Branch: U.S. Army
Location: Fort Campbell, Kentucky / Tennessee
Installation Type: Fort
Status: Active

Overview

Fort Campbell was established in 1942 and straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border, with the main cantonment area and most facilities located in Christian County, Kentucky, adjacent to the city of Clarksville, Tennessee, approximately 45 miles northwest of Nashville. The installation encompasses approximately 164,000 acres and is home to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the only air assault division in the U.S. Army. Fort Campbell is consistently ranked as one of the largest and most operationally active Army installations in the world.

Mission & Units

• Primary Mission: Train, deploy, and sustain air assault forces; serve as the home of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and supporting units capable of rapid global deployment.
• Major Units:
• 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) — “Screaming Eagles”; the Army’s only air assault division
• 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) — “Night Stalkers”; Army special operations aviation
• 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
• 86th Combat Aviation Brigade
• 101st Sustainment Brigade
• 526th Brigade Support Battalion
• Tenant Units:
• Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH)
• Fort Campbell School District (DoDEA)
• Various Reserve Component units

Location & Access

• Nearest Major City: Clarksville, TN — immediately adjacent to the installation; Nashville, TN — approximately 45 miles southeast
• Nearest Commercial Airport: Nashville International Airport (BNA) — approximately 50 miles southeast; Clarksville Regional Airport offers limited regional service
• Gate Access: Multiple gates serve the installation including Gate 1 (main gate off US-41A), Gate 4, and Gate 7; 24/7 access for credentialed personnel; visitor access requires a valid government-issued photo ID; visitor passes are issued at the Installation Access Control Points; CAC holders use standard access lanes; vehicle registration and proof of insurance are required

Population

• Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 30,000-35,000
• Family Members: Approximately 40,000-55,000
• Civilian Employees: Approximately 8,000-12,000
• Total Installation Population: Approximately 100,000+ (including retirees and contractors in the greater Clarksville area)

Key Facilities

• Medical: Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH) — a full-service military community hospital providing inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and specialty care; named for Colonel Florence A. Blanchfield; serves Fort Campbell’s large military community
• Commissary: Yes — Fort Campbell Commissary; large, well-stocked facility serving the installation’s extensive military population
• Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes — large AAFES Main Exchange; extensive retail, food court, car care center, Class VI, and specialty stores; one of the larger AAFES complexes in the Army
• Fitness & Recreation: Multiple fitness centers throughout post; indoor and outdoor pools; Cole Park golf course; Fort Campbell Outdoor Recreation (FCOR); Fort Campbell Stables; bowling center; extensive sports fields and recreational facilities; Sportsman’s Lake recreation area
• Schools: DoDEA Fort Campbell Schools — multiple schools on post including Wassom Middle School, Fort Campbell High School, and several elementary schools; exceptional DoDEA school system consistently rated highly
• Childcare: Multiple Child Development Centers and School-Age Services locations on post; significant wait times are common given the large family population; families should register on the Army Child Care Waiting List as soon as orders are received
• Veterinary Services: Fort Campbell Veterinary Treatment Facility — provides routine wellness care, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and preventive medicine services for eligible beneficiaries’ privately owned animals and military working dogs; appointment required; two clinic locations serve the post
• Legal Assistance / JAG: Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Campbell — provides legal assistance by appointment and walk-in for limited services; contact (270) 798-5851 for current hours and appointment scheduling

Housing

• On-Post Housing: Managed by Balfour Beatty Communities — extensive on-post neighborhoods including areas named “Screaming Eagle” and other community designations; wide variety of home sizes from 2 to 5+ bedrooms; significant housing stock given the large installation population
• Average Wait Time: Wait times vary by grade and family size; given the large population, wait times of several weeks to several months are common for some grades
• Off-Post Housing: Clarksville, TN (immediately adjacent) is the primary off-post community; Oak Grove and Hopkinsville, KY are also popular; average monthly rent ranges from approximately $900-$1,200 for a 2-bedroom apartment to $1,400-$1,900 for a 3-4 bedroom home; Clarksville is generally affordable
• BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) website.

PCS & Newcomer Info

• Sponsorship Program: The 101st Airborne Division and subordinate units maintain active sponsorship programs; incoming Soldiers should request a sponsor through their gaining unit S1 as soon as orders are received; the unit will assign a current Soldier to assist with settling in
• In-Processing: Report to the Soldier Support Center (Building 2607); in-processing typically takes 3-5 business days; division-level units conduct additional unit in-processing following garrison-level processing
• EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): EFMP enrollment is managed through Blanchfield Army Community Hospital; contact Fort Campbell Army Community Service for EFMP Family Support at (270) 798-6313; Clarksville and the Nashville area offer a reasonable range of special needs and therapeutic services

Local Area & Quality of Life

• Climate: Humid subtropical climate; summers are hot and humid (average highs in the upper 80s to low 90s F); winters are mild to cool with occasional ice and snow events; spring and fall are generally pleasant with occasionally severe weather (tornadoes possible in spring)
• Cost of Living: Low to moderate relative to national average; Clarksville and the Tennessee/Kentucky border region are affordable by most measures; Tennessee has no state income tax, which benefits military families
• Nearby Attractions:
• Nashville, TN — approximately 45 miles southeast; world-class music, entertainment, restaurants, and the Grand Ole Opry
• Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area — approximately 50 miles northwest; extensive outdoor recreation including camping, boating, hiking, and wildlife viewing
• Dunbar Cave State Park and other regional state parks — accessible within 30-60 minutes
• Spouse Employment: Moderate to good job market; Clarksville has grown significantly due to the military presence and offers retail, healthcare, education, and service employment; Nashville’s larger economy is accessible for spouses willing to commute; the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) has active partners in the area

Contact & Resources

• Official Website: https://home.army.mil/campbell
• Main Installation Phone: (270) 798-2151
• MWR Website: https://fortcampbellmwr.com
• ACS / Army Community Service: Army Community Service, Fort Campbell — Building 2600; contact (270) 798-6313 for appointments and information

Last updated: 2026-02-22
Sources: U.S. Army IMCOM, home.army.mil/campbell, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, 101st Airborne Division, Balfour Beatty Communities, DoDEA Fort Campbell Schools, AAFES; Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law