Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City Guide

U.S. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, North Carolina, is a Coast Guard operation co-located with Elizabeth City Regional Airport. This base is run by nearly 900 military members and is considered among the busiest Coast Guard stations, with missions operating in international waters in the Caribbean and the Azores.
Get all the info you need about U.S. CG Base Elizabeth City, including schools, base housing & temporary lodging, commissary info, base phone numbers, and the surrounding area.
Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City History
CGAS Elizabeth City began in 1940. When it was formally commissioned, the base had a mere four officers and around 50 enlisted troops. There were more planes than officers at this stage; the base had ten planes, including two seaplanes.
World War Two saw the facility operating under the command of the U.S. Navy. The base was responsible for search and rescue, anti-sub warfare, and training.
But after the war, many changes were on the way. In 1966, the facility, then known as Air Station Elizabeth City, began to grow after taking over operations from two bases: Kindley Air Force Base, Bermuda, and Naval Air Station Argentia in Newfoundland.
Today, U.S. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City is a regional command with missions including logistics, engineering, procurement, and troop support for Coast Guard units throughout North Carolina.
Elizabeth City Surrounding Area
Elizabeth City is on the Pasquotank River. Published guides to the area note the quiet countryside here is only a short trip by car to more tourist-popular areas, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and Portsmouth. Local attractions include the Intracoastal Waterway, with plenty to offer those who love water sports, beaches, and riding the bike trails.
Nearby, the North Carolina Outer Banks (a group of barrier islands stretching over 100 miles along the coast) offer much in the way of local history. You can take in the Wright Brothers Memorial, the LightHouse at Cape Hatteras, and the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum.
Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City Mission and Units
Base Elizabeth City supports missions in the Coast Guard’s Fifth Coast Guard District. The installation includes 880 acres with runways, taxiways, airport traffic control tower operations, and training facilities.
Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City performs search and rescue operations, navigation support, maritime law enforcement duties, and environmental protection. Important missions here include, but are not limited to:
- Aviation Logistics Center
- Aviation Technical Training Center
- Air Station Elizabeth City
- Small Boat Station Elizabeth City
- Aviation Projects Acquisition Center
- National Strike Force Coordination Center
In-Processing and Check-In
All new arrivals are directed to check in with their gaining unit and sponsor upon arrival. Your command support staff will have instructions for inprocessing after you have checked in.
Child Care at Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City
There are no Child Development Centers located on USCG Base Elizabeth City.
USCG Base Elizabeth Housing
Due to its unique location and mission, no government housing is available at Coast Guard Base Elizabeth.
When you receive orders to the base, complete and submit DD Form 1746, Housing Application, “for authorization to be released to reside on the local economy,” according to the Coast Guard.
To learn where to submit this form, contact the Area Housing Office at Base Portsmouth (757) 686-4044, which supports USCG Base Elizabeth City. The only on-base housing here is for trainees assigned to USCG Base Elizabeth Aviation Technical Training Center.
Related: Basic Allowance for Housing Calculator
Commissary
There is no Commissary located at USCG Base Elizabeth City.
PCS and TDY Lodging
There is no temporary lodging available at USCG Base Elizabeth City. New arrivals typically make reservations at a local hotel or Air b-nb.
Transportation
The closest major airport is Norfolk Airport, just over 40 miles away. The usual ride-sharing, taxis, and shuttles may be available when you arrive, depending on demand and other variables. Coordinate your arrival with your sponsor for best results.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
Depending on mission requirements and other variables, base decals for privately owned vehicles may not be required to operate a car on the base, but you will need current and unexpired ID, insurance, vehicle title, and registration. All vehicles are subject to 100% ID checks and searches when operating on the base.
According to the North Carolina state government official site, “Before renewing a vehicle’s registration, the vehicle must first undergo a safety and emissions inspection no more than 90 days before its license plate expires.” Some vehicles may be exempt from this.
The State of North Carolina requires minimum liability insurance to qualify for registration in the state.
Related: Ultimate Military Benefits Guide
Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City Schools
There are no Department of Defense Dependent Schools at USCG Base Elizabeth. Elizabeth City/Pasquotank School District in the local community features 13 schools, including three high schools, two middle schools, and seven elementary schools.
The district serves more than 5 thousand students. For transfer or new student enrollment information, view the official site.
Colleges and Universities
There are no base education office operations at this base. Local colleges include Elizabeth City State University and College of the Albemarle.
Main Base Contact Information
U.S. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City
1664 Weeksville Road
Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909
(252) 335-6000
Please review our complete list of Military Bases By State.
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.