Overview
Scott is where the Air Force moves the world from. The 375th Air Mobility Wing hosts U.S. Transportation Command, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, and Eighteenth Air Force on one campus, with roughly 5,000 active-duty Airmen, 2,600 Reservists and Guardsmen, 5,500 government civilians, and 2,400 contractors — plus 39-some general officers and SES equivalents, which tells you the kind of TDY traffic a headquarters base pulls. The 375th flies C-21s and runs aeromedical evacuation; the 126th Air Refueling Wing keeps KC-135s on the ramp and the 932nd Airlift Wing flies C-40s, so the flightline stays busy even though this isn't a training base.
The base sits in St. Clair County, Illinois, 20 miles east of downtown St. Louis and wedged between O'Fallon, Shiloh, Belleville, and Mascoutah. Weather is Midwest continental: humid 90-degree summers, real winters with a dozen inches of snow and the occasional ice storm, and a spring severe-weather season. For a TDY traveler that means a rental car, a plan for I-64 traffic at shift change, and a lodging plan before you land — the Scott Inn books up, and the hotels that remain are chains along the interstate.
Weather
Belleville's climate normals run a July high of 91°F with lows near 68°F and nights that stay sticky, and a January high of 43°F with lows around 23°F. The area averages about 42 inches of rain and 12 inches of snow a year, with roughly 51 days at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights below freezing.
Best months
April–May and late September–October — mild, green, and the best months for the Arch, Forest Park, and a Cardinals game.
Tough months
July–August for heat index days above 100°F, and January–February for ice storms that shut down I-64 faster than snow does; March–June is severe-thunderstorm and tornado season.
Getting there
- Fly into St. Louis Lambert (STL), which is about 38 miles and 45 minutes west via I-70 to I-64 east; rent a car — nothing around Scott is walkable and the base is spread out. MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) shares Scott's runways and has a handful of Allegiant leisure routes, so check it if the dates line up. The MetroLink Red Line also runs from the Lambert terminals to Shiloh-Scott Station just outside the gate in about 75 minutes if you'd rather skip the car for a day.
- The Shiloh Gate off IL-158/Air Mobility Drive (I-64 exit 19) is the main gate and open 24/7. The Belleville Gate on IL-161 runs weekdays roughly 4:30 a.m.–10 p.m. and weekends 5:30 a.m.–6 p.m.; the Mascoutah Gate on the east side is weekday-only, inbound in the morning (about 6–8 a.m.) and outbound in the afternoon (about 3–5:30 p.m.). Hours change with the security posture, so confirm on scott.af.mil before you count on anything but Shiloh.
- The Dixon Visitor Center sits at the Shiloh Gate (10 Siebert Road) and is generally open weekdays 6 a.m.–8 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m.–5 p.m., closed Sundays and holidays; 618-256-2008 is the published number. Bring a REAL ID-compliant license or passport and registration/insurance for a rental; anyone without a CAC needs a pass, and your sponsor can pre-register you through the base's visitor system to skip the line.
- Traffic is light by big-city standards but the Shiloh Gate and Air Mobility Drive back up from about 6:45–7:30 a.m. and again at 4–5 p.m. with headquarters shift change. Give yourself a 15-minute buffer for a morning show time, and if you're staying in Mascoutah, use the Mascoutah Gate inbound in the morning to avoid the west-side crush.
TDY lodging
On base
On-base rates · FY2027
$147 per night · VOQ/VQ
October 1, 2026–September 30, 2027. Confirm your authorized allowance before booking.
The Scott Inn
- Phone
- 618-256-1844
- DSN
- 312-576-1844
- Front desk
- 24/7
- Check-in / out
- 2 p.m. / 11 a.m.
- Pets
- Limited pet-friendly units
- TLF (families)
- Available
- The Scott Inn (Air Force Inns) is the on-base lodging, front desk at 460 W.
- Winters Street, Bldg. 1812, Scott AFB, IL 62225; call 618-256-1844 (DSN 312-576-1844) or book through af.dodlodging.net.
- The desk is staffed 24 hours, check-in is 2 p.m. and checkout 11 a.m. Rooms run visiting quarters, business suites, and three-bedroom TLF townhomes that sleep five, with a limited number of pet-friendly units at $10 extra per night (bring a current rabies certificate).
- Reservations open up to 90 days out and PCS families get priority for TLF, so book the day your orders drop.
- If the Inn is full you'll be issued a non-availability number, which is what makes an off-base crashpad reimbursable.
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
We're expanding at Scott AFB. If you've got orders to USTRANSCOM, AMC, or the 375th, send us your dates and we'll let you know the moment a furnished room inside the $150 rate opens up — DTS-ready receipts included.
Scott AFB crashpadsHousing & BAH
Housing
- On-base family housing is Scott Family Housing, a Hunt Military Communities project with 1,500-plus homes in six neighborhoods (Patriot's Landing, Lincoln's Landing, Shiloh East and West, Galaxy, and the historic Brick Quarters).
- The Military Housing Referral Office is at 2351 Ash Creek Drive, 618-416-0584, and the Hunt leasing office is at 4570 George Washington Drive (published number 618-769-2221 — confirm on scottfamilyhousing.com, since older listings show other numbers).
- Off base, Military OneSource's 2026 snapshot puts average rents at about $851 for a one-bedroom apartment up to $2,450 for a five-bedroom house, with a typical three-bedroom rental landing in the $1,350–$1,800 range; O'Fallon's median sale price has been running around $330,000, and Mascoutah and Belleville come in well under that.
- It's a buyer-friendly market by military standards, and plenty of families buy on a three-year tour.
BAH 2026 · MHA IL093
- Scott AFB is MHA IL093.
- Per published 2026 tables, E-5 BAH is approximately $1,542 with dependents and $1,422 without; O-3 is approximately $2,208 with dependents and $1,830 without — up about 5.9% from 2025, and one of the lower-cost MHAs in the country.
- Confirm on the DTMO BAH calculator.
O'Fallon
The default for Scott families — newer subdivisions, O'Fallon Township High School and District 90 elementaries, Main Street and the big-box strip on Green Mount Road, with $330K-ish medians and the shortest hop to the Shiloh Gate.
Shiloh
Right at the gate and home to the Shiloh-Scott MetroLink station; newer builds and townhomes, Shiloh School District 85 for K-8 then O'Fallon Township High, and the fastest possible commute on base.
Mascoutah
Small-town Illinois two miles east of the runway — Mascoutah District 19 (the same district that runs Scott Elementary on base), 3-bed homes that start well under $200K, and a back-door commute through the weekday Mascoutah Gate.
Belleville
The county seat, older housing stock with real character and lower prices, a lively brick Main Street, and Belleville East and West high schools; you trade a longer drive up IL-161 for the savings.
Fairview Heights / Swansea
The shopping-and-hotel corridor along I-64 — St. Clair Square mall, every chain restaurant, MetroLink access, and a mix of older ranches and newer apartments that suit unaccompanied members and short tours.
Schools & childcare
- Scott Elementary School (Pre-K through 5th) sits on base and belongs to Mascoutah Community Unit School District 19; it serves Patriot's Landing, Lincoln's Landing, Shiloh East and West, Galaxy, and the Brick Quarters housing areas. Base-housing kids continue to Mascoutah Middle and Mascoutah High School.
- Off base, O'Fallon District 90 (K-8) and O'Fallon Township High School District 203 serve O'Fallon, Shiloh District 85 serves Shiloh, and Belleville Districts 118 and 201 cover Belleville. All of them are used to military turnover; ask the School Liaison which schools currently hold Illinois Purple Star recognition, since the list changes year to year.
- The Scott AFB School Liaison Program is the first call for enrollment, records transfer, and special-education handoffs — the published number is 618-256-9595 (confirm on the Military & Family Readiness Center page).
- Childcare runs through the base Child Development Centers and Family Child Care homes; get on the list at MilitaryChildCare.com the day you have orders, because infant and toddler slots at Scott carry a wait. The Youth Center covers school-age care and summer camps.
Healthcare
- The 375th Medical Group is an outpatient clinic, not a hospital — no emergency room and no urgent care on base. Primary care, pediatrics, flight medicine, dental, pharmacy, and a range of specialty clinics are on site; the appointment line is 618-256-9355, and MHS GENESIS handles booking and messaging.
- For emergencies call 911 and go to the nearest ER: Memorial Hospital Belleville and HSHS St. Elizabeth's in O'Fallon are both within about 15 minutes, and St. Louis-area trauma centers are 30–40 minutes west. TRICARE's Nurse Advice Line (1-800-TRICARE) can point you to urgent care after hours.
- Scott is in the TRICARE East Region, administered by Humana Military. Prime enrollees TDY here can be seen at the clinic on a space-available basis; call ahead.
On base
- Commissary
- 203 W.
- Winters Street, open daily 8 a.m.–7 p.m.; 618-212-3898.
- Full-size store with a deli and bakery.
- Exchange
- Main store at 207 W.
- Winters Street (Bldg. 1981), Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; food court with Charley's and Taco Bell, plus a Class Six, Military Clothing, and shoppettes near the gates.
- Fitness
Two facilities: the James Sports Center (618-256-4524) and the Warmer Fitness Center, with 24/7 access for CAC holders, indoor pool, courts, and group fitness.
- Dining
The Nightingale Inn dining facility serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner weekdays with weekend hours, and TDY members on orders can eat there; the base also has the Scott Club, a Starbucks, and the exchange food court.
- MWR
375 FSS runs Outdoor Recreation gear rental, the bowling center, a golf course (Cardinal Creek), ITT tickets for Cardinals games and Six Flags, and the Scott Event Center.
- Signature event
Scott's airshow and open house is a regional draw; the Thunderbirds are slated to headline the next one in 2027 — watch scott.af.mil/Airshow for dates.
Off duty
Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis
The Arch is 25 miles and about 30 minutes west via I-64 — ride the tram to the top, walk the riverfront, and hit the Old Courthouse. Park once and you can also cover Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village, and the City Museum, which is the strangest and best indoor playground in the country.
Official site ↗
Forest Park
Bigger than Central Park and free almost everywhere: the Saint Louis Zoo, the Art Museum, the Science Center, and the Missouri History Museum are all inside it, about 35 minutes from base. Go on a weekday if you can; weekends fill up fast in spring.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons contributor, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) · source
Cardinals baseball and the Blues
Busch Stadium is 30 minutes away and ITT on base sells discounted Cardinals tickets; the Blues play at Enterprise Center a few blocks west. Take MetroLink from Shiloh-Scott Station on game night and skip the parking entirely.
Wikipedia ↗Eckert's and Belleville's Main Street
Eckert's Orchards on the south edge of Belleville is the fall ritual — pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, a country store, and a restaurant — about 20 minutes from the gate. Downtown Belleville's Main Street has breweries, the Lincoln Theatre, and a solid German-heritage food scene.
Cahokia Mounds
A UNESCO World Heritage Site 15 miles west in Collinsville — the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico. Climb Monks Mound for a view of the Arch on a clear day; it's a two-hour stop that most people who live here never make.
Wikipedia ↗Carlyle Lake and the Metro East outdoors
Carlyle Lake, Illinois's largest man-made lake, is 30 miles east on US-50 with sailing, fishing, and campgrounds; Outdoor Rec on base rents boats and gear. Closer in, the MetroBikeLink trail runs from Shiloh through Belleville, and Rend Lake is an hour south for a bigger weekend.
Wikipedia ↗Grafton and the River Road
Drive an hour north to the Great River Road along the Mississippi bluffs — Grafton's wineries, Pere Marquette State Park, and eagle-watching in January and February. It's the best day trip within reach of Scott and almost nobody on a TDY knows about it.
Official site ↗Insider tips
- 01Book the Scott Inn the day your orders drop — reservations open 90 days out and PCS families take TLF priority, so short-notice TDYs often end up with a non-availability number. Get that number in writing before you book off base.
- 02Make sure your orders show Illinois, not St. Louis, Missouri. Scott is in St. Clair County's $150/$86 locality; the Missouri side is a different rate and DTS will flag the mismatch.
- 03The Shiloh Gate is the only 24/7 gate. The Belleville Gate closes at night and the Mascoutah Gate is weekday inbound-only in the morning and outbound-only in the afternoon — plan a late arrival through Shiloh.
- 04Summer heat here is humid Midwest heat, not dry heat; July heat index days push past 100°F. Pack for it, and know that PT tests and flightline work move early in the morning.
- 05Winter is about ice more than snow. A freezing-rain morning shuts down I-64 and the on-ramps; keep a scraper in the rental and follow the base Facebook page for delayed-reporting calls.
- 06Severe weather season runs March through June. Know where the shelter is in your building or crashpad, and take the sirens seriously — the Metro East gets tornado warnings every year.
- 07Housing waits on base vary by bedroom count; call the Hunt leasing office as soon as you have orders and get on the list, then look at O'Fallon and Shiloh rentals as your backup because they move fast in May–August.
- 08Use MetroLink for St. Louis nights out. Shiloh-Scott Station is minutes from the gate, and the Red Line drops you at the stadium, downtown, and Lambert without a parking bill or a designated driver.
FAQ
Can I stay off base on TDY to Scott, and how does reimbursement work?
Which gate do I use and what do I need to get on base?
Is there a hospital on Scott AFB?
Where do families live near Scott AFB?
Helpful resources
Official
List your resource
Run a business, park, church, gym, or service that helps Scott AFB 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
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS — Scott AFB in-depth overview ↗
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS — Scott AFB housing ↗
- Scott Inn — Air Force Inns (DoD Lodging) ↗
- 375 FSS — Scott Inn ↗
- GSA FY2026 per diem rates — Illinois ↗
- 2026 BAH rates — Scott AFB (MHA IL093) ↗
- 375th Medical Group — Urgent & Emergency Care ↗
- Scott Family Housing (Hunt Military Communities) ↗
- Mascoutah CUSD 19 — Scott Elementary School ↗
- Illinois State Climatologist — Belleville climate normals ↗
- Metro Transit — Shiloh-Scott Station ↗
Photos: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Taylor Slater (Public domain); Photo by NPS, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). 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.