If you’ve ever driven through Fayetteville, North Carolina, you know that the military isn't just a "presence" there. It’s the entire landscape. But when you ask someone, "How many acres is Fort Bragg?" you’re going to get a lot of different answers. Honestly, the numbers can be a bit of a moving target depending on who you ask or which government map you’re looking at.
Basically, the official count sits right around 160,789 acres.
That’s a massive amount of land. To put that into perspective, you’re looking at about 251 square miles. That is larger than the entire city of Chicago. If you tried to walk from one end to the other, well, you’d probably want to pack a lot of water and a very sturdy pair of boots.
Why the size of Fort Bragg actually matters
It isn't just about bragging rights or having a big number to put on a brochure. The sheer scale of those 160,000-plus acres is what allows the installation to function as the "Center of the Military Universe."
You've got the 82nd Airborne Division there. You've got the XVIII Airborne Corps. You've got U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). These units don't just sit in offices; they need space—lots of it—to jump out of planes, fire long-range artillery, and run complex urban warfare simulations.
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The Land Breakdown
Most people assume the base is just one big patch of forest. It's actually a bit more complicated:
- Cantonment Area: This is the "city" part of the base. It’s where the barracks, housing, Chick-fil-As, and offices live.
- Training Areas: This is the bulk of that acreage. It's rugged terrain used for maneuvers.
- Impact Areas: These are the "don't go here" zones where live rounds are fired.
- Airfields: Pope Field and Simmons Army Airfield take up a significant chunk of the eastern side.
The 2025 Name Change Drama
Now, we have to talk about the name. If you’ve been following the news lately, you know things got a little confusing. In 2023, the base was renamed Fort Liberty as part of a Department of Defense push to remove Confederate names from installations.
But then came 2025.
In early 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum to change the name back to Fort Bragg. However, it wasn't a return to honoring Braxton Bragg. Instead, the installation is now named after Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero from Maine who earned a Silver Star during the Battle of the Bulge. It’s a bit of a "new name, old name" situation that has everyone in North Carolina checking their GPS settings.
How it compares to other "Mega-Bases"
Is it the biggest? Not by land area. If you’re looking for pure dirt and rocks, Fort Bliss in Texas and White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico make Fort Bragg look tiny. Fort Bliss, for example, covers over 1.1 million acres.
But—and this is a big "but"—Fort Bragg is often cited as the largest military installation in the world by population.
When you factor in the 50,000+ active-duty soldiers, plus their families, civilian contractors, and retirees in the surrounding area, the "footprint" of the base feels much larger than the 160,789 acres it occupies. It’s a living, breathing ecosystem that spills over into six different counties: Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett, Moore, Robeson, and Scotland.
The Long Street Church and the "Six Acres"
One of the coolest, most overlooked parts of the base's history involves a tiny six-acre plot. Back in 1921, when the Army was expanding the reservation, they acquired the Long Street Church.
The church and its immediate surroundings were preserved, and it’s now on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s a weirdly quiet, beautiful spot tucked inside a place meant for loud explosions and war games. It serves as a reminder that before it was a military powerhouse, this was just North Carolina farmland and timber country.
A quick look at the stats:
- Total Acres: ~160,789
- Active Duty Personnel: Over 52,000
- Annual Economic Impact: Roughly $11 billion
- Established: 1918 (originally as an artillery training ground)
Navigating the Acres: Actionable Tips for Visitors
If you're actually planning to visit or are PCSing (Permanent Change of Station) there, don't let the size intimidate you.
First off, get the Digital Garrison app. Trust me. With 160,000 acres, you will get lost trying to find a specific range or a random battalion HQ. Second, remember that the "Honeycutt Gate" and the "All American Gate" can get backed up for miles during PT hours.
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If you are a civilian wanting to see the history, head to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville. It’s technically off-post, so you don't have to deal with the gate security, but it gives you the best perspective on what happens across those thousands of acres without needing a high-clearance vehicle.
Finally, keep an eye on the signs. With the recent revert to the name "Fort Bragg" in March 2025, some signs still say Liberty, some say Bragg, and some are just blank. Just follow the flow of traffic—you'll get there eventually.
Next Steps for Your Move or Visit:
- Check Gate Hours: Use the official installation website to verify which gates are open 24/7 (usually All American and Randolph).
- Download Maps Offline: Cell service can be spotty once you get deep into the training areas toward the Hoke County side.
- Register for a Visitor Pass: If you don't have a military ID, go to the Visitor Control Center (VCC) at the All American Gate well in advance of your visit.