Tinker Air Force Base: Get Directions & Contact Info

Tinker Air Force Base, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a major United States Air Force base that plays a critical role in the country's defense and aerospace industries. The base is situated approximately 8 miles southeast of downtown Oklahoma City and is home to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, which is the largest of three Air Force air logistics complexes in the United States.

Base Overview

Tinker Air Force Base was established in 1942 as a bomber plant and was named after Major General Clarence L. Tinker, a career United States Army Air Forces officer and major general who was the first Native American to attain the rank of major general in the US Army. The base has since grown to become one of the largest and most diverse bases in the Air Force, with a wide range of units and activities, including logistics, maintenance, and research and development.

Units and Activities

Tinker Air Force Base is home to a number of units and activities, including the 72nd Air Base Wing, which is the host unit for the base, and the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, which provides maintenance and logistics support for a wide range of aircraft and systems. The base is also home to the 552nd Air Control Wing, which operates the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, and the 507th Air Refueling Wing, which operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft.

The base is also a major center for research and development, with a number of facilities and organizations, including the Air Force Research Laboratory's 711th Human Performance Wing, which conducts research and development in areas such as aerospace medicine, human factors, and personnel protection. The base is also home to the Tinker Aerospace Corporation, which provides engineering and technical services to the Air Force and other government agencies.

Getting to Tinker Air Force Base

Tinker Air Force Base is located approximately 8 miles southeast of downtown Oklahoma City, and is easily accessible by car or public transportation. The base is situated near the intersection of Interstate 240 and Air Depot Boulevard, and is accessible from Interstate 35 and Interstate 40.

Visitors to the base can enter through the main gate, which is located on Air Depot Boulevard. The gate is open 24 hours a day, and visitors must present a valid form of identification, such as a driver's license or passport, to gain entry to the base.

Directions

To get to Tinker Air Force Base from downtown Oklahoma City, take Interstate 235 south to Interstate 240 east. Take the exit for Air Depot Boulevard and turn left onto the base. From Interstate 35, take the exit for Interstate 240 east and follow the signs to the base.

Public transportation is also available to the base, with several bus routes operated by the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA) providing service to the base. Visitors can also use ride-hailing services such as Uber or Lyft to get to the base.

• Take Interstate 235 south to Interstate 240 east
• Take the exit for Air Depot Boulevard and turn left onto the base
• From Interstate 35, take the exit for Interstate 240 east and follow the signs to the base

Contact Information

For more information about Tinker Air Force Base, including directions, base amenities, and unit contact information, visitors can contact the base’s public affairs office or visit the base’s website. The base’s phone number is (405) 739-2000, and the website is www.tinker.af.mil.

Visitors can also contact the base's visitor center, which is located near the main gate and provides information and assistance to visitors. The visitor center is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm, and can be reached by phone at (405) 739-2010.