Cheyenne can be a high cost of living area as far as housing prices, but groceries and utilities are on par with the rest of the nation. Currently, rental properties are difficult to obtain and can exceed current BAH rates. Contact local Housing office for more information. 773-5840
Personnel with orders to F.E. Warren during July are encouraged to not report if at all possible, during the last two full weeks of July. This is the time of the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) rodeo celebration and space on the base will be at a premium. All lodging in Cheyenne and the surrounding area will be limited (if available at all) and what is available will be very expensive. Personnel with PCS orders have priority but that does not guarantee any lodging in TLF during this time. Cheyenne ranks, in the United States, as one of the highest altitude cities (6,200 feet above sea level). The lack of humidity coupled with warm days and cool nights are positive aspects of living here. Those new to the area may experience high altitude sickness for a week to ten days. Due to the high altitude in Cheyenne, one can become easily sunburned. It is suggested that you use sunscreen when outdoors. Personnel arriving by car during winter months should ensure their vehicle is winterized, emergency items are on hand and that drivers are familiar with safe winter driving.
The Minuteman III missiles are deployed over a 9,600-square-mile area in three states covering eastern Wyoming, western Nebraska and northern Colorado. They are dispersed in hardened silos to protect against attack. Regardless of the demands, the men and women of the 90th Missile Wing remain poised to accomplish their vital mission – to defend America with the world's premier combat-ready intercontinental ballistic missile force.
It was on the branch of the South Platte River, three miles west of what is today Cheyenne that Fort D. A. Russell was established in 1867. In 1927, the last cavalry units left the installation. In 1930, President Hoover issued a proclamation changing the name of the post to Fort Francis E. Warren, honoring Wyoming's territorial governor and first state governor. Warren was a U.S. Senator for 37 years. He received the Medal of Honor when he was 19 for heroism during the Civil War. The installation became an Air Force base in 1947. Warren was initially used as a training facility. In 1958, the 4320th Strategic Missile Wing was established. The wing became the 90th Space Wing on October 1, 1997 and was renamed to 90th Missile Wing July 1, 2008. For more history visit the installation's homepage.
F.E. Warren AFB services DoD personnel including active duty Air Force, Naval Reserve, Army Guard and Air National Guard to include their families; all civilian personnel working on the installation; and retirees to include their families. The City of Cheyenne has over 60k residents.
Cheyenne has over 65 thousand people living in and around the local community. Elevation is over 6,000 feet.
F.E. Warren AFB services DoD personnel including active duty Air Force, Naval Reserve, Army Guard and Air National Guard to include their families; all civilian personnel working on the installation; and retirees to include their families.
LocationFrancis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., is easy to find. The base sits on the western edge of the city of Cheyenne, Wyo., which is located in Southeast Wyoming, and is about nine miles north of the Colorado border and just off of Interstate-25. Interstates-80 and 25 intersect about three miles south of the main gate. The base and town are roughly two hours north of Denver, and seven to 10 hours from Salt Lake City or Omaha, Neb.
ClimateCheyenne, located near the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and on the high plains, has four distinct seasons and, at times, rapidly changing weather conditions. Located in a fairly dry region of the country, the base receives about 14 inches of moisture per year in the form of rain or snowmelt and has an average winter snowfall of 52 inches. Snowfall is common nine months out of the year due to the high plains environment (more than 6,000 feet above sea level.) The first snowfall of the season typically occurs in late September and the last snowfall occurs in May. Wyoming is windy and during winter, there are frequent periods when the wind reaches 30 to 40 mph with gusts of 50 or 60 mph (ranks 1st in the US with an annual average wind speed of 12.9 mph)
The lack of humidity coupled with warm days and cool nights are positive aspects of living here. Those new to the area may experience high altitude sickness for a week to ten days.
Airports
Cheyenne Municipal Airport services the city and surrounding community. There are no shuttles to/from the airport to the installation. Rental cars are available at the airport. Be sure to make reservations in advance by calling AVIS at 800-331-1212 or local 307-632-9371. It is customary to have your sponsor meet you and your family when you arrive and provide private transportation to the installation. Please arrange this directly with your sponsor.
Driving Directions
Francis E. Warren Air Force Base is located in Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming. The base is immediately adjacent to the west side of the city of Cheyenne, and directly across U.S. I-25 and three miles north of the I-80 and I-25 interchange. Cheyenne can be accessed easily by car, bus, airline or shuttle from Denver International Airport. Cheyenne is located 100 miles north of Denver, Colorado, and is the transportation crossroads in the southeastern corner of Wyoming. It is eight miles north of the Colorado border on I-25 and 40 miles west of the Nebraska border off I-80. Currently, Gate 2 (Exit 10 off I-25), has limited hours, Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Gate 1 has limited hours, Monday - Friday, 0600-0800 and 1600-1800 hours. Gate 5 (Exit 12 off I-25) is our 24/7 access to the installation. The Visitor Control Center is located outside of Gate 1 (exit 11 off I-25). The installation has no shuttle service or public transportation.
Currently, there is no public transportation on F. E. Warren. With no public transportation, you’ll need a vehicle to get around base and the local area. The Military and Family Readiness Center offers information and assistance when preparing for a vehicle purchase. Also, some financial institutions have car buying programs for military members. First time car buyers should contact the MFRC to discuss car buying options PRIOR to signing documents for a car purchase at DSN 481-5941 or local (307)773-5941.
Effective 27 March 2015, the F. E. Warren AFB base operator will no longer be available. The installation will be transitioning to an automated calling system. The base operator, 773-1110 or "0," will become an automated call tree system with available options to ensure users will be able to access the phone numbers they require. The base phone directory is available at MyBaseGuide.
TDY members that called the base operator to connect them to another stateside number will not be supported. With the new system, a dedicated DSN line is provided for calling card use. This number is DSN 809-463-3376. When connected, a dial tone will sound for the user to enter their calling card procedures.
Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions
The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD). Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code must be included. The base operator, (307)773-1110 or "0," will become an automated call tree system with available options to ensure users will be able to access the phone numbers they require. The base phone directory is available at MyBaseGuide. Please note that long distance charges may be incurred.
Release 2024.03.06.1