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Naval Base Kitsap

Photos

Bangor Plaza Sign
Bangor Skate Park
Barracks
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Cost of Living

The cost of living is defined as the amount of money needed to sustain a certain standard of living by affording basic needs such as housing, food, healthcare, and more. The cost of living is often used to compare how expensive it is to live in one location compared to another and is also used as a big factor for people to determine where they want to be located in addition to cultural attractions, the job market, and other factors.

Cost of living indices are based on a U.S. average of 100. An amount below 100 means Kitsap County is cheaper than the US average. A cost of living index above 100 means Kitsap County, Washington is more expensive.

You can find Cost of Living Comparison Tools online.  This can help you compare your current cost of living to the cost of living in Kitsap County.

Installation Details

Special and Critical Installation Information

Photography - Photography on Naval Base Kitsap is restricted. Sailors should have permission from their chain of command and guests must have permission from their sponsor before engaging in any photography. No Photography Zones apply to both military and civilian alike.

Unofficial Foreign National Visits - U.S. citizens already possessing authority for Base access may (with at least two working days in advance of the visit) sponsor foreign nationals for weddings, MWR special events, or as a guest in housing.

Naval Base Kitsap Parking Permits and Controlled Industrial Area badges --  All personnel assigned to Puget Sound Activities must register their privately-owned vehicles (POV's) at the Pass and I.D.Office. All POV's, including motorcycles, operated on Naval Base Kitsap must have proof of insurance in the vehicle or with the operator. Operators must also have in their possession a valid state driver's license. All vehicles are subject to random vehicle inspections while on federal installations.

Prohibited Items -- Items prohibited on all federal installations include explosives, (including pistols, rifles, etc.), ammunition, weapons such as switch blades, controlled substances, and alcoholic beverages (open containers). 

Naval Base Kitsap Military and Family Member I.D. Cards - All family members over 10 years of age are required to have a dependent I.D. card. For more information, call Bremerton DEERS, ID's and CAC at 360-476-2211 or Bangor at 360-396-5731.

Photography -- Photography on Naval Base Kitsap is restricted. Sailors should have permission from their chain of command and guests must have permission from their sponsor before engaging in any photography. No Photography Zones apply to both military and civilian alike.

Defense Service Network Dialing Instructions

The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense. 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 operator can be reached at commercial 719-567-1110. Please note that long distance charges may be incurred.

In-Depth Overview

Mission

Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) mission is to support the warfighterby providing reliable and timely base operating services for our ships, submarines, and shore commands in Bangor, Bremerton, Keyport, Manchester, and Jackson Park/Naval Hospital.  NBK provides critical services, programs, and facilities that meet the needs of hosted commands and installation employees supporting and enhancing Fleet, Fighter, and Family readiness.  NBK will continue to be a premier homeport and the best place to serve in the Navy.

History

In September 1891, 190 acres of the Pacific Northwest wilderness was purchased for $10,000 and the first Naval Station Puget Sound was established in Bremerton, Washington. In 1900, the Naval Station became a shipyard and was the only West Coast ship repair facility until 1941. By 1945, the wartime workforce reached more than 32,000 personnel. Between 1917 and 1969, a total of 85 ships were constructed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard including the largest vessels on the West Coast. In 1961, the Shipyard was certified as a nuclear repair facility.

In 1998, Naval Station Bremerton was commissioned as the Navy's newest homeport. In June 2004, Naval Station Bremerton and Submarine Base Bangor were joined to become one regional base known as Naval Base Kitsap. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard operates as a separate unit. For more information, please visit our homepage. 

Naval Base Kitsap Bangor's military history began in 1942, when it became the site for shipping ammunition to the Pacific theater during World War II. The Navy announced the selection of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor as the homeport for the first squadron of Trident Submarines in 1973. Naval Submarine Base, Bangor, was officially activated in 1977. For more information, please visit our homepage.

Population

The population of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor includes:

  • Active Duty Military 15,601 (OFF+ ENL)
  • Civilian Employees 25,653 (APF+NAF+CNTR)
  • Family Members X 18,700

277,658 (2023 Census Data) in Kitsap County, WA https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/kitsapcountywashington,US/PST045221

The population of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor includes:

  • Active Duty Military 15,293
  • Civilian Employees 21,612
  • Family Members 18,700
  • Retirees 35,908

Location

Naval Base Kitsap is located in Kitsap County and is composed of Naval Base Kitsap - Bangor and Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton and Naval Underseas Warfare Center, Keyport. Each base has its own specialties: Bangor works with the submarine communities and Bremerton with the Ship communities. Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton is also connected to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard which works with major ship and submarine overhauls. The two towns of Bremerton and Silverdale are dependent upon the Department of Defense for the highest commerce of the county.

Additionally, centrally located between Bangor and Bremerton is Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Comamnd Bremerton, is a fully accredited facility containing an Urgent Care Clinic, Primary Care Clinics, and a variety of specialty clinics.

Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor is located on the Kitsap Peninsula across the Puget Sound from Seattle. Travel from Seattle via Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry (30 minute crossing time) or the Seattle-Bremerton ferry (60 minute crossing time) or drive around the Sound by going south from Seattle to Tacoma on Interstate 5. At Tacoma, take State Hwy 16 West to Gorst, then Hwy 3 North to Silverdale and Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. From the Seattle-Tacoma (SEATAC) airport, the drive is approximately 1 1/2 hours (depending on traffic conditions). From the South of Tacoma, drive North on I-5, West to Highway 16 and drive North to Hwy 3 to Bremerton/Silverdale area. Follow signs for Main Gate entrance. For Keyport follow signs to Bangor Main Gate and then take exit to Keyport.  For further assistance and answers to questions, call the Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor Fleet & Family Support Programs at 360-315-5028 or 360-396-4115. The automated base operator's phone number is 360-396-6111.

Directions

Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor is located on the Kitsap Peninsula across Puget Sound from Seattle.

Traveling from Seattle

Travel from Seattle via Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry (30 minute crossing time) or the Seattle-Bremerton ferry (60 minute crossing time) or drive around the Sound by going south from Seattle to Tacoma on Interstate 5. At Tacoma, take State Hwy 16 west to Gorst, then Hwy 3 north to Silverdale and Bangor.

From the Seattle-Tacoma (SEATAC) Airport

The drive is approximately 1 1/2 hours (depending on traffic conditions). The Washington state ferries run approximately every hour between Seattle and Bainbridge Island from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Ferry traffic is very heavy on summer weekends and holidays; travelers may have to wait for several ferries before being allowed to board. Washington State Ferries have both walk-on and drive on options. 

From the South of Tacoma

Drive north on I-5, west to Highway 16 and drive north to Hwy 3 to Bremerton/Silverdale area. Look for the exit marked "Naval Base Kitsap Bangor Main Gate. For further assistance and answers to questions, call the Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor Fleet & Family Support Programs at 800-562-3301 or 360-396-4115.

If you arrive by air, there are a number of transportation services available from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. An airport shuttle service, the Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter, leaves SeaTac at the south end of the baggage claim area about every hour from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. The service is available on weekends, but less often. It takes about 90 minutes for the trip. The Airporter will drop off at the following locations: AM/PM Market-HWY 308 Keyport Junction Poulsbo;  Silverdale Beach Hotel (Best Western) Silverdale; Baymont Inns and Suites , Kitsap Way, Bremerton  and the 76 Station on the corner of Burwell & Montgomery in  Bremerton; Sedgewick 76 at Sedgewick & HWY 16 Port Orchard; Park & Ride 144th & Purdy Drive Purdy; The Inn at Gig Harbor, Gig Harbor; Ben Dew Clubhouse Restaurant at 6501 6th St, Tacoma. As of July 2018 the airporter no longer goes on base. 

Cost of a one-way ticket to NBK Bremerton or Bangor is $37.00-$39.00 per person (children ages 2-11 are $18.00-$20.00 per person). More information is available by calling: 360-876-1737

 Recommend contacting your sponsor for ground transportation support if you take the Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter to Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton. 

Also, you can arrange through your command or ship sponsor to arrange for a command driver. Please arrange for this at least 3 weeks ahead of your arrival and verify the day before arrival.

Traveling by Ferry

The combined Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton/Puget Sound Naval Shipyard complex is located an hour ferry ride away from Seattle and 30 miles northwest of Tacoma. The Washington State Ferry System runs average about every hour and 20 minutes between Pier 56 in downtown Seattle and the downtown Bremerton terminal. The main gate to the complex is on Callow Street, located three miles west of the ferry terminal off Burwell Street and is open 24 hours daily. The downtown gate for the Shipyard is one block from the ferry terminal but is only accessible for official business with prior authorization.

From the Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport

Proceed out to Interstate 5 (South) to Tacoma for 26 miles, then west on State Highway 16 for a scenic 30-minute drive to Highway 3 (North). The west end of the base and most of the Inactive Fleet will be visible along the waterfront. Turn right on Farragut Ave, just past the inactive fleet, for the main gate. The base complex is small (1100 acres) and is congested. Parking is limited and tightly controlled. Security access inside the Naval Shipyard Controlled Industrial Area portion of the complex is tightly controlled with Security Area Control Badges worn, and always visible, at all times.

Be sure to visit the USO located in the SeaTac Airport for directions, Kitsap Airporter directions and any other information you might need.

Base Transportation

Kitsap Transit provides scheduled bus transportation to Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton as well as The Landings housing area.

Find updated bus routes at:  http://www.kitsaptransit.com/service/routed-buses

Contact Information

Bangor & Keyport 360-396-6111

Bremerton 360-476-3711 then press 2