A spouse-perspective overview of the four JBLM-area towns most service members consider — and how to figure out which one fits your family.
The JBLM area gives you something Fort Campbell doesn't — saltwater. Puget Sound is right there, the islands are a ferry ride, Mount Rainier is in the eastern sky. The neighborhoods reflect that geography. Each one is here for a different reason.
Four JBLM-area towns come up over and over for service members. Each one is here for a different reason. The closest gate access. The historic small-town feel by the water. Master-planned new construction. More house and a real city footprint. The right answer depends on which of those matters most to your family — and a good place to start narrowing it down is to see where each one sits relative to base.
This page is the overview. The map shows you where each town is relative to JBLM. The cards below introduce each one on its own terms. Click into any of them when one starts to sound like yours.
Geographic positioning is illustrative. Gold marker indicates joint-base partner branch (McChord, Air Force). Drive times depend on gate, traffic, and time of day.
Direct gate access, the most-chosen area for service members who want a short commute. Larger town, more amenities, mixed housing stock.
Historic waterfront town, top-rated schools, ferries to Anderson and McNeil islands. The smallest footprint of the four — and the most distinctive character.
Master-planned community with Northwest Landing as the centerpiece. The closest gate access in the area, walkable downtown, predominantly military families.
More house, more lot, a real city footprint. North Thurston Public Schools serves the area, and roughly a third of residents are military-connected. The trade is the I-5 commute.
The Honest Guide gives you the full context behind the move. The PCS Dashboard turns it into a checklist that lives in your pocket.
Ten chapters covering the full JBLM move — base, BAH, schools, neighborhoods, finances, and the things veterans wish they'd known.
A mobile dashboard for your PCS to JBLM. Timeline, school tracker, neighborhood shortlist, and the people you'll meet along the way.