MCAS Cherry Point

MCAS Cherry Point sits in the town of Havelock on the eastern side of North Carolina, serving as home to the 2D Marine Aircraft Wing, the Fleet Readiness Center East aircraft depot, and the Cherry Point Naval Health Clinic.

Most travelers fly into Coastal Carolina Regional Airport in New Bern, about 18 miles from the air station, where taxis and rental cars are available for the short drive east on Highway 70 into Havelock.

Transient personnel typically check in at the Cherry Point Inn, Building 487 on Madison Drive, which offers queen-bed rooms, Wi-Fi throughout the building, and standard amenities like refrigerators, microwaves, and complimentary laundry facilities.

Billeting operates 24/7, and while PCS orders get no special priority over other travelers, it's worth calling ahead since a non-availability chit is issued when quarters are full, allowing use of off-base lodging instead.

The Cherry Point Inn sits near other on-base recreational lodging and marina facilities, including Hancock Lodge and Pelican Point RV Park, making the immediate area a hub for both official travelers and those pursuing outdoor recreation on base property.

Family housing aboard Cherry Point is managed through the Family Housing Office in Building 496, across from the Cherry Point Inn, and privatized housing is operated by Hunt Military Communities under the Atlantic Marine Corps Communities banner.

Applying for base housing requires submitting a DD Form 1746 along with PCS orders and dependency documentation to the Housing Department well before detaching from a prior duty station, so it pays to start that paperwork early if quarters aboard the station are a priority.

For those renting or buying in the surrounding community, the Housing Referral Office maintains listings of local rentals and homes for sale and can help resolve landlord disputes, while a Self-Help Center supplies basic maintenance items like curtain rods and cabinet hinges for residents of both government and off-base housing.

Families with school-age children can work with the Marine Corps School Liaison, based in Building 232 at 4th Avenue and E Street, who helps connect newcomers with information about local schools; appointments are encouraged.

Child and Youth Program resource and referral services are based out of Building 232 as well, giving families a starting point for exploring child care information connected to the installation.

The Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point, located on Beaufort Road in Building 4389, serves as the installation's primary-care facility, with Family Practice, Pediatrics, and Women's Health services available by appointment on weekdays.

Importantly, this clinic does not have an emergency room, so any emergency situation is handled through local ambulance services rather than on-station care.

Dental care for family members is handled in the local civilian community rather than on base, typically through the TRICARE Dental Program, which involves a monthly premium deducted from the sponsor's pay once enrolled.

Two on-base pets per household are allowed, provided they're registered with the Station Veterinarian at the Small Animal Clinic in Building 293 and kept under control at all times, a detail worth noting since lodging facilities themselves don't allow pets.

Prescription refills for Naval Health Clinic patients can be picked up at the back of the Main Exchange in Building 3918, a convenient stop to combine with regular shopping trips on base.

Because Cherry Point Inn does not allow pets and a lack of space won't excuse that rule, anyone bringing a pet on official travel should arrange boarding in advance rather than assuming an exception will be made.

Given the modest size of Havelock relative to the base population it supports, working with the Housing Referral Office early is worthwhile, since it maintains its own list of local rentals and sale listings that isn't always visible from national listing sites.