Moving to Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth sits on a bluff above the Missouri River and is known as the Army's intellectual center, home to the Command and General Staff College and the Combined Arms Center. Much of the community turns over each summer as mid-career officers arrive for the 10-month course, so it feels like a close-knit, university-style post with historic homes and a small-town pace about 30 minutes from Kansas City.
| Branch | Army |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Leavenworth, KS |
| Airports | Kansas City International (MCI), roughly 20 miles from the gate |
| Climate | Four seasons: hot, humid summers, cold snowy winters, and a spring tornado risk |
| Cost of living | Below the national average for housing; one 2024 figure put the Leavenworth median home price near $215,000 |
| On-base housing | Frontier Heritage Communities (privatized family housing) |
| Medical care | Munson Army Health Center |
| Family support center | Army Community Service (Relocation Readiness program) |
Where families live
On-post Main Post and outer neighborhoods
Historic homes with porches and hardwood floors on Main Post, newer garage-and-fenced-yard homes farther out; rent equals BAH.
Lansing, KS
Closest off-post option and generally the most affordable, with a suburban feel.
Leavenworth, KS
A city of roughly 36,000 with older housing stock, more dining and shopping, and Buffalo Soldier Memorial Park.
Basehor, KS
Newer construction and suburban amenities for families wanting a yard.
Weston and Platte City, MO
Across the river; Weston is a small historic town and Platte City is closer to the airport.
Atchison, KS
Lower costs and more room for the money, at the price of a longer drive.
Schools
Fort Leavenworth has its own on-post district (USD 207) serving PreK through 9th grade, with guaranteed enrollment for on-post residents; off-post families may apply but are not guaranteed a seat. Students in grades 10-12 attend Leavenworth High School in USD 453. Off-post families live in several different districts depending on the town they choose.
- Fort Leavenworth USD 207 — On-post PreK-9; priority for on-post residents.
- Leavenworth USD 453 — Serves Leavenworth High School for grades 10-12 and families living in the city.
On the installation: Bradley Elementary School, Patton Junior High School
Fort Leavenworth School Liaison Office, reachable through the garrison site or Army Community Service
Things to do near Fort Leavenworth
- Frontier Army MuseummuseumFree on-post museum covering Army history on the western frontier.
- Santa Fe Trail ruts and Main Parade GroundoutdoorsHistoric landmarks on post, including visible wagon-trail ruts.
- Merit Lake and bluff trailsoutdoorsOn-post fishing and running trails with river views.
- Buffalo Soldier Memorial Park and Richard Allen Cultural CentermuseumLocal sites in Leavenworth honoring Buffalo Soldier and African-American Army history.
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of ArtmuseumMajor art museum in Kansas City, about a 30-minute drive.
- Kansas City Chiefs and Royals gamessportsPro football and baseball within easy day-trip distance.
- Fort Leavenworth golf coursesportsOn-post course for casual rounds.
- Weston, Missouriday-tripSmall historic river town across the Missouri with shops and eateries.
Realtors & local services
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- The Moreno Group with Keller Williams Diamond PartnersLeavenworth / Lansing / Kansas City areaVeteran-owned team advertising a Veteran Preferred program and PCS relocation help for military families.
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Local programs & support
- Fort Leavenworth Relocation Readiness (ACS)PCS planning, newcomer briefings and a loan closet for household items.
- Military OneSource relocation assistance, Fort LeavenworthInstallation-specific relocation support listing for incoming families.
PCS tips for Fort Leavenworth
- Apply for on-post housing the day you have orders; CGSC students who apply after mid-May land on a waitlist, and an RFO alone is not enough to apply.
- Most of the post turns over each summer, so book temporary lodging, movers and child care early for June-August arrivals.
- Grant Gate is the main 24/7 entrance; other gates have been closed, so check current gate status before arriving.
- Check whether your assigned on-post home has a basement, since not all do, and plan for spring tornado season.
- Off-post families should confirm school enrollment with USD 207 before choosing a town, because open enrollment for nonresidents is limited.
Benefits to use on this move
- Dislocation Allowance (DLA)Service members relocating a household on PCS orders
- Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)Families who need a hotel or short-term rental while moving within the U.S.
- Personally Procured Move (PPM / DITY)Families who want to move some or all of their own goods
- VA Home Loan GuarantyService members, veterans and some surviving spouses buying a home
- Pet Transportation ReimbursementFamilies moving a cat or dog on PCS orders
- Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military ChildrenSchool-age children of active duty families changing schools
- School Liaison ProgramParents choosing schools and transferring records
Other installations in the Midwest & Plains
Last researched 2026-10. Housing partners, school assignments and phone numbers change; confirm with the installation before you sign anything. Spot an error? Send a correction.
Sources
- https://home.army.mil/leavenworth
- https://home.army.mil/leavenworth/index.php/my-fort/all-services/army-community-service
- https://www.army.mil/article/245581/fort_leavenworth_town_hall_provides_info_for_inbound_families
- https://pcspayitforward.com/fort-leavenworth/
- https://valoannetwork.com/military-bases/kansas/fort-leavenworth-army-base
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Leavenworth
- https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/military-installation/fort-leavenworth/military-and-family-support-center/relocation-assistance
- https://www.veteranbusinessowners.com/business/25879/the-moreno-group-with-keller-williams-diamond-partners-inc