Cheap flights to Eglin Air Force Base/Okaloosa County, FL

How long are flights to Valparaiso / Destin Fort Walton Beach, Florida?

Eglin Air Force Base is located in western Florida, in Okaloosa County, about five miles away from Valparaiso.

The closest airport from the base is the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, located in Valparaiso. The airport is located within the base, operating as a regional airport.

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport is served by several regional airline affiliates, including American Eagle, United Express and Delta. Allegiant Airlines offers seasonal flights from select cities, including nonstop service from 18 cities throughout the region.

As American, United, and Delta feature multiple hubs throughout the eastern and southeastern United States, it’s easy to find direct flights into Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, but departure cities outside of the hub region will require at least one or two connecting flights.

Travelers within the hub region enjoy relatively short flight lengths. Most flights from Atlanta take just over an hour. Flights out of Dallas-Fort Worth take just under two hours; Houston flight lengths are similar but can take up to four hours if a connecting flight is required.

Flights from Cincinnati average between 1h 47m to 6h 21m, depending on the airline. Flights from Chicago can take as little as 4h 33m, but most take around f5h 30m.

East Coast flights are also relatively brief; flights out of Washington, D.C., can take as little as 3h 29; flights from New York can take as little as 4h 30m.

As you move outside the hub region, however, flight lengths increase. The furthest west the hub reaches is Denver; most flights take around 5h 30m.

As flight times vary by departure city, flight lengths can increase dramatically for those traveling from the West Coast and Southwest. Phoenix flight lengths are similar to lengths out of Denver, but can easily take upwards of six hours.

Flights from Los Angeles average between six hours to 7h 30m; San Francisco flights average around 6h 30m but can take over nine hours. Seattle flight lengths average between six to 8h 53m but typically take anywhere from nine hours to over 20 hours if a layover is necessary.

Where can you get direct flights to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) from?

As three major airlines offer year-long flights into Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport via hub cities throughout a major portion of the country, direct flights are plentiful.

Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Cincinnati, Washington, D.C. are among the many cites that offer nonstop flights via American, Delta or United Airlines.

Allegiant Airlines offers direct flights from quite a few other cities, including Memphis, Knoxville, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, St. Louis, and Oklahoma City; as Allegiant’s flights are seasonal, however, travelers may need to opt for other airlines during the off-season.

How do you get from Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport to the Elgin Air Force base?

While the airport is located within the base, some transportation is required to get to the main base entrance; as it only takes 11 minutes, this is easiest by car.

The airport features multiple onsite car rental kiosks, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National Car Rental, as well as Destin Jeep Rentals, a local company renting Jeeps and larger SUVs.

While the airport does not have any public transportation options, it features over 30 different ground transportation companies, including taxis, shuttle buses, and van transport companies.

What are some things to do around Valparaiso, Destin, and the Eglin Air Force Base?

The area around the base features some of Northwest Florida’s most popular beach destinations, from the beautiful beaches of Destin to the many museums of Fort Walton Beach.

Both beach cities feature family-friendly water theme parks, miniature golf courses, eclectic shops, and fantastic seafood restaurants, as well as multiple day-cruises and, parasailing and boat rental options.

The area around the base also features lush nature trails, state parks, public golf courses, craft breweries, art galleries, and live concert venues.

Do I need a passport or visa to fly to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, Valparaiso?

Passports are not necessary for any flights within the United States. U.S. citizens only need a photo ID, typically a state-issued driver’s license, to board commercial flights.

Travelers going onto the military base may require additional identification as well as military clearance.