Official rates Monthly
Current as of 27 Aug 2026. Direct official government sources only. Not a .mil site. Finance and TMO own the voucher. We do not compute a member’s claim. BAH has individual rate protection. First and last travel day M&IE is 75% per JTR/FTR.
Per diem — cite the conflict. Two official tables.
FY2026. Effective 1 Oct 2025–30 Sep 2026. GSA master file title: FY2026 Per Diem Rates - Effective October 1, 2025. Ellsworth AFB is in Pennington County. GSA text (FTR 26-01 / per diem lookup notes): per diem localities with county definitions include all locations within the listed counties; when a military installation sits in a listed county, the county NSA can apply; when an installation is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable rate for the entire installation is the higher of the rates which apply to those cities and/or counties. We are not inventing which locality “wins” for a member’s TLE. TMO / finance owns which locality the voucher uses. Monthly.
Do not flatten these two files into one “Ellsworth rate.” The GSA master file and the GSA ZIP file do not say the same thing for this installation. We publish both. We do not pick a winner.
Table A — Rapid City / Pennington County (GSA master NSA)
GSA FY2026 master file destination Rapid City / Pennington County:
| Dates | Lodging | M&IE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct–31 May | $110 | $74 |
| 1 Jun–31 Aug | $158 | $74 |
| 1 Sep–30 Sep | $110 | $74 |
Table B — ZIP 57706 Standard Rate (GSA ZIP file)
GSA FY2026 ZIP file: ZIP 57706 (typical Ellsworth AFB ZIP) is DestinationID 0 Standard Rate. Lodging $110 every month / M&IE $68. That is not the Rapid City NSA row.
| Dates | Lodging | M&IE |
|---|---|---|
| Every month (Oct–Sep) | $110 | $68 |
The same ZIP file also has Rapid City NSA rows for ZIPs 57701, 57702, 57703, and 57709 (Jun–Aug lodging $158 / M&IE $74). Those are not the 57706 Standard Rate line. We will not pretend 57706 “is” Rapid City because nearby ZIPs are.
TLE uses a locality per diem. We are not computing days authorized. We are not declaring whether finance will use Table A or Table B. On-base Pine Tree Inn nightly rates are not copied here — they rot; read MOS temporary housing and 28 FSS Air Force Inns.
Sources:
- GSA FY2026 Per Diem Master Rates file (xlsx)
- GSA FY2026 ZIP code file (xlsx)
- GSA Per Diem Bulletin FTR 26-01
- GSA per diem lookup
- GSA per diem FAQs (county NSA / installation spanning localities)
POV mileage
National, relevant to an Ellsworth PCS. GSA Bulletin FTR 26-03, dated 27 Jul 2026. Retrieved 27 Aug 2026. Effective 1 Jul 2026–31 Dec 2026 (cancels FTR 26-02). The January 72.5¢ figure is not current. Do not use it.
- Official travel POV: 76 cents per mile
- Privately owned airplane: $1.935 per mile
- Motorcycle: 74 cents per mile
- POV when a Government-furnished automobile is available and authorized: 23.5 cents per mile
- Relocation/moving POV: 23.5 cents per mile
BAH — ZIP 57706 / MHA SD264
Calendar year 2026 BAH. Standard effective 1 Jan 2026. DTMO files titled 2026, authored 09 Dec 2025. Monthly rates. Current as of 27 Aug 2026.
ZIP 57706 (also 57701, 57702, 57703, 57709) maps to MHA SD264 “RAPID CITY/ELLSWORTH AFB, SD” in sorted_zipmha26.txt / mhanames26.txt. Figures below are the SD264 line of bahw26.txt (with dependents) and bahwo26.txt (without dependents). Same numbers in the PDF titled 2026 BAH Rates (created 09 Dec 2025). The TX270 Abilene temporary increase does not change SD264.
BAH has individual rate protection. We do not compute a member’s claim. Not a .mil site. Confirm on the official lookup; finance owns the voucher.
| Grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| E-2 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| E-3 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| E-4 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| E-5 | $1,986 | $1,545 |
| E-6 | $2,211 | $1,656 |
| E-7 | $2,307 | $1,806 |
| E-8 | $2,409 | $2,037 |
| E-9 | $2,538 | $2,094 |
| W-1 | $2,229 | $1,746 |
| W-2 | $2,349 | $2,034 |
| W-3 | $2,478 | $2,103 |
| W-4 | $2,559 | $2,226 |
| W-5 | $2,664 | $2,328 |
| O-1E | $2,322 | $1,983 |
| O-2E | $2,457 | $2,082 |
| O-3E | $2,574 | $2,202 |
| O-1 | $2,022 | $1,614 |
| O-2 | $2,208 | $1,929 |
| O-3 | $2,475 | $2,124 |
| O-4 | $2,691 | $2,304 |
| O-5 | $2,850 | $2,361 |
| O-6 | $2,871 | $2,457 |
| O-7 and above | $2,889 | $2,496 |
Sources: DTMO BAH rate lookup (ZIP 57706) · DTMO 2026 BAH files (ASCII and PDF/Excel ZIPs on that page; retrieved 27 Aug 2026).
DLA — primary table (national)
Current as of 27 Aug 2026. Effective 1 Jan 2026. PDTATAC primary DLA rates from the 01 JAN 26 file (header: DISLOCATION ALLOWANCE (DLA) RATES / PRIMARY DLA RATES / Effective January 1, 2026; footer 12/31/2025). DLA is national, not Ellsworth-specific. We still put it on the destination page.
Secondary DLA is not published here. In this same PDF the secondary section heading still reads Effective January 1, 2025. That heading looks stale. Partial DLA is a separate file, not in this PDF — we are not inventing a partial amount. Use the DTMO DLA page for those files.
| Grade | Without-dependent | With-dependent |
|---|---|---|
| O-10 | $5,187.33 | $6,385.58 |
| O-9 | $5,187.33 | $6,385.58 |
| O-8 | $5,187.33 | $6,385.58 |
| O-7 | $5,187.33 | $6,385.58 |
| O-6 | $4,758.96 | $5,749.63 |
| O-5 | $4,583.51 | $5,542.06 |
| O-4 | $4,247.61 | $4,885.43 |
| O-3 | $3,404.11 | $4,041.88 |
| O-2 | $2,700.31 | $3,451.28 |
| O-1 | $2,273.82 | $3,085.23 |
| O-3E | $3,675.83 | $4,343.80 |
| O-2E | $3,124.87 | $3,919.27 |
| O-1E | $2,687.09 | $3,621.10 |
| W-5 | $4,315.51 | $4,715.58 |
| W-4 | $3,832.45 | $4,323.11 |
| W-3 | $3,221.08 | $3,960.78 |
| W-2 | $2,860.70 | $3,643.75 |
| W-1 | $2,394.55 | $3,151.31 |
| E-9 | $3,147.54 | $4,149.51 |
| E-8 | $2,888.97 | $3,824.94 |
| E-7 | $2,468.19 | $3,551.31 |
| E-6 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-5 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-4 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-3 | $2,355.48 | $3,548.02 |
| E-2 | $2,025.26 | $3,548.02 |
| E-1 | $1,870.58 | $3,548.02 |
Sources: DTMO DLA rates, 01 JAN 26 (PDF) · DTMO Dislocation Allowance (dropdown 01 JAN 26).
Arrival, sponsor, lodging Monthly
Hours, phones, and lodging options move. Read the live pages. Where official pages disagree, we cite both. We do not flatten the conflict into a fake “current” number of our own.
- MOS check-in (retrieved 27 Aug 2026): in-processing begins as soon as you get your CSS squadron checklist. Your sponsor will connect you to command support staff. If you get married prior to PCS, work with your supervisor, then the chain of command. If you are coming from technical training, your first point of contact is your MTL. CSS assists bridging to MPF.
- ellsworth.af.mil Newcomers (this datacenter got 403 on 27 Aug 2026; search index of that official page still showed): Raider Welcome Center hours Monday through Friday, 0800 to 1200, in-processing by appointment only. The Welcome Center in-processes Finance, MPF, TMO, and Housing; medical is at the clinic. It also schedules Base Right Start and FTAC (if applicable). Contact listed there: Raider Welcome Center NCOIC (605) 385-8293 or [email protected]. Hours are Monthly. We did not call it today.
- 28 FSS M&FRC Relocation (live page, checked 27 Aug 2026): if you do not know who your sponsor is, call (605) 385-4663 / DSN 675-4663 and include the unit you will be assigned to. They will send your information to CSS. Virtual pre-arrival briefings once a month (Housing, M&FRC, School Liaison, MFLC, CDC, Youth Center, surrounding communities). Day/time on that page is Monthly.
- Housing is privatized (Balfour Beatty Communities). Application / HEAT: Homes.mil HEAT. Air Force housing unit page: housing.af.mil — Ellsworth (this datacenter got 403 on 27 Aug 2026 — still the official page; MOS housing and the 2025 MHO welcome packet still point here). MHO on the housing.af.mil / packet: 3025 Lincoln Drive, Bldg 8000, (605) 385-2570 / DSN 675-2570, [email protected]. Hours listed on housing.af.mil search: M–F 0700–1530 MST. We do not quote waitlists or floor plans.
- MOS housing (retrieved 27 Aug 2026): all 500 housing units on Ellsworth are privatized, owned/operated by Balfour Beatty Communities. Unaccompanied housing: 886 rooms in nine dorms; single occupancy of all rooms is in effect. We are not assigning rooms.
Pine Tree Inn TLF — cite MOS, do not invent hotels
MilitaryINSTALLATIONS temporary housing (checked 27 Aug 2026): Pine Tree Inn TLF exists. Address 2349 Risner Drive, Bldg 1103, Ellsworth AFB, SD 57706. COMM 605-385-2844. DSN 312-675-2844 (DSN FAX 312-675-2718). Contact block on that page: Open 24 hours a day. Check-in 2 p.m. / check-out 11 a.m. at 2349 Risner Drive (Bldg 1103). Limited pet TLF — contact lodging before bringing a pet. Restricted breeds listed on that MOS page (Rottweilers, Dobermans, Pit bulls, Chows, Wolf Hybrids). We are not restating a pet policy as law; follow the installation.
Peak windows on the same MOS page: May through September, on-base lodging is limited due to increased TDY and PCS traffic. June through August, off-base lodging is expensive and limited due to several events that happen annually in the local community (tourism). June through August are the most popular times; advance reservations are important.
Reservations, as of 1 May 2023 (MOS, still on the live page 27 Aug 2026): call the property for reservations. “We are currently not accepting online reservations.” For TDY travelers, use DTS. Monthly. We did not call the desk today.
28 FSS Air Force Inns (live page, checked 27 Aug 2026): 24 Hours – 7 Days a week. Check-in 2:00 PM / check-out 11:00 AM. 2349 Risner Drive, Ellsworth AFB, SD 57706. Pet-friendly rooms available (count not published on that live page). We are not copying nightly rates from 2023–2024 FSS PDFs; rates rot. Read their page.
MOS in-depth overview also flags tourist-season hotel crush (April through September; August through September Central States Fair and Sturgis Motorcycle Rally fill local motels). That is not the same window as MOS TLF’s May–September / June–August. Cited, not flattened.
We will not invent a downtown hotel list. We did not use ellsworthhousing.com (listing site; that domain is not an official source).
Cedar Lodge is 28 FSS recreational lodging, not the TLF. Different desk (605-385-6699 on the FSS Cedar Inn page). Do not treat rec-lodging rates as TLE. Link: 28 FSS Cedar Inn.
Climate and winter Seasonal / annual
Ellsworth is NWS WFO UNR (Rapid City), not Bismarck. We are not inventing a climate table. MOS in-depth overview (Ellsworth Air Force Base) is the official MOS climate note:
We have a diverse climate so pack for all seasons. The Black Hills profoundly effects our weather. We boast a lot of sunshine and have a very mild climate for a northern state. Yet, we've experienced temperatures ranging from −1 degree (with the wind at 40 to 60 miles per hour, giving us a wind chill factor of approximately −59 degrees below freezing) to a balmy 73 degrees in December! Be prepared (anything is possible) for climate extremes regardless of the calendar season.
The same MOS overview also says Rapid City was named #1 with the Most Unpredictable Weather in 2014; January might be 30 degrees or −12; snowy, windy, and prone to big unexpected snow storms; thunderstorms occur 25 percent of days from July through September. That is MOS, not NWS. For what it is doing today, use NWS Rapid City, not this paragraph:
Winterize the car. Vehicle-specific gear (block heaters, tires) is Auto Hobby / a local shop / the vehicle manual — not a random ASIN we invent. 28 FSS Outdoor Recreation lists winter rentals / a shovel for a first South Dakota winter on their live page; hours move.
Hunting, fishing, boating Seasonal / annual
Seasons change. We will not paste a table that will rot. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is the official source:
- SD GFP home
- Hunting
- Key dates / season dates (link the calendar; do not copy it here)
- Fishing license requirements
- 28 FSS Outdoor Recreation — gear, tickets, base fishing notes on their page (hours and stock on their page)
Licenses, zones, and “can I hunt this weekend” are on those pages, not here.
Kid-friendly (parks, library) Seasonal / annual
- Rapid City Parks & Recreation — parks, pools, ice arena, program guide. Hours for a given pool change; read their site. Facility hours: hours and locations.
- Rapid City Public Library (city page; 610 Quincy Street) · library site: rapidcitylibrary.org
- Base library (28 FSS): Holbrook Library
We are not ranking playgrounds or inventing a “best for toddlers” list. School Liaison is on 28 FSS: ellsworthfss.com/school-liaison/ (MOS education tab lists 605-385-5385 / DSN 312-675-5385).
Utilities Monthly
City of Rapid City for city water and trash. We will not guess which electric or gas company a given street uses. We did not find a single official city “utility companies” list like some other cities publish. We will not invent Black Hills vs MDU from a blog.
- City of Rapid City — how to get water or trash service
- City of Rapid City — Water Division (checked 27 Aug 2026). Utility Billing to start, stop, or change utility service, or ask about a bill: 605-394-4125. Water main break during business hours: 605-394-4163. Evenings / weekends / holidays: 605-394-4160. Office hours listed there: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. Those numbers live on the city page; they can move. Monthly.
City council agenda items show more than one electric provider inside Rapid City limits. That is not a street-by-street map. Check the city / your lease / MHO. On-base family housing is privatized; utility setup for an Ellsworth AFB Homes address is the housing office’s job, not a paragraph we invent.
Fuel Monthly
We do not publish a price. Check today:
MOS in-depth overview notes tourist-season (April–September) pressure on gasoline and food prices without publishing a number. We still do not publish a price.
Restaurants and a young airman’s grocery bill Monthly
We will not rank restaurants without a monthly check we are not running. No “top 10 cheap eats.” Menu prices rot. A young airman’s budget is real; the honest line is the commissary plus an official city directory, not a fake Yelp five.
- DeCA — Ellsworth AFB Commissary (hours on their page; we are not copying them)
- Commissary shop / store page
- City of Rapid City: rcgov.org
- On-base campus dining is listed by 28 FSS. Hours move. Start at ellsworthfss.com.
Traffic, distance, wildlife Seasonal / annual Monthly
We are not inventing a commute time or a mile-count. Ice, wind, wildlife, and tourist-season traffic change the drive. For weather: NWS Rapid City (UNR). For animals and seasons: SD GFP. For city streets: City of Rapid City. MOS in-depth overview is the official tourist-season lodging warning (Fair / Sturgis), not a drive-time calculator.
BAH, per diem, mileage, and DLA: see Official rates.
Meet people Monthly
Official, then stop. We are not inventing a singles meetup or linking a closed Facebook group.
- 28th Force Support Squadron (MWR) — calendar, outdoor rec, library
- Military & Family Readiness Center — Relocation, Newcomers, sponsorship help, loan programs on that page. Phone on that page: 605-385-4663. Hours listed there: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; weekends closed; closed family days and federal holidays. Address on that page: 1000 Ellsworth Street, Suite 1500 (Rushmore Center). MOS service-specific information also lists Rushmore Center, Suite 1500, 605-385-4663 / DSN 312-675-4663. Monthly.
- Chapel (this datacenter got 403 on 27 Aug 2026 — still the official page). Search index: duty hours 605-385-1598; after hours / weekends / holidays Command Post 605-385-3800 and ask for the Duty Chaplain. Hours are Monthly.
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS — Ellsworth AFB
USO: we did not find a standalone USO center page for Ellsworth. Do not invent one. USO national: uso.org.
Public news (no CAC): Ellsworth AFB public affairs / news (403 from this datacenter; still the official news index) · DVIDS — 28th Bomb Wing · City of Rapid City.
Material kit add-on for this climate
The national empty-house cart is still kit.html (sleep, cook, shower, light). For Ellsworth winter, MOS is the climate note and NWS UNR is the live weather office. Class-based Amazon only, tag heybryx-20, same 4.0★ + in-stock rule as the kit. We did not pick an Ellsworth-specific ASIN on 27 Aug 2026 — freeze-plug heaters and tires are vehicle-specific; bundled roadside kits go out of stock. No button. Buy the pieces you actually need.
engine block heater
Class, not a random freeze-plug
Western South Dakota winters are real; MOS describes both a “mild climate for a northern state” and −59 wind chill. NWS UNR is the live weather office. Freeze-plug and corded OEM heaters are vehicle-specific. We will not pick a random ASIN for your engine. Magnetic pan heaters only stick to steel/iron, not aluminum, and they are not a substitute for a correctly installed engine heater. Ask Auto Hobby / a local shop / your vehicle manual.
Example of the class, not a ranked test. We are an Amazon Associate. Disclosure.
emergency car kit — blanket, shovel, jumper
Class: blanket, compact shovel, jumper cables
A shovel is the honest extra for a ditch. 28 FSS Outdoor Recreation mentions a shovel for a first South Dakota winter on their live page. Bundled “roadside kits” often omit the shovel or go out of stock. No button. Buy the three pieces you actually need. Do not wait for a pretty bag.
Example of the class, not a ranked test. Winter tires: vehicle-specific — described, not linked.
Winter tires: vehicle-specific. We cannot pick a sane universal ASIN. Describe the class. Do not click a random tire.
Ellsworth weekly notes
There is no live MailerLite list on this page. We will not pretend there is.
If you want a weekly draft of public local / Air Force / base news — public affairs, DVIDS, and city only, no CAC-gated stuff — email Shaun. Subject line: Ellsworth weekly notes. He reads it before anything is sent. We do not auto-subscribe you. We do not send mail from this form.
Sources
Every URL used on this page. Official first. ellsworthhousing.com was not used.
- Ellsworth AFB Newcomers (403 from this datacenter 27 Aug 2026; still linked)
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS Ellsworth check-in procedures
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS Ellsworth temporary housing
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS Ellsworth housing
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS Ellsworth M&FRC service-specific information
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS Ellsworth in-depth overview
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS Ellsworth AFB
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS home
- Plan My Move
- 28 FSS / MWR home
- 28 FSS Air Force Inns / Pine Tree Inn
- 28 FSS Cedar Inn (rec lodging)
- 28 FSS Military & Family Readiness Center
- 28 FSS Holbrook Library
- 28 FSS Outdoor Recreation
- 28 FSS School Liaison
- Homes.mil HEAT
- Air Force Housing — Ellsworth (403 from this datacenter 27 Aug 2026; still linked)
- Ellsworth AFB Chapel
- Ellsworth AFB News / public affairs
- DVIDS 28th Bomb Wing
- NWS Rapid City (UNR)
- NWS climate (WFO UNR)
- SD Game, Fish and Parks
- SD GFP hunting
- SD GFP key dates / seasons
- SD GFP fishing license requirements
- Rapid City Parks & Recreation
- Rapid City Parks hours and locations
- Rapid City Public Library (city page)
- Rapid City Public Library
- City of Rapid City water or trash service
- City of Rapid City Water Division
- City of Rapid City
- AAA fuel gauge
- EIA gasoline and diesel
- GasBuddy
- DeCA Ellsworth AFB Commissary
- Commissary shop store page
- GSA FY2026 Per Diem Master Rates file
- GSA FY2026 ZIP code file
- GSA Per Diem Bulletin FTR 26-01
- GSA per diem lookup
- GSA per diem FAQs
- GSA Bulletin FTR 26-03 (POV mileage)
- DTMO BAH rate lookup (ZIP 57706 → MHA SD264)
- DTMO 2026 BAH files (ASCII ZIP: bahw26.txt / bahwo26.txt / sorted_zipmha26.txt / mhanames26.txt; PDF titled 2026 BAH Rates, authored 09 Dec 2025; retrieved 27 Aug 2026)
- DTMO Dislocation Allowance
- DTMO DLA rates, 01 JAN 26 (PDF)
- USO (national; no Ellsworth center page found)
- MOS Air Force PCS moving assistance
Unclear on purpose
- Per diem: Rapid City / Pennington County NSA (Jun–Aug lodging $158 / M&IE $74) vs ZIP 57706 Standard Rate (lodging $110 every month / M&IE $68). Cited both. TMO/finance owns which locality TLE uses. We did not pick a winner.
- Peak lodging crush: MOS TLF May–September on-base / June–August off-base vs MOS overview April–September tourist season and August–September Fair / Sturgis. Cited, not flattened.
- Pine Tree Inn online reservations: MOS says as of 1 May 2023 call the property; not accepting online reservations. Monthly. We did not call.
- ellsworth.af.mil Newcomers / News / Chapel and housing.af.mil Ellsworth: 403 from this datacenter 27 Aug 2026. Still linked. Welcome Center 0800–1200 appointment-only is the search index of the official Newcomers page, not a number we invented.
- ellsworthhousing.com: not used (listing site, not official).
- Electric / gas company for a given street: not invented. City water/trash/utility billing only. No Black Hills vs MDU from a blog.
- BAH: published SD264 table from DTMO ASCII. Rate protection is individual; we do not compute a member’s claim.
- Secondary DLA: not published (same PDF heading still reads Effective January 1, 2025).
- Partial DLA: not in the 01 JAN 26 PDF; not invented.
- DITY weight allowance, fuel price, restaurant rank, commissary hours, Pine Tree Inn nightly lodging rates: not published.
- Commute minutes and a base-to-city mile count: not invented.
- USO building in Ellsworth / Rapid City: not found.
- Closed Facebook groups: not cited.
- Block heater and emergency-kit ASINs: not published. Class notes only. Winter tires: class only, no ASIN.
- SD GFP hunting season tables: linked, not pasted.
Climate: MOS in-depth overview quoted; NWS UNR for now. Official rates above are current as of 27 Aug 2026 from GSA/DTMO files. This page follows the same template as other live bases: official first, conflicts in the open, no reprint-site numbers.