California hosts the most military bases in the United States.
Recent analyses confirm this trend persists as of 2025, with no major shifts reported.

Top States Ranked

A comprehensive 2024-2025 study by 24/7 Wall Street, referenced across sources, ranks states by total installations (active-duty bases, air stations, and depots). California leads decisively due to its Pacific-facing strategic role.

State| Bases| Key Bases| Notes 137
---|---|---|---
California| 123| Naval Base San Diego, Camp Pendleton, Edwards AFB| Highest population correlates with bases; vital for Pacific ops.
Texas| 59| Fort Bliss, Fort Cavazos (Hood)| Massive training grounds; 2nd overall.17
Florida| 56| Eglin AFB, MacDill AFB| Gulf Coast aviation focus.
Virginia| 51| Naval Station Norfolk, Pentagon| East Coast naval powerhouse.13
Hawaii| 49| Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Schofield Barracks| Indo-Pacific hub despite small size.1

Why California Dominates

California's 123 bases support over 157,000 active-duty personnel, more than any state, driven by logistics and naval needs.

Texas and Virginia follow but trail in sheer count; per-capita leaders like Alaska (47 bases) and Hawaii rank high strategically.

Population density plays a role—California's 39 million residents host the most, unlike sparse states.

Trending Context

Forums and 2025 discussions highlight base impacts on local economies, with California's installations generating billions amid President Trump's defense expansions.

No recent closures alter the top spot, per latest data up to late 2025.

TL;DR: California (123 bases) tops the list, far ahead of Texas (59) and others—strategic must for U.S. forces.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.