Walter Reed Medical Center Housing

Walter Reed Medical Center

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Relocation Information

• Welcome to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
• Frequently Asked Questions About Walter Reed
• Base Location and Information
• Arrival Lodging
• Walter Reed Housing
• Walter Reed Off-Base Housing
• Walter Reed BAH Information 
• Area Weather & Climate
• Walter Reed Area Schools
• Support for Military and Families
• Things to do near Walter Reed 
• More Area Info

Image from tricare.mil

Welcome to Walter Reed Medical Center

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) is one of the most prominent military medical centers in the world. Walter Reed employs cutting-edge technology, medical expertise, and rehabilitation facilities designed to care for America's wounded warriors. It is located in Bethesda, Maryland, which is part of the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Walter Reed is often referred to as “The Nation’s Medical Center” as it serves not only military members and their families in the National Capital Region (NCR), but also service members are flown in from around the globe to receive care. The medical center has more than 100 clinics, and it is staffed by approximately 7,000 civilian and active duty members. 

 

Walter Reed’s history began in 1909 as a general hospital. The hospital’s namesake was Major Walter Reed, and he was best known as the leading researcher to discover the transmission of yellow fever through mosquitoes. From this point on, the various versions of the hospital are associated with all-American names such as Major William C. Borden, General John J. Pershing, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Mamie Eisenhower. Walter Reed has cared for military members with injuries from all U.S. conflicts and wars, in addition to providing care for each president, members of Congress, the Supreme Court, and other national leaders. 

 

As a result of the 2005 BRAC changes, Walter Reed Medical Center was born from the combination of the National Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2011. Because of this, many refer to the medical center as Walter Reed, the Navy Hospital, and Bethesda. Common shortened abbreviations include WRNMMC and WR. 

 

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Moving to Walter Reed Medical Center? Download your free guide to the D.C. area below:

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Walter Reed Medical Center

1) If a service member is assigned to Walter Reed, where do they live? 

Many service members assigned to Walter Reed choose to live in Maryland for a simple commute and easy access to the hospital. The most popular cities in Maryland near Walter Reed are Bethesda, North Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Kensington, and Gaithersburg. 

However, there are many reasons families choose to live farther away in Virginia, Washington, and DC. The most common factors are affordability and the need for dual military families who hope to split the commute difference between duty stations. 

2) Is there base housing assigned to Walter Reed Medical Center?

There isn't base housing at Walter Reed. For service members who are interested in privatized on-base housing, the closest and/or most popular options include Fort Meade NSA, JB Andrews, JB Anacostia-Bolling, and Fort Belvoir. 

3) What are the commuting options near Walter Reed Medical Center? 

Similar to bases throughout the rest of the NCR, commuting to and from Walter Reed is a challenge. Those assigned to Walter Reed get creative with finding commuting solutions because of unpredictable delays from traffic, accidents, and extensive drive times. 

Walter Reed is located on the Red Line of the Washington, D.C. Metro System. Commuter buses, shuttles, carpools, and biking are all possibilities. Purchasing an E-ZPass is used for expedited commuter lanes. Although a time saver, E-ZPass toll prices can reach $20.00 and above during high traffic times of the day.

4) What is the zip code for Walter Reed Medical Center?

The zip code for the Walter Reed Medical Center is 20814. Nearby zip codes include 20889, 20892, and 20815.  

5) What is the BAH for Walter Reed Medical Center? 
BAH for Walter Reed Medical Center ranges from $3,096 for E-1 to $4,128 for E-9 with dependents, and from $3,213 for O-1 to $4,731 for O-6 with dependents. See the BAH section for more info.

6) What military bases are near Walter Reed? 

 

 

Bases in the D.C. area

• Coast Guard HQ DC
• Defense Health Headquarters Falls Church 
• Indian Head Naval Base
• Fort Belvoir
• Fort McNair
• Fort Meade NSA
• Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
• Joint Base Andrews
• Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
• Marine Barracks Washington
• Mark Center Alexandria
• The Pentagon
• Washington Navy Yard
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Location and Information

Official Site: Walter Reed Medical Center

Base Address

8901 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, MD 20889

 

East of WRNMMC in Maryland

• Silver Spring
• North Chevy Chase
• College Park
• Bowie

North of WRNMMC in Maryland

• Kensington
• North Bethesda
• Rockville
• Derwood
• Gaithersburg
• Germantown
• Clarksburg

South of WRNMMC

• McLean, VA
• Falls Church, VA
• Arlington, VA
• Washington, DC

Public transportation is integral to the way of life surrounding Walter Reed. Service members use public transportation to the hospital for multiple reasons: it saves time and money, the military provides a stipend for public transport, and parking at Walter Reed is severely limited. Not everyone will have an official space, and if they do, it could easily be a 20-minute walk to enter the building. Walter Reed has both Metro and bus routes convenient to the entrance. 

 

It's helpful to understand the terms "inside" or "outside" the Beltway. Interstate 495 is a 64-mile loop around Washington, DC, that encompasses the suburbs of Virginia and Maryland. The Beltway is used to describe where real estate is located, a reference to where political action occurs (inside the Beltway in D.C.), and most frequently in traffic reports. Additionally, the Legion Bridge and I-270 in Maryland are very popular routes driving south toward Walter Reed. This section of roadway is notorious for difficult commutes, and it is in the process of a multi-year widening project. 

 

Walter Reed’s centric, Mid-Atlantic location provides vacation destinations that include river, bay, and ocean excursions in Virginia, DC, and Maryland. Western Maryland is known for access to mountain terrain, and many families head there to seek relief from humid summers and to sharpen their ski skills in the winter. There are also plenty of recreation outlets within a 2-3 hour drive in neighboring West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

 

Arrival Lodging

Image from Navy Lodge-Bethesda

NSA Bethesda Inns and Suites

8901 Wisconsin Avenue Bldg. 52 NNMC

Bethesda, MD 20814-5000

301-654-1795

Walter Reed Medical Center Housing

Housing Photo from Glen Haven Family Housing

Privatized military housing is available near Walter Reed Medical Center at Glen Haven Family Housing. It is located in Wheaton, MD, and near Washington, DC. Housing is managed by Balfour Beatty Communities: (301) 649-9700.

Walter Reed Off-Base Housing

View homes for sale and houses for rent near Walter Reed Medical Center.

 

The dense population, intense traffic, and readily accessible retail and entertainment allow most families to find what they need nearby, so military families tend to build their lives around their immediate homes and neighborhoods. Maryland military families stick to their home sites, and they don’t often head south into Northern Virginia unless they have to. The same is true for the opposite direction. 

 

When searching for a home near Walter Reed, choosing an off-base house often comes down to ranking and balancing personal preferences like budget, commute, and school accessibility. A family’s priorities will determine the best location to search for a home. In most cases, there are premium prices for home listings that are zoned for top schools or have very convenient commutes. Homes with larger property sizes and smaller price tags have longer commute times. Commuting routes are challenging near Walter Reed. Although many places of work and home destinations are less than 15 miles in distance, at peak traffic hours, it's not uncommon for drive times to measure beyond an hour. 

 

Although stand-alone single-family homes are the most popular, townhouse, condo, and apartment living are all comparative options. For example, some neighborhoods only cater to those interested in townhomes, and single-family homes aren't available. There isn’t a shortage of neighborhoods to choose from. Each has a unique setting, feel, and pro/con list.

 

For military families arriving in the DC, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) location, it’s recommended to consult a qualified real estate agent knowledgeable about rental properties and home sales in the desired areas. It’s common for agents to be licensed in DC/MD/VA, but some choose only to work in one or two states or DC. Real estate in the DMV can be a challenge for first-timers. Both property and money move quickly and often in cash transactions.

 

Base Search 

• Homes for Sale near Walter Reed Medical Center
• Homes for Rent near Walter Reed Medical Center

City Search

• Bethesda: Homes for Sale, Houses to Rent
• Kensington: Homes for Sale, Houses to Rent
• Rockville: Homes for Sale, Houses to Rent
• Silver Spring: Homes for Sale, Houses to Rent
• McLean: Homes for Sale, Houses for Rent

Walter Reed BAH Information 

The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S.-based allowance determined by geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. It provides uniformed service members compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets when government quarters are not provided. Learn more about your Basic Allowance for Housing.

Walter Reed Medical Center is in Bethesda, MD. Some sample Walter Reed BAH rates for zip code 20814: 

• E-1 with dependents: $3,096
• E-1 without dependents: $2,409
• E-9 with dependents: $4,128
• E-9 without dependents: $3,447
• O-1 with dependents: $3,213
• O-1 without dependents: $3,054
• O-6 with dependents: $4,731
• O-6 without dependents: $3,999

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Area Weather & Climate

North Bethesda, MD, image from Matthew Straubmiller

Base Address:

8901 Rockville Pike
Bethesda , 20889