Fort George G. Meade  In-depth Overview

Provide required services, infrastructure, a safe and secure community, and a quality of life that supports mission readiness and the Fort Meade Community.

Fort George G. Meade was established as Camp Meade in 1917 as one of 16 cantonments built to prepare American Expeditionary Forces for WWI. Named after Union Civil War officer, Major General George Gordon Meade, Fort Meade was home to the first women to serve in uniform. The “Hello Girls” served as telephone operators connecting front line troops in France with Stateside operations. After WWI, Fort Meade became home of the Tank Corps, the home to the Army’s first Cook and Baker’s School and the home of the Special Services Unit Training Center where notables like musician Glenn Miller and boxer Joe Lewis trained in uniform to entertain the troops. Future Generals Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton served at Fort Meade. Today, Fort Meade is home to the National Security Agency, U. S. Cyber Command, several other large Military Intelligence units, Defense Information Systems Agency, Defense Media Activity and 116 other agencies which serve as the nation’s platform for Intelligence, Information and Cyber Operations. For more information, go to the Fort George G. Meade web page.

Every day more than 140,000 people seek the services Fort Meade has to offer.

• Over 18,000 military personnel. Of this, almost 3500 are Army Active Duty. The rest are from all other branches of service, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard
• 41,000 civilian employees
• 80,000 military retirees and Family members in the area
• Over 11,000 Service members, retirees, civilian employees, contractors and their families reside on Fort Meade

Fort Meade is equidistant between Baltimore and Washington D.C. Fort Meade It is surrounded by:

Anne Arundel County: 590,367

Howard County: 334,897

Prince George’s County: 955,306

Montgomery County: 1.057 million

The entire National Capital Region population is: 13.4 million.

Fort Meade is home to over 18,000 military personnel, representing all services, as well as 40,000+ civilian employees. Over 11,000 family members reside on post and 80,000 in the surrounding communities. There is also a robust retiree population that exceeds 150,000 individuals.

Located in Maryland, midway between the cities of Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington, DC, Fort George G. Meade lies five miles east of Interstate 95 and one-half mile east of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, between Maryland State Routes 175 and 198. Fort Meade is situated within the communities of Odenton, Laurel, Severn, and Columbia.

There is no longer a vehicle registration requirement on Fort George G. Meade.  

Please note: Hands free cell phones are the only authorized use of cell phones while driving on Fort Meade.

Headphones are only permitted on running track or sidewalks.

BWI Airport is a convenient 20 minutes away from Fort Meade. At BWI Airport, follow signs for I-195 W; take exit 2B for MD 295 S/Balt/Wash Pkwy towards Washington DC; Merge onto MD295 South; Exit onto Annapolis Rd/ MD 175 E/Odenton Rd towards Odenton. Continue to follow Annapolis Rd/MD-175 E for 2.7 miles and turn right at Mapes Rd into the Ft Meade Main Gate and Visitor Control Center.

From Washington, D.C.: Take I-95 or I-295 North toward Baltimore to MD. State Route 175 East. Follow 175 until it turns into Annapolis Road. Follow the signs to the Mapes main gate. If a non-DOD I.D. holder, be prepared to present identification, vehicle registration and proof of insurance at the gate.

From Annapolis: Take U.S. Route 50/301 West to Interstate 97 North toward Baltimore. Take Md. State Route 32 West toward Odenton/Fort Meade. Take Md. State Route 175 West, Annapolis Road. Follow the signs to the Mapes main gate. Be prepared to present identification, vehicle registration and proof of insurance.

Fort Meade is a great installation at a great location! Fort Meade is conveniently located between Washington D.C. and Baltimore. The installation lies approximately five miles east of interstate 95 and one-half mile east of the Baltimore-Washington parkway, between Maryland State routes 175 and 198. Fort Meade is located near the communities of Odenton, Laurel, Columbia, Severn, and Jessup. 

There is a very LIMITED bus shuttle on post. Having your own vehicle is highly recommended.  

Fort George G. Meade has no Base Operators, and do not assist with placing morale calls.  For DSN access on FGGM, please dial 94 and the 7 digit number. 

Use the following DSN's to call Ft Meade:  

For prefix 677, dial 622. 

For prefix 833, dial 733.

For prefix 225, dial 375.