Branch: U.S. Navy
Location: Coronado, California
Installation Type: Naval Base
Status: Active

Overview

Naval Base Coronado is a complex of military installations located in and around Coronado and San Diego, California. The base encompasses Naval Amphibious Base Coronado (NAB Coronado, home of Naval Special Warfare Command and the Navy SEALs), Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI, the premier aircraft carrier base on the West Coast), and several other installations including Red Beach, Silver Strand Training Complex, and outlying fields. Coronado is home to Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific (CNAP) and is where many West Coast carrier air wings, carrier strike groups, and special warfare commands are headquartered. Coronado Island itself is one of the most desirable real estate locations in the United States.

Mission & Units

  • Primary Mission: Support carrier aviation on the West Coast through NAS North Island; conduct Naval Special Warfare training and operations through NAB Coronado and Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC); provide amphibious warfare training and staging capabilities.
  • Major Units: Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific (CNAP); Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC, “Navy SEALs”); Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) support elements; Carrier Strike Group ONE; multiple Carrier Air Wings (West Coast); Naval Amphibious Base Coronado (NAB)
  • Tenant Units: Naval Special Warfare Center (BUD/S training); Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) elements; Commander, Amphibious Force Pacific; multiple SEAL teams and Special Boat Team ONE

Location & Access

  • Nearest Major City: Coronado, CA (population approximately 20,000, highly exclusive community) – immediately adjacent; San Diego, CA – accessible by Coronado Bridge (approximately 3 miles) or Silver Strand; San Diego metro – approximately 3.3 million people
  • Nearest Commercial Airport: San Diego International Airport (SAN) – approximately 5 miles north across the bay
  • Gate Access: Multiple gates for different installation components; NAS North Island main gate on Third Street; NAB Coronado gate on Orange Avenue; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center

Population

  • Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 25,000 (across all Coronado installations)
  • Family Members: Approximately 20,000
  • Civilian Employees: Approximately 8,000
  • Total Installation Population: Approximately 53,000

Key Facilities

  • Medical: Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) is the main military hospital (5 miles across the bay); branch clinics at Coronado installations; NMCSD is one of Navy Medicine’s premier medical centers with comprehensive specialty care
  • Commissary: Yes – commissary at NAS North Island and NAB Coronado
  • Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – Navy Exchange (NEX) and facilities at multiple sites
  • Fitness & Recreation: Multiple fitness centers; beaches (some of the best in California – Coronado Beach, Silver Strand); pools; golf course (Coronado Municipal Golf Course nearby); surfing; water sports; San Diego world-class recreation; California weather year-round outdoor activities
  • Schools: Coronado Unified School District serves the immediate Coronado Island community (small, excellent schools strongly connected to the military community); most military families live in the broader San Diego area and attend various San Diego County school districts; no DoDEA schools; San Diego has a large number of public school districts of varying quality
  • Childcare: Child Development Center at multiple locations; waitlists common; San Diego area has private childcare options; register early
  • Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care
  • Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office at Naval Base Coronado; appointment-based

Housing

  • On-Post Housing: Navy Housing on base; very limited on-base housing on Coronado Island itself given land constraints; North Island has some family housing; most military families live in San Diego’s broader communities
  • Average Wait Time: On-base housing wait can be extensive (90-180+ days); San Diego off-post rental market is large but expensive
  • Off-Post Housing: San Diego County communities – Chula Vista, National City, Point Loma, Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, Oceanside, and Coronado itself (very expensive) are popular with military families; average rent approximately $2,800-$3,800/month for 3-bedroom home; San Diego is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country; BAH is high but housing costs are challenging; California has no state income tax on military pay for non-domiciliary military members
  • BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil); San Diego/Coronado BAH is among the highest in the Navy

PCS & Newcomer Info

  • Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining command; NSWC, CNAP, and carrier air wing sponsorship programs; Coronado assignment is prestigious and competitive
  • In-Processing: Naval Base Coronado in-processing; typically 2-3 days; command-specific in-processing for NSW, carrier aviation, and other specialized communities
  • EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Fleet and Family Support Center; enrollment required; Naval Medical Center San Diego and Rady Children’s Hospital (world-class pediatric hospital) provide outstanding specialist access

Local Area & Quality of Life

  • Climate: Mediterranean; year-round pleasant; mild warm summers (average high 76F/24C in July); mild winters (average low 49F/9C in January); minimal rainfall; low humidity; approximately 266 sunny days per year; no severe weather; arguably the best year-round climate in the continental United States
  • Cost of Living: Very high; San Diego and especially Coronado are among the most expensive housing markets in the United States; BAH helps but housing costs remain a significant burden; most other costs (groceries, transportation) moderate; California overall high cost
  • Nearby Attractions: Coronado Beach (consistently rated one of America’s best beaches); San Diego Zoo and Safari Park (world-famous, San Diego Zoo is arguably the best zoo in the world); USS Midway Museum (aircraft carrier museum, downtown San Diego); Gaslamp Quarter; Old Town San Diego; Balboa Park (world-class museums); Sea World; LEGOLAND; Tijuana, Mexico (25 miles south); La Jolla; Point Loma and Cabrillo National Monument; wine country (Temecula, 50 miles); Los Angeles (120 miles); Joshua Tree National Park (150 miles)
  • Spouse Employment: San Diego metro offers excellent employment in defense contracting (Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, BAE Systems, Leidos), biotechnology and pharmaceutical (world-class biotech cluster), healthcare (Scripps, Sharp, UCSD Health), technology, and tourism; one of the best employment markets for military spouses in the Navy; FFSC assists

Contact & Resources

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrsw/installations/nbcoronado.html; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/naval-base-coronado; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NavalBaseCoronado; Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law

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