Fort Benning (briefly Fort Moore, and back to Benning in 2025) is the kind of post people end up staying near long after they get out. I grew up here, and a lot of the people I know came for one tour and stayed. Weekends are the Chattahoochee: rafting right through downtown Columbus, the RiverWalk, a boat on Lake Harding, and Atlanta two hours away or the Gulf three when you want a change of scenery. Auburn football is forty minutes down the road. It's a real place to put down roots, even if your orders only say three years.
Where to live near Fort Benning
The choice usually comes down to your commute and how much yard you want. Which gate you'll use matters more than which side of the river, so tell me where you'll be working and I'll tell you what's a reasonable drive.
- Columbus, GA: closest to the main gate, the most homes to choose from, and downtown, the RiverWalk and most of the restaurants are here.
- Midland and Harris County, GA: north of town. Newer homes, bigger lots, and a longer but easy drive.
- Phenix City, AL: right across the river, with property taxes that are often noticeably lower.
- Smiths Station, AL: between Phenix City and Auburn, with larger lots and a longer drive to post.
For the same monthly budget you'll see different houses on each side of the river. The slider on my home page shows the difference in about ten seconds.
Where I'd send you to eat
- Darby's Patrol Base, on Victory Drive, on the way to post.
- The Black Cow, downtown Columbus.
- Saltcellar, seafood, downtown Columbus.
- Kalani's Hawaiian Style Cafe, Phenix City.
- Smokey Pig BBQ, Phenix City, an institution.
PCSing with kids?
The Fort Benning School Liaison Office helps incoming families with school registration, records and zoning for every district in the area. They're the right first call.
Buying here with me
Most of my loans are VA and most are PCS moves to Benning. I can get you pre-approved before you arrive, orders cut or not, and time the closing to your report date. The loan details, from occupancy to reusing your benefit, are on my VA loans page. Not using VA? Conventional, FHA and USDA all work here too.
I've lived in Columbus since 1991, so when you ask me about Fort Benning you're asking someone who actually drives these roads. I'm available seven days a week, and most of my clients never set foot in my office. A text is all it takes to get started.
Common questions
Which side of the river should I live on?
Both are great. It usually comes down to your commute, the kind of home you want and property taxes. I can show you what a house on each side would cost you so you can compare.
How long is the drive to post?
Roughly: Columbus 10 to 25 minutes depending on the gate, Phenix City 15 to 20, Midland and Harris County 30 to 40, Smiths Station 25 to 35. Which gate you use makes the biggest difference, so tell me where you'll be working.
What's the weather like?
Hot, humid summers, short mild winters, and a long spring and fall that are the best time of year here. Snow is a once-a-decade event.
Should I buy or rent for a three-year tour?
Plenty of my clients buy, and many keep the home as a rental when they PCS again. Others rent, and that's fine too. I'll show you the real numbers both ways so you can decide for yourself.
Can I use my VA loan here?
Absolutely. Everything you need to know is on my VA loans near Fort Benning page.
Is Phenix City really cheaper month to month?
Often, yes, mostly because of property taxes. Try the slider on my home page, then ask me for the numbers on a specific house.
Nearby areas
Columbus, GA · Midland, GA · Harris County, GA · LaGrange, GA · Phenix City, AL · Smiths Station, AL · Auburn & Opelika, AL
Thinking about Fort Benning?
Call or text me directly. You'll get me, not a call center, and fifteen minutes is usually all it takes to know where you stand.