The mission of MCAS Miramar is to maintain and operate Air Station facilities and property while providing services, material support, and training venues that promote combat readiness and support the missions of 3d Marine Aircraft Wing and other tenants aboard the installation. On order MCAS Miramar will act as a power projection platform to support Joint Force operations in the Indo-Pacific Command.
For more information on MCAS Miramar, visit https://www.miramar.marines.mil.
In 1846 during the Mexican-American War, a detachment of Marines from the second-class Sloop-of-War Cyane landed here to raise the American flag above the Plaza in what’s now called Old Town.
As a result of that war, the U.S. acquired San Diego and the rest of California (as well as Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, thus creating a nation “from sea to shining sea”).
At that time, today’s Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was part of an enormous rancho. Cattle grazed on the mesa now covered by runways.
In 1890, newspaper publisher Edward Scripps moved to San Diego County. He is credited with naming Miramar, which loosely translated from Spanish means “a view of the sea.” Scripps established a ranch on 2,000 acres in the Miramar area. Scripps Ranch adjoins present-day MCAS Miramar.
Although both the Navy and Army had established facilities on North Island in 1912, Miramar’s military roots were not planted until 1917, when the Army purchased the Miramar area and created Camp Kearny, named for Gen. Stephen Kearny, whose Army of the West had captured California during the Mexican-American War. The base cost $4.5 million, and was closed just three years later. Most of Camp Kearny’s soldiers lived in tents, as more than 65,000 men arrived by train from the San Diego docks on their way to World War I battlefields in Europe. After the war, the camp was used as a demobilization and convalescent center, and in 1920, it ceased to function as a military base. Miramar languished for 12 years.
The unused base was perfectly located for Charles Lindbergh, whose Spirit of St. Louis was built by Ryan Airlines Corp. in nearby San Diego. Lindbergh used the abandoned Camp Kearny (East Miramar) parade field to practice tricky landings and take-offs with the new plane, which had no forward-looking windshield. From San Diego, he took off for New York, Paris and international fame.
In the 1930s, the U.S. Navy put their faith in dirigibles. These large, helium-filled airships could patrol long distances along the coasts. The 785-foot-long airships USS Akron and USS Macon could launch and retrieve their five Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk pursuit aircraft in mid-air, like flying aircraft carriers. In 1932 a mooring mast and hangar were built at the camp for the dirigibles (it was claimed that the hangar was so huge that it had its own weather system!). When the Navy gave up the airship program, Kearny Mesa was quiet once again.
Miramar lay dormant for a few more years until the clouds of war again appeared on the U.S. horizon. By the time World War II had broken out in Europe, Miramar was already undergoing a “precautionary” renovation. Camp Holcomb (later renamed Camp Elliott) was built on part of old Camp Kearny, to be used for Marine artillery and machine gun training. Even before the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, the base contained more than 26,000 acres. Camp Elliott became home to Fleet Marine Force Training Center, West Coast and the 2nd Marine Division, charged with defending the California coast.
Runways were constructed in 1940, and the 1st Marine Air Wing arrived on Dec. 21 of that year (in August 1942 it would move to Guadalcanal). The Navy commissioned Naval Auxiliary Air Station Camp Kearny in February 1943, specifically to train crews for the Consolidated PB4Y Catalina, which was built less than 10 miles away in San Diego. A month later, the Marines established Marine Corps Air Depot Camp Kearny, later renamed Marine Corps Air Depot Miramar to avoid confusion with the Navy facility.
The big Catalinas proved too heavy for the asphalt runway the Army had installed in 1936 and the longer runways built in 1940, so the Navy added two concrete runways in 1943.
During the 1940s, both the Navy and the Marine Corps occupied Miramar. East Miramar (Camp Elliott) was used to train Marine artillery and armored personnel, while Navy and Marine Corps pilots trained on the western side. The bases were combined and designated Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in 1945.
In 1947, the Marines moved to El Toro in Orange County, and Miramar was redesignated as a Naval Auxiliary Air Station. In 1954, the Navy offered NAAS Miramar to San Diego for $1 (the offer was refused). Only the western half of Miramar’s facilities were put to use, and the old station literally began to deteriorate, with many buildings sold as scrap.
Miramar found new life as a Navy Master Jet Station in the 1950s, but really came into its own during the Vietnam War. The Navy needed a school to train pilots in dog-fighting and in fleet air defense. In 1969 the Top Gun school was established (and immortalized by the 1985 movie of the same name).In October 1972, Miramar welcomed the famed F-14 Tomcat. VF-124’s mission was to train Tomcat crews for aircraft carrier operations. The first two operational Tomcat squadrons, VF-1 and VF-2, trained here before deploying aboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in 1974. These squadrons flew “top cover” during the evacuation of Saigon in 1975.
In 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure Committee recommended closing the El Toro and Tustin air stations and moving the Marines to Miramar. Top Gun and the Navy’s F-14 Tomcat and E-3 Hawkeye squadrons were relocated and the base was once again redesignated as Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Marines began arriving in August 1994, and by 1997 MCAS Miramar was fully operational. In 1999, El Toro and Tustin were closed.
MCAS Miramar now serves as home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, including MAG-11's fixed-wing F/A-18, F-35B and F-35C and KC-130 Hercules squadrons and MAG-16's, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters. The support command Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd MAW Band are also located here. The 4th Marine Air Wing, an MV-22 Osprey squadron and H&HS Marine Flight Division's UC-12 and UC-35 squadrons are here at MCAS Miramar as well.
With a storied past behind it, MCAS Miramar is looking forward to a bright future as the West Coast’s home to Marine air power.For more information, please visit Miramar'shomepage.
MCAS Miramar is home to the annual MCAS Miramar Air Show
Mira Mesa has about 80,000 residents, including students, families, and single people. There are over 23,000 homes in the community, averaging 3.09 people per household. The median age is 32.4 years. According to the 2020 US Census, San Diego Greater Metropolitan Area has a population of 3,298,634making it California's second-most populous county and the fifth-most populous in the United States. Its county seat is San Diego, the second-most populous city in California and the eighth-most populous city in the United States.
MCAS Miramar Population:
- 11,202 Active Duty
- 918 Reserve
- 319 Civilian
MCAS Miramar is located approximately 15 miles north of downtown San Diego, near I-15 and the town of Mira Mesa. The installation is close to the Navy ships that our Marines deploy on (Navy Base San Diego), the areas in which our aviation units train (MCAS Miramar), and the ground combat troops we support (Camp Pendleton). MCAS Miramar is strategically positioned approximately 40 miles south of Camp Pendleton, the Corps' largest amphibious assault training area. The Naval Air Station North Island, the largest aerospace industrial complex, is 20 miles south of Miramar.
If arriving by car from the West on I-8, take I-15 North to the Miramar Way exit and follow signs to the Main Gate. If you are arriving from the North on I-15, turn west on Miramar Road and go 1/2 mile. The North Gate is on your left at the next light after Black Mountain Road. Please note: the North Gate is open daily Monday through Friday (except for holidays) from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (subject to change)
If arriving from I-5 North take I-805 and then go east on Miramar Road and drive 4 miles to the North gate on the right of Miramar Road, after Camino Ruiz. Or, from I-5 North take 56 East exit to I-15 North , turn west on Miramar Road and go about 1/2 mile to North Gate.
San Diego, once reputed to be a sleepy little Navy town, is rapidly growing into an internationally recognized city with a technologically dynamic economy making it the nation's sixth largest city. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, it is known worldwide as one of the best tourist destinations. San Diego is considered a high-cost area. The base operator's phone number is 858-307-1011. To view a Welcome Aboard video visit their website at www.miramar.marines.mil/Arriving/Welcome-Aboard-Video/.
San Diego's main airport is San Diego International Airport (Lindbergh Field),located downtown near San Diego Bay and Harbor.The second busiest single-runway commercial airport in the country with about 600flights a day, the Airport is served by 21 commercial airlines, three terminals, state-of-the-art facilities and free terminal-to-terminal transportation. San Diego is alsoserved by two municipal airports and eight general aviation airports operated by the County of San Diego.
USO Neil Ash Airporthttps://sandiego.uso.org/neil-ash-airport
This center is reserved for Active and Reserve Service Members and their dependents who are in transit at the airport. Retirees with appropriate DOD ID card will be allowed in on a space available basis at the discretion of the Staff on duty. Overnight requests are not available at this time.
Transportation from the Airport to MCAS Miramar is available through their shuttle service for $21.00. This reducedrate is available only at USO Center and applies toall active duty members and families, retired personnel, and DOD civilian.
Upon arrival at MCAS front gate when driving a rental car, ensure rental agreement is readily available. All military personnel needing to check in, proceed to the JRC (Joint Reception Center) bldg. 2258 between 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If arriving after 4 p.m., and needing to check-in, then proceed to the Headquarters Building (bldg. 8630) and check in with the Command Duty Officer. The CDO can be reached at 858-307-1141.
If you have a reservationat the Inns of the Corps - Miramar, proceed to building 2515 located on Bauer Road orcontact the Innfor assistance at 858-271-7111.
From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Starting from:LAX - Los Angeles International AirportLAX, Los Angeles, CA
- Arriving at:Miramar Way At I-15, San Diego, CA
- Distance:128.1 miles
- Approximate Travel Time: 1 hour 56 mins
- Start going towards the AIRPORT EXIT on DEPARTURES ACC/WORLD WAY N - go 0.1 mi
- Turn Left on EAST WAY/PARKING 1 AND 7 ACC - go 0.2 mi
- Turn Left on DEPARTURES ACC/WORLD WAY S - go 0.2 mi
- Continue towards CENTURY BLVD/SEPULVEDA BLVD SOUTH/CA-1 SOUTH/(I-105)/AIRPORT EXIT - go 0.3 mi
- Continue on S SEPULVEDA BLVD - go 0.4 mi
- Take IMPERIAL HWY WEST/I-105 EAST towards NORWALK - go 0.4 mi
- Take I-105 EAST towards NORWALK - go 16.7 mi
- Take the I-605 NORTH/I-605 SOUTH exit - go 0.2 mi
- Continue on I-605 SOUTH RAMP - go 0.9 mi
- Merge on I-605 SOUTH - go 8.3 mi
- Take the I-405 SOUTH/CA-22 RAMP exit - go 0.3 mi
- Continue on I-405 SOUTH/CA-22 EAST RAMP towards GARDEN GROVE/SAN DIEGO - go 0.6 mi
- Merge on I-405 SOUTH - go 23.4 mi
- Continue on I-5 SOUTH - go 42.3 mi
- Take the CA-78 EAST exit towards VISTAWAY/ESCONDIDO/SAN MARCOS/VISTA - go 0.3 mi
- Take the CA-78 EAST exit - go 16.1 mi
- Take the I-15 SOUTH exit towards SAN DIEGO - go 17.5 mi
- Arrive at MIRAMAR WAY AT I-15, SAN DIEGO
From San Diego International Lindbergh Field Airport
- Starting from:San Diego International Lindbergh Field AirportSAN, San Diego, CA
- Arriving at:Miramar Way At I-15, San Diego, CA
- Distance:17.5 miles
- Approximate Travel Time: 24 mins
- Start going towards the AIRPORT EXIT on TERMINAL 2 - go 0.3 mi
- Continue on AIRPORT EXIT towards AIRPORT EXIT/COMMUTER TERMINAL/HARBOR ISLAND/POINT LOMA - go 0.1 mi
- Turn Left on N HARBOR DR - go 2.0 mi
- Turn Left on W GRAPE ST - go 0.4 mi
- Turn Right to take I-5 SOUTH - go 0.5 mi
- Take the 10TH AVE/CA-163 NORTH exit towards ESCONDIDO - go 0.6 mi
- Take the CA-163 NORTH exit towards ESCONDIDO - go 9.8 mi
- Take the I-15 NORTH exit - go 2.5 mi
- Take the MIRAMAR RD/POMERADO RD exit - go 0.3 mi
- Turn Left on POMERADO RD - go 0.1 mi
- POMERADO RD becomes MIRAMAR RD/POMERADO RD - go < 0.1 mi
- MIRAMAR RD/POMERADO RD becomes MIRAMAR RD - go 0.9 mi
- Arrive at MIRAMAR WAY AT I-15, SAN DIEGO
When using any driving directions or map, it's a good idea to do a check and make sure the road still exists, watch out for construction, and follow all traffic safety precautions. This is only to be used as an aid in planning.
There are 7 Uber/Lyft pickup/drop-off locations aboard the installation. All drivers must have DBIDS access to enter the base.https://ride.guru/airports/NKX
Miramar Road has a bus line and the closest bus stop is near the Shell Station on Miramar Road and Camino Ruiz - approximately 1 block outside the north gate. Please note: the North Gate is only open Monday through Friday (including holidays) from 6 a.m. to to 10 p.m. (subject to change)
To reach the base operator, dial 858-307-1011.
