Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay sits in the southeastern corner of coastal Georgia, just north of the Florida line, and shares a border with the town of St. Marys (Military OneSource). It’s homeport to six Ohio-class Trident submarines and two guided-missile submarines. Choosing where to live off base starts with practical details: gate hours, how long base housing takes, what BAH covers in 2026, and the flood zone of each address you look at.
Key Takeaways
– In 2026, BAH for the Kings Bay/Brunswick housing area is $2,133 a month for an E-5 with dependents and $1,806 without.
– Contact the Navy Housing Service Center before you commit to any home off base.
– Base housing has 449 privatized homes, with an average wait of 3 to 12 months.
– About 35% of Camden County residents live in the 100-year floodplain.
What are the gate hours at Kings Bay?
The Stimson Avenue gate is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Franklin Avenue gate opens 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and is closed on weekends (Military OneSource).
The base is about five miles off I-95, with access from Exits 1, 3 and 6. Exit 1 follows St. Marys Road to the Franklin gate. From Exit 3, Georgia State Route 40 runs east toward St. Marys, and Kings Bay Road ends at the Stimson gate. Exit 6 also connects to Kings Bay Road and Stimson.
Weekend duty means a Stimson commute, since Franklin is closed. Keep that in mind when two houses look equally close on a map.
What towns are near Kings Bay naval base?
Off base, the Camden County towns to know are St. Marys, Kingsland and Woodbine, plus the unincorporated county around them. Here is how St. Marys and Kingsland compare with the county in U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts:
| Camden County | St. Marys | Kingsland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 60,143 | 20,546 | 21,299 |
| Median owner-occupied home value, 2020-2024 | $261,400 | $312,300 | $251,400 |
| Median gross rent, 2020-2024 | $1,235 | $1,183 | $1,275 |
Those medians pool survey years 2020 to 2024, so they won’t tell you what a house is worth today. Use them to see the spread between towns, and price an offer from recent comparable sales on the street.
St. Marys is the town on the base’s border. Its downtown is where the passenger ferry leaves for Cumberland Island, six miles east and reachable only by boat (National Park Service).
In Kingsland, King Street doubles as Highway 40 (City of Kingsland), the road Exit 3 traffic takes east toward St. Marys and the Stimson gate. The city lists many government offices, the county library and Camden County High School among what’s located there.
Woodbine is the county seat. It sits on the Satilla River and has a riverwalk and nature trail of more than three miles along the old railbed (City of Woodbine).
Some buyers also look south across the state line. BAH is set by rank, dependency status and duty station ZIP code (Defense Travel Management Office), so the town you pick changes your costs but not your allowance.
Should you live on base or off base at Kings Bay?
Call the Housing Service Center first either way. Everyone transferring to Kings Bay, with or without dependents, is directed to contact the center before making any off-base housing commitment (Military OneSource).
Privatized housing on base is managed by Balfour Beatty Communities. The center lists 449 privatized homes for officers and enlisted members, and the average wait is 3 to 12 months. Two deadlines are worth writing down:
- Apply within 30 days of your report date, and your control date becomes the day you detached from your last duty station.
- Check into housing within 30 days of arrival to secure full local move benefits.
For off-base options, the Navy Housing Office keeps a list of apartments and houses currently for sale or rent. Wait times vary, so call for a current estimate. If a wait of up to 12 months won’t work, you can search off base while your application sits on the list.
What is the 2026 BAH rate for Kings Bay?
For 2026, the Defense Travel Management Office places the base ZIP code, 31547, in the Kings Bay/Brunswick, GA military housing area. Monthly rates at common pay grades (DTMO 2026 rate lookup):
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-4 | $2,016 | $1,656 |
| E-5 | $2,133 | $1,806 |
| E-6 | $2,157 | $1,905 |
| E-7 | $2,250 | $2,019 |
| O-3 | $2,418 | $2,157 |
Look up your own grade before you set a budget, then compare it with the full monthly cost of owning: principal, interest, property tax, homeowners insurance and flood insurance where the address needs it. Our BAH rent-or-buy breakdown runs that math with Fort Stewart numbers, and the method carries over.
Can you use a VA loan to buy near Kings Bay?
Yes, if you qualify. A VA-backed purchase loan can mean no down payment, as long as the sales price isn’t higher than the appraised value, and no private mortgage insurance (VA). You do have to live in the home. With full entitlement, VA says you don’t have a loan limit, provided you can afford the loan and the appraisal supports the price (VA).
Start with your Certificate of Eligibility. On active duty, you’ll need a statement of service signed by your commander, adjutant or personnel officer, and your lender may be able to pull the certificate online (VA). Expect a one-time funding fee unless you’re exempt, for example because you receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability (VA).
Sea duty raises a practical question about occupancy. VA’s occupancy certification, Form 26-1820, includes an option for a spouse who occupies the home while the service member is on active military duty. Ask your VA-approved lender how that applies to your file. Our step-by-step VA loan guide for Georgia covers the full process, and our guide to buying a home while deployed covers closing from a distance.
Is Camden County in a flood zone?
Parts of it are. Camden County estimates that about 35% of its residents, roughly 17,000 people, live in the 100-year floodplain, and that a property in FEMA’s 100-year floodplain has a 26% chance of flooding over a 30-year mortgage (Camden County). The county’s Flood Risk App maps those risks by location, including storm surge and sea level rise.
The flood zone affects the loan, too. FEMA says homes in high-risk flood areas with mortgages from government-backed lenders are required to have flood insurance (FEMA). Ask your lender for the flood determination, and get an insurance quote while you’re still inside your due diligence period.
How do you register for Camden County Schools after a PCS?
New students register online with Camden County Schools. The district asks for proof of age, two proofs of residency and health records, immunizations included (Camden County Schools). If you’re on active duty, a copy of official orders verifying assignment to Georgia can establish residency.
School assignment follows the address, so run any property you’re serious about through the district’s school zone map. For transfer questions, the base school liaison is the main point of contact from pre-K through 12th grade (Military OneSource).
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Kings Bay from I-95?
About five miles, according to Military OneSource. You can reach the base from I-95 Exits 1, 3 or 6. Exit 1 follows St. Marys Road to the Franklin Avenue gate, and Exits 3 and 6 lead to Kings Bay Road and the Stimson Avenue gate, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What is the 2026 BAH for an E-5 at Kings Bay?
It’s $2,133 a month with dependents and $1,806 without, under the Defense Travel Management Office’s 2026 rates for ZIP code 31547 in the Kings Bay/Brunswick, GA housing area. BAH follows rank, dependency status and duty station ZIP code, so living in St. Marys, Kingsland or Woodbine doesn’t change it.
How long is the wait for base housing at Kings Bay?
The average wait for privatized housing is 3 to 12 months, according to the Navy Housing Service Center listing on Military OneSource, which counts 449 privatized homes. Apply within 30 days of your report date so your detaching date becomes your control date, and call the center for a current wait time.
Can I use a VA loan if I’m at sea after closing?
It can work. VA’s occupancy certification, Form 26-1820, has an option for a spouse who occupies the home while the service member is on active military duty. Ask your VA-approved lender whether that option fits your situation, and confirm your Certificate of Eligibility and funding fee status with them early.
Start your Kings Bay home search
Our team serves Camden County, including Kingsland, and is led by a retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant. We can start looking before you report and build the search around your gate and your BAH. Contact our team to talk through your orders.