The Patuxent River [known to the Navy as "Pax River"] Naval Air Station Complex stretches across 25 miles of shoreline at the mouth of the Patuxent River, overlooking the picturesque Chesapeake Bay, 65 miles southeast of Washington DC and 90 miles south of Baltimore. The Complex supports naval aviation operations by researching, developing, testing and evaluating aircraft, aircraft components and related products. The facilities are also used by foreign governments, academic institutions and private industry for similar projects.
NAWC Patuxent River continues to serve as the Navy's principal research, development, test, evaluation, engineering and fleet support activity for naval aircraft, engines, avionics, aircraft support systems and ship/shore/air operations. In addition the installation hosts the Navy Test Pilot School, and both NAS Patuxent River and the nearby OLF Webster host Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operations, all of which regularly use the installation's airspace complex. An additional mission is the detachment of the very high priority TACAMO mission (VQ-4 Det).
The Complex covers approximately 6,500 acres at the station itself with an additional 850 acres at the Webster Field Annex, located about 13 miles southwest of the station in St. Inigoes, Maryland. The Patuxent River complex encompasses five acres at Point Lookout, the southern most tip of St. Mary's County. Of this acreage, the federal government acquired roughly 7,500 acres through eminent domain, inheriting a considerable inventory of pre-historic and historic resources.
Main
phone numbers: Commercial (301)342-3000 or
DSN 342-3000
Mailing
address: 22268 Cedar Point Road, NAS
Patuxent River, MD 20670
Population:
3,000 active duty; 5,000 family members; 7,184
civilians
Housing: 800
family housing units; wait varies (301)342-3847
Temporary
lodging: 87 visitor units (301)342-3601;
50-unit Navy Lodge (301)737-2400; campground (301)342-3508
Family
Support Center: (301)342-4911
Schools: None
on base.
Child
Care: Two centers for 202, nine-month
wait; 29 approved homes (301)342-7636
Health
care: Clinic. Appointments (301)342-1506;
benefits (301)342-1457; Tricare (888)999-5195
Patuxent River NAS - Chesapeake Bay, MD
has a medium size commissary - (301)342-3789,
a small exchange, and a mini mall (301)3420614-. Recreation at Patuxent River NAS - Chesapeake Bay, MD
includes arts and crafts, bowling, library, auto hobby,
recreation center, theater, golf, gym, tennis, swimming,
outdoor activities, camping, and fishing.
