Planning a Hurlburt Field Relocation
Hurlburt Field is located along Florida’s Emerald Coast near Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther and Navarre. Military families assigned to Hurlburt Field often compare nearby communities based on commute time, housing preferences, beach access and lifestyle.
Brief History of Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field began in the early 1940s as Eglin Auxiliary Field No. 9, one of several small training airstrips built on the vast Eglin reservation in Florida's Panhandle. It was later named for First Lieutenant Donald Wilson Hurlburt, who died in a crash at the field in 1943. The base went quiet after World War II before being reactivated in 1955, when a construction boom brought it back to life.
Hurlburt became home to the 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron in 1961, a special air unit that carried out missions in Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia, cementing the base's identity as the birthplace of the Air Commandos. Air Force Special Operations Command was later stood up at Hurlburt in 1990, and today the base serves as AFSOC's permanent headquarters and home to the 1st Special Operations Wing. [Read the full history →]
Popular Areas Near Hurlburt Field
Military families stationed at Hurlburt Field commonly consider Navarre, Mary Esther, Fort Walton Beach and surrounding communities. Navarre is especially popular with buyers who want access to the beach, newer neighborhoods and a reasonable commute to the base.
Beach towns / neighborhoods military families commonly live in or visit
- Fort Walton Beach — closest town, beaches, shopping, dining
- Mary Esther — just outside the gate
- Shalimar, Niceville, Navarre — all within ~20–30 minutes
- Destin — quick drive, big tourist draw
- Okaloosa Island — beaches, boardwalk, fishing pier
- Okaloosa Island Boardwalk & Beach — https://www.destinfwb.com/
- HarborWalk Village (Destin) — https://www.harborwalkvillage.com/
- Crab Island (Destin) — sandbar/boating spot
- Destin Commons (shopping/entertainment) — https://www.destincommons.com/
- Silver Sands Premium Outlets — https://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/silver-sands
- Big Kahuna's Waterpark — https://www.bigkahunas.com/
- Air Force Armament Museum (free, at Eglin AFB) — https://afarmamentmuseum.org/
- Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park — https://www.gulfarium.com/
- Navarre Beach & Navarre Beach Fishing Pier — https://navarrebeachpier.com/
- Henderson Beach State Park — https://www.floridastateparks.org/HendersonBeach
- Pensacola Beach & National Naval Aviation Museum (about 30–45 min away) — https://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/
Activities and Attractions
Hurlburt Field Outdoor Recreation
Hurlburt Field Force Support Squadron
Installation Partners
Air Force Special Operations Command
