Tami Price is a U.S. Air Force veteran and Broker Owner of Tami Price Properties, helping military families across San Antonio and Joint Base San Antonio.
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Pilot training in Universal City.. Randolph is a historic flying and pilot training installation in Universal City, east-northeast of downtown, known for its circular layout and long aviation history.
Guide reviewed September 10, 2026.
Randolph sits about 15 miles from downtown San Antonio in Universal City, served closely by Schertz, Live Oak, and the I-35 corridor. The main gate is at FM 78 and Pat Booker Road, with Loop 1604 and I-35 providing the main regional routes.
Commute times are approximate and change with traffic, construction, gate access, and time of day.
Housing spreads from older homes in Universal City to newer neighborhoods in Schertz and Cibolo to the south and east. The communities within the shortest reach of the base sit along FM 78 and Pat Booker Road, while the Schertz and Cibolo corridor adds considerable newer construction.
What to arrange before you arrive, in rough order of when each piece matters. Timelines vary by assignment, so confirm details with your unit sponsor and your gaining installation.
Orders and reporting
Carry several certified copies of your PCS orders for the gate, the Military Personnel Flight, and the housing office. Your gaining unit's sponsor confirms your report location and in-processing offices at Randolph.
Household goods
Schedule pickup and delivery dates through the Transportation Office early. If your move is to on-base housing, coordinate the delivery window with the housing office as well.
Housing application
Apply for on-base housing at Randolph as soon as you have orders, since family quarters can carry a waiting list. Most off-base families lease or buy in Universal City, Live Oak, Schertz, or Cibolo and use BAH for the market.
School enrollment
Enroll school-age children with the district that serves your new address as early as the district allows; districts vary by neighborhood across Universal City, Live Oak, Schertz, and Cibolo.
Tricare and ID cards
Texas is in the TRICARE East region. Update DEERS records and schedule a RAPIDS appointment at the Randolph ID card office once you arrive, and book early because the calendar fills.
Utility setup
Set up electric, gas, water, and internet service once you have a move-in date. Providers vary across Universal City, Live Oak, Schertz, and Cibolo, so confirm each at your exact address.
Vehicle registration
If Texas becomes your legal residence, transfer your driver license and register vehicles within about 30 days of moving. The base vehicle registration office also handles the gate access side for military households.
JBSA-Randolph in Universal City has trained military aviators since 1930 and still flies today, which is how it earned the name the Showplace of the Air Force. The 12th Flying Training Wing conducts instructor pilot training, combat systems officer training, and remotely piloted aircraft pilot training, and it serves as the single screening point for prospective aviators in the Air Force.
The installation also hosts the headquarters of the Air Force Personnel Center, the field operating agency that manages assignments, evaluations, and personnel services for airmen around the world.
Randolph sits about 15 miles east-northeast of downtown San Antonio along FM 78, with the main gate at Pat Booker Road. Its circular layout is among the best-known designs in military aviation, and the base remains the center of much of the region's pilot training.
Communities with practical commutes to the installation, with approximate drive times from each listed area to the gate. Drive times are approximate and shift with traffic, so test the route you will actually travel at the time of day you will travel it.
Universal City
The community adjacent to the base, about 5 minutes to the main gate on FM 78, with established housing and local services.
Live Oak
Just north of the base off I-35, about 10 minutes to the gate, with a mix of established and newer housing along the corridor.
Converse
Southwest of Randolph along FM 78, about 10 minutes to the base, with established neighborhoods and growing commercial frontage.
Schertz
East of the base along FM 78 and I-35, roughly 15 minutes to the main gate, with extensive newer construction and master planned neighborhoods.
Cibolo
Southeast of Schertz along FM 78, about 20 minutes to the base, with newer neighborhoods and shopping along the I-35 corridor.
Which gates to use
The Lindsey main gate at FM 78 and Pat Booker Road is the only around the clock entry and hosts the Visitor Control Center for new arrivals and family access. The West, South, and East gates open on weekday windows, so plan your morning commute around the main gate until you confirm secondary gate hours.
Traffic patterns
FM 78 and I-35 carry the commuter volume, and evenings toward Loop 1604 and I-35 can back up. Flying and training schedules start early, so communities along Pat Booker Road keep the morning drive shortest.
Groceries and shopping
H-E-B stores at Kitty Hawk Road in Universal City and the large-format store off I-35 in Schertz cover most errands, and the on-base commissary and exchange serve authorized shoppers.
First days
Check in with your unit, complete in-processing at the Military Personnel Flight, and confirm gate access for every family vehicle through the Visitor Control Center before your first commute.
Tami works with Randolph households across Universal City, Live Oak, Schertz, and Cibolo, and has guided aviators, instructors, staff, and their families through purchases timed to training schedules.
VA loans and assumptions
She coordinates VA financing from certificate of eligibility through minimum property requirements, and she has personally closed VA loan assumptions when the numbers work for the buyer.
BAH-based budgeting
She builds the budget from the buyer's actual housing allowance and monthly numbers so the payment is realistic before anyone starts touring homes.
Early report times
For instructors and staff on early training report times, she factors the drive to the main gate into every home search so the morning commute stays manageable.
Tami is a U.S. Air Force veteran, Military Relocation Professional, and Broker Owner of Tami Price Properties. More detail on VA financing and PCS moves lives on her military and veterans guide.
Main Gate (Lindsey Gate)
The only around-the-clock entry, with the Visitor Control Center on Harmon Drive at FM 78 and Pat Booker Road.
West Gate
Open weekdays during the day.
East Gate
Open weekday morning (inbound) and afternoon (outbound) windows.
South Gate
Open weekdays during the day, inbound only in the early morning.
Universal City
The community immediately around the base, with the shortest commute to the main gate.
Live Oak and Converse
Neighboring northeast communities between Loop 1604 and FM 78.
Schertz and Cibolo corridor
Nearby cities with extensive newer construction and a manageable drive to Randolph.
Independent espresso bar at 816 Main St in Old Town Schertz, a short drive from the main gate.
A local roaster in Old Town Cibolo and a good stop on the drive through the Schertz corridor.
H-E-B Universal City
910 Kitty Hawk Rd, a few minutes southwest of the base.
H-E-B plus! Schertz
17460 I-35 N, the large-format store just off the interstate on the corridor families use daily.
On-base Commissary and Exchange
The Randolph commissary and exchange serve authorized shoppers on the base.
Universal City retail
Shopping, dining, and services along Kitty Hawk and Pat Booker roads
Schertz / Cibolo corridor
Cafes and restaurants running between the I-35 and FM 78 corridors
The Main Gate is the 24/7 entry; secondary gates have narrow weekday windows, so verify hours before relying on them for a morning commute.
Flying and training schedules start early, so communities along Pat Booker Road and FM 78 keep the drive shortest for early report times.
If you are buying before you arrive, Schertz and Cibolo are common search areas for households assigned to Randolph, and they keep Fort Sam Houston and Lackland reachable when needed.
The Visitor Control Center at the main gate handles new arrivals and family passes, so give your first week a little margin while the paperwork moves.
Evening traffic on FM 78 toward Loop 1604 or I-35 can back up, and on those days the Loop 1604 overpass route can be quicker.
Installation facts, gate hours, housing applications, TRICARE coverage, and PCS procedures change over time. These official sources are where Tami points clients for the current details:
Every move starts with the same questions: when, where, and at what budget. Tell Tami your timeline and she will walk you through how JBSA-Randolph compares with the rest of the market.
Tami Price is a U.S. Air Force veteran and Broker Owner of Tami Price Properties, helping military families across San Antonio and Joint Base San Antonio.
More about Tami