay Peninsula in South Tampa, and between the 6th Air Refueling Wing's KC-135 mission and two combatant command headquarters it never stops pulling in TDY travelers. A furnished crashpad priced inside the Tampa government rate beats a South Tampa hotel on space, parking, and a real kitchen.
Mission
6th Air Refueling Wing — KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling and airlift support, plus host to USCENTCOM and USSOCOM headquarters
Host units
6th Air Refueling Wing (KC-135) · 927th Air Refueling Wing (AFRC associate) · U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) · U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
Commute
From South Tampa neighborhoods like Palma Ceia, Ballast Point, and Interbay it's a 5-15 minute run down South Dale Mabry Highway or Bayshore Boulevard to the gates; from Brandon, Riverview, or St. Petersburg plan on 25-40 minutes via the Selmon Expressway or the Gandy Bridge.
Homes near the gate
Crashpads serving MacDill AFB
2 fully furnished properties positioned for the MacDill AFB commute.
Why stay in a crashpad near MacDill AFB?
MacDill is the only base in the Air Force that hosts two unified combatant commands: USCENTCOM and USSOCOM both run their headquarters here, alongside the 6th Air Refueling Wing's KC-135 tankers and the Reserve's 927th ARW. That puts more than 16,900 joint-service members and 9,000-plus civilians and contractors on a peninsula with one main gate, with 34 mission partners and 57 coalition nations represented. The MacDill Inn has 398 bed spaces, and FSS asks for 60 days' notice in the May-September PCS surge, so non-availability letters are routine. Off base, South Tampa hotels price to tourist demand and February-March per diem jumps because of it. A crashpad gives you a private bedroom, a kitchen, a washer and dryer, and a driveway ten minutes from the Dale Mabry Gate with DTS-ready receipts.
Who we host at MacDill AFB
- KC-135 aircrew and boom operators on TDY, exercises, and hot-pit refueling detachments
- CENTCOM and SOCOM staff officers, planners, and liaison officers on 30- to 180-day taskers
- Coalition and joint-service personnel supporting the two combatant commands
- Reservists from the 927th ARW on annual tour and MPA days
- Contractors, inspectors, and maintenance teams supporting the KC-135 fleet and base construction
Per diem, DTS, and your wallet
Every MacDill AFB stay is priced at or below the Tampa 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 MacDill AFB.
Local intel
MacDill AFB crashpad FAQs
Can I stay off base at MacDill on TDY and still get reimbursed?
Yes, if the MacDill Inn is full. Book through DTS first; if no room is available you receive a non-availability number and can lodge commercially at the FY2026 Tampa/St. Petersburg rate of $148 lodging (Oct-Jan and Apr-Sep) or $200 in February-March, plus $80 M&IE. Re-check the GSA table before you file.
Where is the MacDill AFB crashpad relative to the gate?
Our South Tampa crashpads sit in the Interbay and Ballast Point area between Dale Mabry Highway and Bayshore Boulevard, roughly 5-15 minutes from the Dale Mabry Gate, which is the base's 24/7 main gate.
Is a crashpad cheaper than a Tampa hotel at the government rate?
We price inside the per diem lodging rate, so you keep any per diem savings and get a full kitchen, laundry, parking, and a quiet bedroom instead of a hotel room with a microwave. Every stay comes with an itemized, DTS-ready receipt.
Mission-ready lodging
TDY to MacDill AFB? Lock in your lodging.
Send your dates and reason for stay — we'll match you with a furnished crashpad near MacDill Air Force Base at the government rate.