Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB McGuire) is one of the most active bases for Space-A on the East Coast. It has regular flights in all directions, including missions to Germany.
Centrally located within a 60- to 90-minute drive of numerous civilian airports, JB McGuire is also convenient if you need to fly commercial to or from other parts of the country.
Here’s what you need to know when flying Space-A via the JB Mcguire passenger terminal.
If you are new to Space-A flying, read this Quickstart Guide to Space-A Military Flights first to learn how the process works.
1. Flights To and From JB McGuire
JB McGuire has regular flights to and from bases all over the U.S. and in Europe.
The military passenger terminals with the most frequent flights to and from McGuire are: Baltimore Washington International (BWI), JB Andrews (Maryland), Dover AFB (Delaware), JB Charleston (South Carolina), NS Norfolk (Virginia), JB Lewis McChord (Washington), and Ramstein AB (Germany).
Please note that these are only the most frequent flights based on historical data. All Space-A flights are determined by mission needs, which change constantly.
JB McGuire also has regular flights to other locations throughout the U.S. but most are not regular destinations. Visit McGuire’s page on the Air Mobility Command website to see their current schedules.
2. Lodging
JB McGuire has three base lodging facilities, but only the McGuire AFB location is walking distance from the passenger terminal.
The All American Inn manages all three locations. The McGuire AFB facility is about a mile from the passenger terminal. The Fort Dix lodging facility (also called the Doughboy Inn) is just over 5 miles from the passenger terminal. The Inn on the Lakehurst side is approximately 20 miles from the terminal.
This page has contact information for The All American Inn. For rooms on McGuire AFB and Fort Dix, call the McGuire location. Please note that if you are assigned a room on Fort Dix, you must still report to the main reception at the McGuire location to check in.
If base lodging is full, there are many hotels within a short distance of the base. Search here for hotels near JB McGuire.
* * * Need help planning your first Space-A Adventure? Get our free 50-page Guide to Military Space-A Travel. * * *
3. Local Civilian Airports
JB McGuire is accessible to several civilian airports.
The closest airport is Trenton-Mercer (TTN) in New Jersey. It’s 25 miles and about 40 minutes by car. Frontier is the only airline servicing TTN.
Philadelphia International (PHL) is a 1 hr+ drive (50 miles). Newark Liberty International (EWR) is slightly farther (about 60 miles) and also about a 1-hr drive.
The JB McGuire passenger terminal’s “AMC Gram” lists contact info for local transportation services. The main options to local airports are taxi/Uber and a few shuttle services.
We’ve used One Team, One Fight (listed in the AMC Gram), a veteran-owned business with a team of drivers, all of whom have base access. Their phone number is (848) 224-2252.
Contact individual services for rates, but in general, you can expect to pay $50 – $65 for a shuttle ride to TTN, $90 – $110 to PHL, and $125 – $140 to EWR. Rides to the New York airports are upwards of $200.
We have also done a one-way car rental (see options in #4 below) and flown out of BWI after landing at McGuire.
If you want to save money and have time, you can get to any of the civilian airports using buses and/or trains. The journey will take 2 – 4+ hours, depending on the airport and chosen modes of transportation. Use Rome2Rio or Google Maps to explore the options and to see schedules and costs.
4. Rental Cars
If you plan to spend time in the local area, rental cars are the primary transportation option, but there are no rental car facilities on base.
The Enterprise in Pemberton is among the closest off-base locations, and they will pick you up at the front gate, pending staff availability.
Note that many local rental car facilities are only open Monday – Friday, so if you need a vehicle on a weekend, you will need to search farther afield.
Search for rental cars near JB McGuire.
Keep in mind that rideshare and taxi drivers do not have base access unless they have a military ID. Use One Team, One Fight (mentioned in #3 above) or meet your driver at the front gate (about 1 mile from the passenger terminal) if you need transportation to a rental car facility.
5. Long Term Parking
JB McGuire has 30-day parking for passengers selected for a flight.
The lot is located next to the terminal. You must obtain a parking pass from terminal staff after you are selected for a flight.
As of this writing, there is no option for parking longer than 30 days.
6. Passenger Terminal Facilities
The McGuire passenger terminal has a large passenger waiting area, a USO, a family lounge, and a teen lounge. The USO is open during terminal hours (0700 – 0000).
Please note that passengers are prohibited from lying across the seats or on the floor of the terminal. The USO has a few comfortable chairs to recline if you want to sleep.
7. Dining options
The terminal has vending machines, and the USO offers snacks. If volunteers are staffing the USO, they may offer sandwiches or other light meals.
Other dining options close to the terminal are Pudgy’s Sport Pub (0.6 miles) and Subway (0.9 miles). Also, retirees are authorized to eat at Halvorsen Hall Dining Facility (0.7 miles), which is a bargain and one of the best military dining facilities we’ve experienced during our travels!
Final Advice for Flying Space-A via JB McGuire
For the smoothest journey, use the information above to research your logistics in advance. Decide how you will get to/from the base, familiarize yourself with the lodging options, and plan ahead to ensure you don’t go hungry while waiting for your flight!
Most missions to/from JB McGuire are on cargo aircraft or refueling tankers, so read this article to learn what to expect as a Space-A passenger and use our Space-A packing list to ensure you have everything you need for a comfortable flight.
JB McGuire is one of the top locations on the East Coast for Space-A flight opportunities. If you live in a part of the country that does not have many active air bases, and you want to know where to fly commercial to start your Space-A travel, McGuire is a great choice. Hope to see you out there soon!
Top photo courtesy of U.S. Air National Guard. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
Bird in hand in Mildenhall still operates as a hotel. I stayed there in the ending of May this year. Nice place to visit nearby is Bury St Edmund and Cambridge.
Thanks for the update on Bird in Hand! I edited the Mildenhall article accordingly.