Base Crashpads

Base guide · Lawton, Oklahoma

The Fort Sill guide

Gate hours, the on-post IHG Army Hotel, FY2026 per diem, Corvias housing, Elgin versus west Lawton, and the best hikes in the Wichita Mountains.

Updated August 2026 · 10 min read

Now at Fort SillChecking local conditions…

Photo: Two M109A6 self-propelled howitzers launch rounds on Fort Sill, Okla., Feb. Photo by Staff Sgt. William Sallette, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). Source

Base essentials
Command
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) via the Fires Center of Excellence
Host unit
U.S. Army Garrison Fort Sill / Fires Center of Excellence
Nearest airport
LAW (Lawton-Fort Sill Regional) · ~15 min; OKC (Will Rogers World) · ~90 min
Time zone
Central (CT)
Schools on post
Field Artillery School, Air Defense Artillery School, BCT, Marine Corps Artillery Detachment
FY2026 per diem
$110 lodging / $68 M&IE (standard CONUS)
01

Overview

Fort Sill is the home of the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, which means it runs both the Field Artillery School and the Air Defense Artillery School from the same 94,000-acre post north of Lawton. The 434th Field Artillery Brigade trains new Soldiers in Basic Combat Training, the 30th ADA and 428th FA brigades run Advanced Individual Training, the Marine Corps sends its cannoneers to the Marine Corps Artillery Detachment, and the 31st ADA and 75th FA brigades keep Patriot, THAAD, HIMARS, and MLRS units on a deployment rotation. Military OneSource puts the installation community at roughly 53,000 people, and the steady churn of BOLC lieutenants, Captains Career Course students, warrant officers, instructors, and contractors is what keeps lodging tight.

Lawton is a city of about 90,000 on the southern Great Plains, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City on I-44 and roughly three hours north of Dallas. Summers are hot, with July highs in the mid 90s and long stretches above 100, spring brings Tornado Alley storms and hail, and winters are mostly mild with a few ice storms. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge starts a few miles northwest of the gates, which is the best thing about a Fort Sill assignment. For a TDY traveler the practical concerns are a vehicle (there is no meaningful transit), a place with a real kitchen, and knowing that BCT graduation weekends fill hotels fast.

Weather

Lawton averages July highs around 96 degrees with regular triple-digit days and warm, muggy nights; January highs sit near 50 with lows around 30. Annual precipitation is roughly 32 inches, most of it in spring and early summer thunderstorms, and snow averages only a couple of inches a year, though ice storms occasionally shut the post. Wind is a constant on the plains and spring severe weather, including tornadoes and large hail, is a real planning factor.

Best months

October through November and late March through May, with the caveat that spring brings the storm season

Tough months

July and August for heat and December through February for ice and the occasional freeze that closes gates and delays training

02

Getting there

  • Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport (LAW) sits on the south side of Lawton, about 15 minutes from the gates, with American Eagle service to Dallas/Fort Worth several times a day; the IHG Army Hotel runs a free shuttle from the airport if you have a reservation.
  • Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) is about 85 miles up I-44 and usually 90 minutes door to door; DFW is roughly three hours south on I-44, US-287, and I-35W. Most TDY travelers rent a car, because there is no transit that reaches the post.
  • Key Gate West at I-44 exit 40A is open 24/7 and is the main gate for the interstate; Key Gate East runs weekday mornings only. Scott Gate on Fort Sill Boulevard and Bentley Gate on Sheridan Road serve the Lawton side, and Apache Gate on the east side runs weekdays and Saturday mornings. Gate hours changed repeatedly in 2026, so confirm on the garrison's Visitor Welcome Center page.
  • The Visitor Welcome Center is Building 6701 on NW Sheridan Road just south of Bentley Gate, (580) 442-9602. Visitors without a DoD ID, including veterans without a DoD card and drivers 16 to 17, need a pass, and the post asks you to request it online at pass.aie.army.mil at least 24 hours ahead. Everyone in the vehicle needs a REAL ID-compliant ID.
  • Since March 2026 the post has been at a heightened access posture: every occupant is vetted, commercial vehicles are searched, and the garrison recommends arriving 30 minutes earlier than you think you need, especially for BCT graduation and Family Day.
  • Traffic is light by any big-city standard, but I-44 and Sheridan Road back up at the 0600 to 0730 PT rush and again from 1630 to 1730, and BCT graduation Fridays add a crowd at Key Gate West and the Visitor Welcome Center.
03

TDY lodging

On base

On-post lodging is IHG Army Hotels: the Holiday Inn Express Aultman Hall and Allin Hall, Buildings 5676 and 5678 at 5676 Fergusson Road, with the front desk at Aultman Hall open 24 hours, check-in at 1600 and check-out at 1100, direct line

Phone
(580) 355-4475
Phone 2
877-711-8326
Front desk
24/7
Check-in / out
1600 / 1100
Pets
Limited pet-friendly units
TLF (families)
Available
  • On-post lodging is IHG Army Hotels: the Holiday Inn Express Aultman Hall and Allin Hall, Buildings 5676 and 5678 at 5676 Fergusson Road, with the front desk at Aultman Hall open 24 hours, check-in at 1600 and check-out at 1100, direct line (580) 355-4475.
  • IHG also operates the 5600-series buildings for longer stays and student courses.
  • Reservations go through the hotel or IHG Army Hotels central reservations at 1-877-711-8326, and rooms include breakfast, guest laundry, a 24-hour fitness room, and a free shuttle to the airport and around post.
  • TDY travelers should book as soon as orders are cut, because BOLC and Captains Career Course starts fill the hotel; if no room is available for your dates the desk issues a certificate of non-availability so you can lodge off post at per diem.
  • Pet-friendly rooms and TLF-style family units are limited, so ask when you book and confirm current policy with the hotel.

Off-base per diem

  • Confirm the current lodging allowance for your duty location and travel dates with the official rate lookup and your travel office.
  • No current rate is quoted here.
  • Alaska and Hawaii use DoD OCONUS rates.
  • A published ceiling is not proof of reimbursement eligibility.
Total your trip → per diem calculator

The crashpad option

Fort Sill TDYs are long: BOLC runs four to five months and the Fires Captains Career Course about six, which is exactly the kind of stay where a furnished house with a kitchen, a washer, and a driveway beats a hotel room by the interstate. Base Crashpads does not yet have a listed property at Fort Sill, but we are expanding here and want to hear from you. If you own a home in Lawton, Elgin, Cache, or Medicine Park that could host military travelers at or below the $110 rate, or you are a student who needs a place for a course, send us an inquiry and we will connect you as listings come online.

Fort Sill crashpads
04

Housing & BAH

Housing

  • Corvias operates Fort Sill's privatized family housing, more than 1,800 homes across the post's neighborhoods, and it keeps a wait list that varies by rank tier and neighborhood, so apply at sill.corviaspm.com the day you know you are coming; the Housing Services Office at (580) 442-2813 can give you a current estimate.
  • Corvias also offers 6- and 12-month leases to retirees and DoD civilians when inventory allows.
  • Off post, Lawton is one of the cheaper rental markets in the Army: most listings run from the high hundreds to about $2,000 a month, a three-bedroom in a decent west Lawton neighborhood is usually well under BAH, and home prices sit far below the national median.
  • Elgin and Cache have fewer rentals but newer construction, and both fill quickly around summer PCS season.

BAH 2026 · MHA OK237

  • Fort Sill sits in the Fort Sill/Lawton, OK military housing area, MHA OK237.
  • Two independent base-housing sites list the same 2026 rates, effective January 1, 2026: an E-5 draws $1,233 with dependents and $1,092 without, and an O-3 draws $1,758 with dependents and $1,395 without.
  • Confirm your own grade on the DTMO BAH calculator before signing a lease.
Every grade → BAH calculator·2026 pay chart
NeighborhoodCommute

West Lawton (NW 82nd Street and Cache Road corridor)

Newer subdivisions, the bulk of Lawton's rentals, chain shopping and restaurants along Cache Road and Quanah Parker Trailway, the easiest place to find a three-bedroom fast.

Commute: 10 to 15 minutes to Key Gate West via I-44 or Bentley Gate via Sheridan Road

Elgin

The schools town, a small community on the east side of post with an A-rated district, new-build neighborhoods, and a lot of Fort Sill families who chose it for the classroom rather than the commute.

Commute: About 15 minutes to Key Gate West on I-44 or US-277; longer to the west-side ranges

Cache

Quiet ranch-country town west of Lawton with its own small school district, bigger lots, and a straight shot to the Wichita Mountains.

Commute: 15 to 20 minutes east on US-62 to Bentley or Scott Gate

Medicine Park

Cobblestone resort village on Medicine Creek at the edge of the refuge, cabins and short-term rentals, restaurants and a swimming hole; scenic and small, with limited long-term inventory.

Commute: About 15 to 20 minutes via OK-49 and I-44 to Key Gate West
05

Schools & childcare

  • Lawton Public Schools serves the city and the post; Freedom Elementary on Fort Sill is the on-post school, a large Pre-K through 5 campus that replaced the old Sheridan Road and Geronimo Road elementaries. Older kids bus to Lawton middle and high schools.
  • Elgin Public Schools, a separate district east of post, consistently earns the strongest ratings in the area and is the main reason families choose Elgin. Cache Public Schools is the smaller west-side alternative.
  • Fort Sill MWR runs Child Development Centers, Family Child Care homes, and School Age Centers; register through MilitaryChildCare.com and expect a wait for infant care. Start the process before you PCS.
  • Fort Sill School Support Services, the School Liaison Office, helps with enrollment, transfers, and Interstate Compact issues; contact them through sill.armymwr.com before you pick a rental.
  • Cameron University in Lawton offers in-person degrees and a military-friendly office, and the Fort Sill Education Center hosts other schools on post.
06

Healthcare

  • Reynolds Army Health Clinic is the on-post medical treatment facility: primary care, pharmacy, behavioral health, and specialty clinics, but no inpatient beds and no emergency room. Appointment line 833-286-3732, information desk (580) 558-2800.
  • The main pharmacy at Reynolds is open weekdays 0815 to 1645 and Saturday mornings, with a Pharmissary refill point at the commissary; call refills in early to get them the same afternoon.
  • Oklahoma is in the TRICARE West Region administered by TriWest since January 1, 2025. TDY travelers enrolled in Prime elsewhere can use urgent care without a referral; check the TriWest network before you go.
  • For emergencies, Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton is the regional hospital and the nearest civilian ER, with stroke and STEMI protocols; the nearest Level I trauma center is OU Health in Oklahoma City, about 90 minutes away.
  • Southwestern Medical Center in Lawton is the second civilian hospital in town and is in the TriWest network; confirm coverage on the TRICARE West provider directory.
07

On base

Commissary & Exchange

Both are on post off Sheridan Road in the main cantonment; the Exchange has a food court, Military Clothing, and a gas station, and the commissary is where you will find the Pharmissary refill window.

Fitness
  • Four MWR fitness centers: Rinehart (the big one, with an eight-lane 25-meter indoor pool, three basketball courts, and racquetball), Goldner, Honeycutt, and Fires.
  • Register for 24/7 access through the MWR fitness office.
Outdoor recreation

Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area (LETRA) on the north side of post has a beach, cabins, campsites, kayak and paddleboard rentals; the Outdoor Adventure Center rents camping and boating gear; Fort Sill Golf Club is on post.

Dining

Students on meal cards eat at their brigade dining facilities; everyone else has the Exchange food court, the Patriot Club, the bowling center grill, and the restaurants along Cache Road and Sheridan Road just outside the gates.

Legal & finance

The Fort Sill Legal Assistance Office handles wills, powers of attorney, and leases; Army Community Service offers financial readiness counseling and AER loans; the Fort Sill Federal Credit Union and Armed Forces Bank have branches on post.

Chapel & pets
  • Several chapels on post with Catholic and Protestant services plus the Old Post Chapel, one of the oldest in continuous use in the Army.
  • The Fort Sill Veterinary Treatment Facility handles vaccines and health certificates; boarding is off post in Lawton.
08

Off duty

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Photo: Photo by gurdonark, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). Source
A male Common Collared Lizard at the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, Oklahoma

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

About 60,000 acres of granite mountains, mixed-grass prairie, and lakes starting a few miles northwest of post. Free-roaming bison, elk, and longhorns, dozens of trails from the easy Elk Mountain to the Charons Garden boulder scramble, and free camping at Doris. The visitor center is at the OK-49 and OK-115 junction.

Official site ↗

Photo by Jsouth001, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · source

I took photo with Canon camera of winding roadway from the top of Mount Scott in Oklahoma

Mount Scott

A paved road spirals to the 2,464-foot summit inside the refuge, with a parking lot at the top and a view over Lake Lawtonka, the plains, and on a clear day the post itself. Go at sunrise or sunset; the road closes in ice and for occasional refuge events.

Official site ↗

Photo by Billy Hathorn, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · source

Meers Store and Restaurant

The last building standing from a 1901 gold-rush town, now a roadside institution serving the Meersburger, a seven-inch longhorn beef patty, with fried okra and cobbler. Cash-friendly, kitschy, and worth the 20-minute drive from the gates on OK-115.

Official site ↗
Scope and content: This item lists Enumeration Districts for:

Medicine Park

Oklahoma's first resort town, built from cobblestone in 1908 on Medicine Creek. Bath Lake swimming hole, cabins, a handful of good restaurants and bars, live music on weekends, and the Medicine Park Aquarium and Natural Sciences Center. It is the default Friday night out for Fort Sill.

Official site ↗

Photo by Wikimedia Commons contributor, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · source

Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum

The original 1869 stone post, including Geronimo's grave in the Apache cemetery, the Old Post Guardhouse, and the Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery museum collections. Free and open to the public; hours are limited to a few days a week, so check before you go.

Official site ↗

Museum of the Great Plains

Lawton's regional museum covers the Comanche, the 1901 land lottery that founded the city, and the plains ecosystem, with a reconstructed trading post and kid-friendly interactive exhibits. A solid half-day for families waiting on a graduation.

Official site ↗

Holy City of the Wichitas

A 1930s WPA-era stone replica of biblical Jerusalem built inside the refuge, home to the longest-running Easter passion play in the country and open year-round for a free wander. Odd, photogenic, and a 20-minute drive from post.

Official site ↗
09

Insider tips

  1. 01Book the IHG Army Hotel the day you get orders; BOLC and Captains Career Course starts fill it, and a certificate of non-availability is your ticket to a crashpad or hotel at per diem.
  2. 02Pre-register any visitor at pass.aie.army.mil at least 24 hours out, and make sure every adult in the car has a REAL ID; the post vets all occupants now, not just the driver.
  3. 03Use Key Gate West off I-44 exit 40A; it is 24/7 and the least likely to be closed for construction. Confirm hours on the garrison Visitor Welcome Center page before relying on any other gate.
  4. 04BCT graduations run most Thursdays and Fridays. If your TDY overlaps, book lodging early and avoid the Cache Road and I-44 hotels that weekend, where rates spike.
  5. 05Bring a vehicle with good tires and a plan for hail; spring storms are real, and covered parking is worth asking about in any rental.
  6. 06Register for 24/7 fitness center access at MWR your first week; the Rinehart pool is the best place to cool off in July.
  7. 07Sunday drive: OK-49 west through the refuge to Mount Scott, lunch at Meers, and back through Medicine Park. It is the one thing everyone tells you to do, and they are right.
  8. 08Lawton-Fort Sill Regional (LAW) is tiny and only flies to DFW; if fares are ugly, OKC is 90 minutes up I-44 and often cheaper even with the rental car.
10

FAQ

How long are the typical TDY courses at Fort Sill?
Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery BOLC each run roughly four to five months, the Fires Captains Career Course about six, and warrant officer basic and advanced courses several weeks to a few months. Instructors and contractors often come for two-week to 90-day stints. Anything past 30 days is where a furnished crashpad with a kitchen pays off over a hotel.
What is the FY2026 per diem for Lawton?
Confirm the current lodging allowance for your duty location and travel dates with the official rate lookup and your travel office. No current rate is quoted here. Alaska and Hawaii use DoD OCONUS rates. A published ceiling is not proof of reimbursement eligibility.
Is there a Candlewood Suites on post?
IHG Army Hotels at Fort Sill operates the Holiday Inn Express Aultman and Allin Halls plus the 5600-series buildings for longer stays and course students. Call (580) 355-4475 for the current inventory and to ask about extended-stay rooms with kitchenettes.
Can my family come with me for a long course?
Yes, and many do. Ask the IHG hotel about family rooms, or look at a crashpad or short-term rental in west Lawton or Elgin. School-age kids can enroll in Lawton Public Schools or Elgin Public Schools with a lease; contact the Fort Sill School Liaison Office through sill.armymwr.com before you pick a neighborhood.
11

Helpful resources

Official

Things to do

Community & local

List your resource

Run a business, park, church, gym, or service that helps Fort Sill travelers and families? Have a correction? Email basecrashpads@gmail.com with the link and a sentence on why it's useful. We review every submission and list the ones that earn it.

Sources & disclaimer

Photos: Photo by Staff Sgt. William Sallette, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain); Photo by gurdonark, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). Full attribution on the photo credits page.

Rates, hours, and policies change — BAH resets every January and per diem every October. Confirm specifics with the official sources above and your orders. This guide is written by Base Crashpads and is not an official Air Force or DoD resource.

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