Base Crashpads

Base guide · Fallon, Nevada

The NAS Fallon guide

NGIS and per diem during air wing dets, Main Gate and VCC details, Reno drive times, and where to fish, ride and unwind off duty.

Updated August 2026 · 10 min read

Now at NAS FallonChecking local conditions…

Photo: The original finding aid described this photograph as: Base: Naval Air Station, Fallon State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Camera Operator: PH2 Bruce R. Photo by Department of Defense. American Forces Information Service. Defense Visual Information Cen, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). Source

Base essentials
Command
Commander, Navy Region Southwest (CNIC)
Host unit
Naval Air Station Fallon / Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center
Nearest airport
RNO (Reno-Tahoe International) · ~75-90 min
Time zone
Pacific (PT)
Elevation
About 3,900 ft — high desert, dry air, big temperature swings
Per diem (FY2026)
Standard CONUS: $110 lodging / $68 M&IE
01

Overview

Naval Air Station Fallon is the Navy's strike warfare schoolhouse. The Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) consolidated TOPGUN, the E-2 weapons school (TOPDOME), the rotary wing weapons school (SEAWOLF) and the electronic attack school (HAVOC) here in 2015, and the surrounding Fallon Range Training Complex is where every carrier air wing flies its integrated pre-deployment detachment. Add adversary squadrons VFC-13 and VFA-127, Seabees from CBMU 303 and a large contractor and range workforce, and the station supports more than 3,000 active duty, civilians and contractors, with hundreds more surging in whenever an air wing is on the ramp.

Fallon itself is a farming and ranching town of roughly 9,500 people on US-50, the Loneliest Road in America, about 65 miles east of Reno at 3,900 feet. It is high desert: hot, dry summers with July highs around 95, cold winters with lows in the mid-20s, and only about five inches of precipitation a year. For a TDY traveler that means a car is mandatory, lodging is scarce and your nearest big-city amenities (and airport) are an hour away in Reno-Sparks.

Weather

Fallon has a cold desert climate. July is the hottest month with average highs around 95 F and cool nights, while December and January bring average lows around 25-28 F with occasional light snow. Annual precipitation is only about five inches, so expect sun, wind and very low humidity most of the year.

Best months

April-May and September-October

Tough months

July-August for heat above 95 F and dust; December-February for freezing nights, icy mornings and occasional winter storms on the Reno drive

02

Getting there

  • Fly into Reno-Tahoe International (RNO), about 65-70 miles west. Drive I-80 east to Fernley, then US-50A and US-50 into Fallon; plan 75-90 minutes in good weather and more in winter. There is no base shuttle, so rent a car or coordinate a pickup with your sponsor two to three days before arrival.
  • The base is about seven miles southeast of downtown Fallon. Take US-95 south from town, then Pasture Road east to the Main Gate; the base address is 4755 Pasture Road, Fallon, NV 89496.
  • The Main Gate is open 24/7 with 100 percent ID checks. The South Gate runs limited weekday hours (inbound in the early morning, in and out mid-day and late afternoon) and the West Gate is construction traffic only; confirm current hours on the NAS Fallon page before relying on anything but the Main Gate.
  • Visitors without a DoD ID need a sponsor with base access and a pass from the Visitor Control Center outside the Main Gate. Bring a REAL ID-compliant license, registration and insurance; hours are generally weekday business hours, so arrive during the day if you need a pass.
  • Traffic is light by any standard, but expect a short queue at the Main Gate around 0630-0730 and 1600-1700 on weekdays and heavier volume during air wing dets. Watch for deer, cattle and farm equipment on US-50 and US-95 at dawn and dusk.
03

TDY lodging

On base

On-base lodging is Navy Gateway Inns & Suites

DSN
890-3199
Check-in / out
1600 / 1100
TLF (families)
Available
  • On-base lodging is Navy Gateway Inns & Suites (NGIS) NAS Fallon, Building 354 at 4755 Pasture Road, with standard rooms and suites.
  • Reservations: 1-877-NAVY-BED or (775) 909-4902, DSN 890-3199; check-in is 1600 and check-out 1100.
  • NGIS is heavily booked whenever a carrier air wing detachment is in, so reserve the day you get orders.
  • If NGIS cannot house you, get a certificate of non-availability (CNA) number for your travel voucher before booking off base.
  • There is no Navy Lodge or family TLF at Fallon, so PCS families usually stay at NGIS or in town; groups of 10 or more rooms should call 1-833-NHGSERV.

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.

The crashpad option

Nearly everyone at Fallon is on a multi-week TDY, which is where a furnished crashpad with a kitchen and laundry beats a hotel or a shared NGIS room, especially when the whole air wing is competing for the same beds. Base Crashpads does not yet have a listed property in Fallon; we are expanding here, so if you own a home near the base or are looking for a room, reach out and we will connect you as listings come online.

NAS Fallon crashpads
04

Housing & BAH

Housing

  • On-base family housing is privatized and run by Liberty Military Housing, which manages 219 homes in the base neighborhoods; apply through the NAS Fallon Housing Service Center, which manages the waitlist and referrals and typically will not hold a home more than 30 days.
  • Unaccompanied sailors E-4 and below generally live in the barracks.
  • Off base, Fallon's rental market is small and mostly single-family homes and manufactured homes on acreage, with a limited stock of apartments; inventory tightens noticeably when a det is in town.
  • Fernley and Dayton are the common overflow choices for families who want more selection and are willing to drive.

BAH 2026 · MHA NV321

  • NAS Fallon is in the Fallon, NV Military Housing Area (MHA NV321).
  • Published 2026 rates show an E-5 at $1,596 with dependents and $1,455 without, and an O-3 at $2,319 with dependents and $1,785 without.
  • Confirm your own rate on the DTMO BAH calculator using ZIP 89496 before signing a lease.
NeighborhoodCommute

Central and south Fallon

Established neighborhoods near Churchill County High School, the hospital and downtown; the closest civilian option to the gate.

Commute: 10-15 min via US-95 and Pasture Road

Rural Churchill County (Harmon, Stillwater, Sheckler roads)

Homes on acreage, ranch land, quiet nights and room for horses or toys; well and septic are common.

Commute: 10-20 min depending on which side of town

Fernley

Bigger box stores, newer subdivisions and a commuter town feel; the fastest route to Reno and the airport.

Commute: About 30 min via US-50A

Reno-Sparks

City amenities, nightlife, the airport and Tahoe access; only realistic for staff who can absorb a long daily drive or who split time.

Commute: About 60 min via I-80 and US-50A
05

Schools & childcare

  • There is no on-base school. Base neighborhoods and all of Fallon are zoned to Churchill County School District, one district for the whole county.
  • The district runs grade-band schools: Lahontan Elementary (K-1), E.C. Best Elementary (2-3), Numa Elementary (4-5), Churchill County Middle School (6-8) and Churchill County High School (9-12, the Greenwave), plus an early childhood center.
  • The NAS Fallon Child Development Center and youth programs are run through Fleet and Family Readiness; get on the MilitaryChildCare.com waitlist as soon as you have orders because capacity is limited.
  • Oasis Academy is a public charter school in Fallon with its own lottery, and Western Nevada College has a Fallon campus for college courses and dual enrollment.
  • The School Liaison Officer at the Fleet and Family Support Center (Building 309) handles enrollment questions and transfers for arriving families.
06

Healthcare

  • Naval Branch Health Clinic Fallon, a branch of Naval Health Clinic Lemoore, provides primary care, lab, x-ray, immunizations and pharmacy for active duty and enrolled families; appointments through 877-843-2735, with hours roughly Monday-Thursday 0730-1630 and Friday mornings.
  • Nevada is in the TRICARE West Region (TriWest). Fallon is considered a remote location with limited local specialty care, so referrals often go to Reno.
  • The nearest civilian ER is Banner Churchill Community Hospital at 801 E. Williams Avenue in Fallon, a 24-hour emergency department with ambulance service for the county.
  • Trauma and specialty care are in Reno: Renown Regional Medical Center is northern Nevada's Level II trauma center, about an hour west.
  • Off-base pharmacy options in town include Walmart and the local pharmacies; check TRICARE's network list before you fill a prescription.
07

On base

Commissary & Exchange
  • NAS Fallon Commissary is Building 340 on Pasture Road (775-426-3420); the NEX is next door with a mini-mart and gas.
  • Off base, Walmart and Safeway in Fallon cover the basics.
Fitness

The base fitness center offers a full weight and cardio floor plus group classes, and the Desert Springs indoor pool handles lap swim and PRT prep; check current hours on the NAS Fallon MWR site.

Outdoor recreation

MWR Outdoor Recreation rents camping gear, boats, kayaks and trailers, and Tickets & Travel sells discounted Tahoe ski, Reno and Bay Area tickets.

Dining
  • The galley serves breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays with extended hours when an air wing is in; the base also has a club and grab-and-go options.
  • Downtown Fallon has diners, Mexican, Thai and a couple of good breakfast spots.
Legal & finance

Fleet and Family Support Center (Building 309) handles financial counseling, relocation and transition services; legal assistance is limited at Fallon and often routed to Lemoore or by appointment.

Chapel & pets
  • The base chapel offers Protestant and Catholic services and counseling.
  • NGIS Fallon is pet friendly with fees and a signed pet agreement; Liberty Military Housing allows pets with breed and number limits.
08

Off duty

Sand Mountain, a very large sand dune 20 miles (32 km) east of Fallon, Nevada, and part of the Sand Mountain Recreation Area.Big dunes, small people
Sand Mountain, a very large sand dune 20 miles (32 km) east of Fallon, Nevada, and part of the Sand Mountain Recreation Area.Big dunes, small people. Photo: Photo by (Marcel Marchon) lazytom, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). Source
Walker Lake is a natural lake, 50.3 mi² (130 km²) in area, in the Great Basin in western Nevada in the United States

Lahontan State Recreation Area

A 69-mile-shoreline reservoir on the Carson River about 20 minutes west of Fallon. Warm water for boating, wakeboarding and walleye fishing, plus shoreline camping you can drive right to.

Official site ↗

Photo by Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · source

Central Overland Trail - Sand Springs Station

Sand Mountain Recreation Area

A two-mile-long, 600-foot singing sand dune 25 miles east on US-50. Bring or rent an ATV or side-by-side, or just hike to the top at sunset; BLM camping is primitive and the stars are outstanding.

Official site ↗

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

Learn more about this important archaeological site from the signs and historic markers at the Grimes Point Parking Area

Grimes Point Archaeological Area

Petroglyphs up to 8,000 years old on basalt boulders along a short self-guided trail just east of town, with the Hidden Cave tour offered monthly through the Churchill County Museum.

Official site ↗

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

ATR-Across Nevada-C-9

Churchill County Museum

Billed as the best little museum on the Loneliest Road in America, with Pony Express, Paiute, ranching and NAS Fallon history. Free, downtown, and a good rainy-day hour.

Official site ↗

Photo by NPS Staff (Photo Credit: NPS), via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · source

Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge

Marshes and alkali flats 15 miles northeast of Fallon on the Pacific Flyway. Spring and fall migrations bring hundreds of thousands of birds; waterfowl hunting draws crowds in season.

Official site ↗

Fallon Cantaloupe Festival & Country Fair

Held each August at the fairgrounds, this is Nevada's longest-running food festival, built around the local Hearts of Gold cantaloupe with rodeo, live music and craft beer.

Official site ↗

Reno and Lake Tahoe

Reno-Sparks is an hour west for casinos, concerts, restaurants and the airport; Lake Tahoe is another 45 minutes beyond for skiing at Mt. Rose or Heavenly in winter and beaches in summer.

Official site ↗
09

Insider tips

  1. 01Book NGIS the day you get orders and screenshot the confirmation; if they are full, get the non-availability number in writing before you book off base.
  2. 02There is no shuttle from Reno. Rent a car at RNO or coordinate a pickup with your sponsor two to three days out, and do not plan on ride-share from Fallon.
  3. 03Use the Main Gate. The South Gate has narrow weekday windows and the West Gate is construction only.
  4. 04Fill up in Fallon or Fernley before heading east on US-50 or south on US-95; services are sparse for a long way in both directions.
  5. 05Bring lip balm, lotion and a water bottle. The dry air at 3,900 feet will dehydrate you fast, especially in summer.
  6. 06Winter storms can close or chain-control I-80 and US-50A toward Reno; check NDOT 511 before an airport run in December through February.
  7. 07Fallon is a small town and a lot of the workforce is Navy; the locals are friendly to squadrons that tip well and keep it civil at the bars.
  8. 08Wednesday and weekend evenings are the quiet time to hit the galley and the gym; the busiest crush is right after the last flight lands during a det.
10

FAQ

Where should I stay if NGIS is full during an air wing det?
Fallon has a handful of hotels along Williams Avenue and US-50; when those fill, Fernley about 30 minutes west is the next tier, then Reno-Sparks at an hour. A furnished room or crashpad in Fallon within per diem is usually the most sustainable option for a three-week-plus stay.
What per diem rate applies at NAS Fallon?
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.
Do I need a rental car?
Yes. The base is seven miles from town, there is no base shuttle or local transit to speak of, and the airport is over an hour away. A vehicle is essential for the TDY.
What is the weather like for a summer or winter det?
Summer dets see highs in the mid-90s with cold-desert nights and afternoon wind; winter dets get freezing mornings, occasional snow and icy roads. Pack layers in any season and sunscreen year-round.
11

Helpful resources

List your resource

Run a business, park, church, gym, or service that helps NAS Fallon 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 Department of Defense. American Forces Information Service. Defense Visual Information Cen, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain); Photo by (Marcel Marchon) lazytom, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 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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Furnished crashpads near Naval Air Station Fallon, priced at the government rate, with DTS-ready receipts.