Naval Base Kitsap

Naval Base Kitsap is a regional Navy installation formed in 2004 from the merger of Naval Station Bremerton and Submarine Base Bangor, and it now also encompasses the Naval Undersea Warfare Center at Keyport.

Most travelers arriving from Seattle choose between two Washington State Ferries routes: a 30-minute crossing to Bainbridge Island or a 60-minute run directly into downtown Bremerton, which lands within a few miles of the base's main gate.

From Sea-Tac Airport, plan on roughly an hour and a half by car depending on traffic.

Naval Base Kitsap offers two on-base lodging options for those arriving under orders: the Navy Gateway Inn & Suites, with locations at both Bangor and Bremerton, and the Navy Lodge, located within the Bangor complex. Gateway Inn & Suites allows stays for the duration of official orders, though space-available stays are capped at seven days.

The Navy Lodge at Bangor is convenient for families since it sits within walking distance of the main exchange, commissary, and the Cinema Plus Theater, letting travelers handle errands without needing a car right away.

Because availability shifts with fleet operations and the Navy Lodge often fills during summer months, reserving as early as possible is worthwhile, especially for permanent change of station families who can book up to a year ahead with orders in hand.

Public-Private Venture housing at Naval Base Kitsap totals 1,733 homes spread across several sites: 1,038 units at Bangor, 41 at Bremerton, 22 at Keyport, and 632 at The Landings, a community formerly called Jackson Park situated near the Naval Hospital about nine miles south of Bangor.

Wait times for PPV housing vary by bedroom count, entitlements, and pay grade, and because demand often outpaces supply, many families end up renting in the surrounding civilian community while waiting for a base home to open up.

Families with school-age children can reach the installation's School Liaison office, based at 2572 Cascades Pass Blvd in Bremerton, for help navigating local school district questions, including a separate contact line for Central Kitsap district questions. Because school enrollment is determined by home address, families should confirm their assigned district once they know where they will live.

For childcare referrals, the Family Center of Childcare Aware WA, located in the United Way Building in downtown Bremerton, serves as the point of contact for military families seeking care options in the community; the office responds to voicemail within one business day rather than keeping walk-in hours.

Naval Hospital Bremerton, at 1 Boone Road, is the main military medical treatment facility for the area and includes the primary emergency room accessible to the community.

For care beyond what's available locally, Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma is about 45 miles from Bangor, and Naval Hospital Bremerton runs a shuttle there for TRICARE beneficiaries with no reservation required — a useful option for appointments requiring a larger facility.

Dental care through the Naval Dental Center Bremerton and its Bangor branch clinic is limited to the active-duty population due to high demand, so family members are encouraged to enroll in the TRICARE Family Member Dental Plan rather than count on the base clinic for routine visits.

Unaccompanied barracks at Bangor and Bremerton are fully furnished and centrally located for quick access to the galley, Navy Exchange, and commissary, which simplifies daily logistics for single sailors living on base.

The Housing Service Center at Bangor Plaza doubles as an advocate for renters in the civilian community, offering help with lease reviews, landlord disputes, and connecting families to local property listings through resources like homes.mil, which is useful whether or not you end up in PPV housing.

Because Naval Base Kitsap is really three linked commands, always confirm whether your business is at Bangor, Bremerton, or Keyport before heading out; each has separate gates, and the Keyport site is reached by following signs through the Bangor Main Gate rather than a direct route.

If you're planning to take the ferry on a summer weekend, build in extra time — the Washington State Ferries note that ferry traffic gets very heavy during peak season and travelers may need to let several boats pass before boarding.