Where to Live in Maryland When You’re PCSing to Joint Base Andrews

PCSing to Joint Base Andrews means making decisions that will shape your commute, your family’s routine, and how your days actually flow—not just how far your BAH goes. As a top Southern Maryland agent, I regularly help military families compare Maryland communities using commute options, housing patterns, access to services, and long‑term practicality.

This is the same framework I use when someone says, “We’re coming to Andrews—where should we even start?”

 Step one: define your realistic commute band

Before we talk about specific locations, I always start with one practical question:

“What is your realistic daily commute limit, door‑to‑door?”

For Joint Base Andrews, it usually helps to think in commute bands. You choose the band; I show you what typically falls into each and how that might look in everyday life:

- Approximately 0–20 minutes from base  

  - Includes close‑in communities in Prince George’s County, such as parts of Clinton and nearby areas a few miles from the installation.  

  - These locations generally offer the shortest typical drive times to Andrews for standard duty hours.

- Approximately 20–40 minutes from base  

  - Expands your search into a wider set of neighborhoods in Prince George’s County, plus portions of Charles County and northern Calvert County along key commuter routes.  

  - This band tends to increase the range of home sizes, lot sizes, and price points while keeping the commute moderate.

- Approximately 40–60 minutes from base  

  - Can include parts of Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties, depending on exact location and traffic.  

  - Often used when households plan fewer weekly trips to Andrews or have flexible schedules, and are looking at specific housing or lifestyle options farther out.

My role is to help you see what life looks like in each band so you can decide which one fits your schedule.

 Close‑in choices: shorter drives to Andrews

If minimizing commute time is your top priority, we start with the communities closest to Joint Base Andrews and widen the circle only as needed.

 Clinton and nearby communities (Prince George’s County)

Clinton sits adjacent to Joint Base Andrews and appears frequently in off‑base housing resources for the installation.

- Commute and access  

  - Many residential streets in and around Clinton are within a short drive to the base, which can fit standard and variable duty hours.

- Housing and services  

  - The broader Andrews/Clinton area includes apartments, townhomes, and single‑family homes across a range of price points.  

  - Shopping centers, grocery stores, and everyday services are typically within a local drive.

When I work with incoming families, we look at specific neighborhoods, estimate likely drive times based on typical routes, and pair that with your budget and home preferences.

 Other nearby pockets

Off‑base housing and relocation guides also list neighboring cities and towns within a short radius of Andrews.

For these close‑in pockets, I typically:

- Map out probable commute routes to the base gates at the times you’re most likely to travel.  

- Outline the common housing types (condos, townhomes, single‑family homes) in each community.  

- Help you compare those basics to your own commute expectations and housing needs.

 Southern Maryland radius: more space with a planned commute

If you tell me, “We’d like more space and are open to a somewhat longer commute,” we often expand into Southern Maryland counties, where many Andrews‑area commuters live.

 Charles County (Waldorf, Brandywine, La Plata and vicinity)

Charles County appears often in commuter and workforce studies as a county with many residents working in the DC region and along routes that lead toward Andrews.

- Commute to Andrews  

  - From northern Charles County—closer to the Prince George’s line and main commuter corridors—drive times to Andrews can fall into a moderate range, with peak‑period traffic affecting how early you leave.  

  - From deeper into Waldorf and La Plata, travel times generally increase, so departure timing and route choice matter more.

- Housing and transportation context  

  - Housing includes many single‑family homes in subdivisions and established neighborhoods, often on larger lots than some closer‑in communities.  

  - County transit and regional commuter bus services provide options for residents who prefer not to drive every day.

When we talk about Charles County, we match potential locations along the corridor to your commute band and budget.

 Calvert County

Calvert County, especially in its northern portion, is sometimes used as a home base for workers traveling toward Andrews and DC.

- Commute to Andrews  

  - From upper Calvert (closer to county borders and major routes), some households reach Andrews within commute times they consider workable, depending on departure time and traffic.  

  - From mid‑ and lower Calvert, distances and drive times increase, which is important if you plan to be on base most weekdays.

- Community and transit context  

  - Much of Calvert is suburban‑rural, with many single‑family homes and access to outdoor and waterfront areas.  

  - Regional commuter bus routes toward DC provide additional options in some locations, with schedules and coverage varying by area.

Here, I help you connect the type of environment and lot size you want with your commute tolerance and any telework or flexible‑schedule options you may have.

 St. Mary’s County

St. Mary’s County is closely associated with NAS Patuxent River and has its own commuting patterns.

In the context of Andrews:

- St. Mary’s is often considered more compatible with hybrid or occasional trips to Andrews rather than daily peak‑hour commuting.  

- Households may look here when they prioritize elements specific to St. Mary’s communities, such as proximity to water or Pax River, and are prepared for longer trips on days they go to Andrews.

When St. Mary’s is on your list, we look carefully at how often you expect to be on base and how that fits with your day‑to‑day schedule.

 Balancing Andrews with DC, hospitals, and other job centers

Many families PCSing to Andrews are also thinking about:

- A spouse or partner working in Washington, DC, Annapolis, or another job center  

- Proximity to particular hospitals or medical facilities  

- Access to major shopping areas, recreation, or transportation hubs

When those additional destinations matter, we may also consider other well‑known commuter communities.

 Bowie

Bowie is often noted in regional guides as being positioned between multiple job markets, with access to major highways and a wide mix of housing and amenities.

In the Andrews context:

- Bowie’s location can allow one household member to commute toward Andrews while another travels toward DC, Annapolis, or other employment areas.  

- Neighborhoods include single‑family homes and townhomes, as well as parks, community facilities, and local retail.

If Bowie is part of your search, I help you look at specific neighborhoods relative to both Andrews and any other workplaces and walk through likely routes in each direction.

 Laurel

Laurel appears often in commuting discussions between DC and Baltimore due to its position along major corridors and its rail and highway access.

For Andrews‑connected households:

- Laurel can be evaluated if you anticipate commuting in more than one direction—for example, Andrews plus DC or another regional hub.  

- We look at road and transit connections from Laurel to Andrews and your other destinations, along with housing options and price ranges, to see whether it fits your overall commuting pattern.

 How I guide Andrews families through the decision

Here’s the basic structure I use with most PCS clients headed to Joint Base Andrews:

1. Clarify commute and schedule parameters  

   We talk through how often you’ll be at Andrews, which hours you’re likely to travel, and what you consider a reasonable maximum door‑to‑door commute.

2. Identify home and lifestyle criteria  

   We define your budget or BAH range, preferred home type, lot size, access to services, potential spouse/partner commute, and any other key practical needs.

3. Build a tailored list of candidate areas  

   Using your criteria, I outline a set of communities—close‑in to Andrews, within Southern Maryland counties, and possibly places like Bowie or Laurel—that align with your commute band and housing goals.

4. Compare your top contenders  

   Together, we compare commute routes, housing styles, and access to amenities in each candidate area so you can see how they line up with your priorities.

5. Test commutes before deciding  

   When possible, I recommend doing trial commutes from one or two favorite neighborhoods at realistic times so you can experience the routes and adjust your shortlist if needed.

 Ready to explore Maryland options for your PCS to Andrews?

You don’t have to learn Maryland’s communities and commute patterns on your own while managing a PCS. As a Southern Maryland expert who regularly works with Andrews‑area housing, I connect local knowledge—about neighborhoods, routes, and housing types—with your goals and constraints.

When you’re ready, I can walk you through close‑in Andrews communities, Southern Maryland counties like Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s, and additional commuter locations such as Bowie and Laurel. Together, we can narrow that list to the options that best match your commute band, budget, and family priorities.