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Military Road Trip

Hotels Near Holloman AFB: TLE, On-Base Lodging, and Off-Base Options

Landscape of White Sands National Park near Holloman Air Force Base, with the white sand dunes visible in the foreground and mountains across the horizon.

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Holloman Air Force Base sits in the Tularosa Basin of southern New Mexico, adjacent to White Sands National Park and White Sands Missile Range. It’s home to the 49th Wing, and serves as a major fighter and RPA training base.

If you’ve got orders to Holloman, here’s what you need to know about lodging during your PCS.

TLE Quick Facts

TLE Quick Facts — Holloman AFB

Authorized TLE days: Up to 21 days CONUS (JTR Table 5-13)

Daily TLE cap: Up to $290/day

Standard PCS lodging cap: $110/night

Pet reimbursement: Up to $550 CONUS (JTR 050107)

Table 5-13. Authorized TLE Locations and Time Limits

TLE authorized for 7 days when moving to a PDS OCONUS from a prior PDS in the CONUS, or reporting to the first PDS OCONUS from a home of record or initial technical school.

TLE authorized for 21 days when reporting to a PDS in the CONUS, or reporting to the first PDS CONUS from a home of record or initial technical school. Days may be split between the old and new PDS locations at the Service member’s discretion.

A Service member and dependent may be reimbursed up to a maximum of $290 per day. TLE is calculated based on the locality per diem rates, the number of dependents and their ages, and the actual lodging expenses.

The exact amount you receive depends on your household size — the calculation is a percentage of the applicable locality lodging and M&IE rates. The key booking decision is whether a hotel or rental comes in at or under the $110/night lodging rate.

On-Base Lodging

The Holloman Inn is the on-base lodging facility at Holloman AFB, operated through the Air Force Inns program. It’s the most convenient option for families in-processing — close to the housing office, finance, and the medical group.

Holloman is a smaller installation but PCS season still fills the Inn fast. Call as soon as orders drop to get the best availability.

  • Phone: (575) 572-7853
  • Reservations: Book through the Air Force Inns system or call directly
  • Pet policy: Limited pet-friendly rooms — confirm when booking

If the Holloman Inn is full, Alamogordo is a short drive and has solid off-base options.

Off-Base Hotels Near Holloman AFB

Alamogordo is the primary off-base community for Holloman families — about 10 minutes from the main gate on US-70. It’s a small city with enough chain hotel options to find something at or near the $110/night lodging cap without much trouble.

White Sands Boulevard (US-70) is the main hotel corridor. Most national chains — La Quinta, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express — are clustered there. Rates are generally reasonable year-round.

One thing worth knowing: Holloman sits at about 4,100 feet elevation and summers are hot. Air conditioning quality matters more than it does at most installations. Read recent reviews before you book to see if hotels have had issues with maintenance.

Whole-House Rentals for TLE Families

Alamogordo has a reasonable VRBO inventory for a small city — the White Sands and outdoor recreation market keeps it active year-round. Weekly rates here often come in well under the $110/night lodging cap. For families waiting on housing through a hot New Mexico summer, having a pool, yard, and kitchen is a meaningful upgrade over a hotel room for three weeks.

VRBO bookings are reimbursable under TLE as long as the nightly rate is at or under the lodging cap. Keep your booking confirmation and itemized payment receipt.

Pet-Friendly Lodging Near Holloman AFB

Alamogordo has pet-friendly options along the White Sands Boulevard corridor. La Quinta and Red Roof Inn are your most reliable no-breed-restriction chains. Always call ahead — pet policies and fee structures change and what’s posted online isn’t always current.

Pet hotel fees are reimbursable under JTR paragraph 050107 — up to $550 CONUS total per PCS. Keep itemized receipts showing pet fees as a separate line item.

Search pet-friendly hotels near Holloman AFB →

050107. Pet Expenses Due to a PCS

A. Authority Effective January 1, 2024.

1. Eligibility. A Service member or Service member’s dependent on a PCS order with an effective date of January 1, 2024 or later may be authorized reimbursement for the costs related to the relocation of one household pet that arises from a permanent change of station. A household pet is a cat or a dog, owned for personal companionship.

2. CONUS. A Service member or Service member’s dependent may be authorized the reasonable and substantiated cost of mandatory microchipping, boarding fees, hotel service charges, licensing fees at the new PDS, and pet shipping fees if the member flies rather than drives, or the pet is shipped separately from the member. Reimbursement for the actual cost of all expenses is limited to $550 per PCS move.

3. OCONUS. Reimbursement for the actual cost of all necessary expenses is limited to $2,000 per PCS move.

Location Factors You Should Consider

US-70 closures. The highway connecting Holloman to Alamogordo periodically closes for missile testing on White Sands Missile Range — typically 2-3 hours at a time, announced in advance at on the Army’s announcements page for the WSMR. If you’re commuting daily from Alamogordo during TLE, check the closure schedule.

El Paso proximity. El Paso is about 90 miles south on US-54 — the nearest major retail and medical hub. It may be too far for daily in-processing commuting, but some families choose to live there full-time for the added amenities and job opportunities for spouses.

White Sands. Active duty military and their dependents get free access to White Sands National Park. If you’re PCSing on the I-10 or I-25 corridors, it’s a natural stop on the drive in, and definitely a park you should experience at least once.

Know Your Entitlements Before You Book

If you’re PCSing, there are two different lodging caps you need to know:

  • If you’re staying near Holloman on the way to your next station, your lodging is capped at the CONUS standard rate, which is currently $110.
  • If you’re moving to or from Holloman and using TLE, your lodging is based on your family size and the local per diem, up to $290.

They’re two different entitlements, and while you shouldn’t be paying out of pocket for either one if you plan accordingly, knowing which one applies is important.

For the full picture of what you’re authorized on a PCS move — MALT, per diem, TLE, DLA, pet reimbursements, and more — see our complete PCS entitlements guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lodging at Holloman AFB

Up to 21 days for a CONUS PCS per JTR Table 5-13, split between your losing and gaining installations. Confirm your specific entitlement with your finance office before incurring costs.

The daily TLE cap is $290. The standard PCS lodging rate that factors into that calculation is $110/night. Lodging taxes are reimbursable separately as a miscellaneous expense per FTR 301-11.27.

Yes — periodically, for a few hours at a time. Closures are announced in advance at wsmr.army.mil. Not frequent enough to be a daily problem but worth knowing if you’re commuting from Alamogordo during TLE.

Yes. Vacation rentals are reimbursable under TLE as lodging as long as the nightly rate is at or under the $110 lodging cap. Keep your booking confirmation and payment receipt.

Yes — up to $550 CONUS total per PCS under JTR paragraph 050107. Keep itemized receipts showing pet fees separately.

Alamogordo, about 10 minutes from the main gate on US-70. Most hotels are along White Sands Boulevard. The Holloman Inn on base is the most convenient option if you can get a reservation.

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