Travel 29 Palms Page at MarineParents.com

The following is for informational purposes only. www.MarineParents.com makes no warranties or guarantees of any kind with regard to any accomodation or information listed below.

Don't forget to print out a MarineParents.com Name Tag to wear! Click for Name Tag

Twentynine Palms Marine Base
Visit the official USMC web site for 29 Palms Marine Base at www.29palms.usmc.mil. The two-fold mission of the MAGTFTC is to operate the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center for live fire combined arms training that promotes readiness of operating forces; and provide facilities, services, and support, responsive to the needs of tenant commands, Marines, Sailors and their families.

To Get On the Base
Take 29 Palms Highway to Adobe Road. Follow Adobe Road to the base. You will need to have your Marine's full name and something that identifies you as a family member to get on the base. I don't know what that 'identifier' would be, and they didn't know when I called them either. As you get close to the base, there is an office area off to the right before the guard gate. You will need to go in there and show your id, driver's registration and proof of insurance. On subsequent visits, you will check in at the main gate. When we arrived just at the gate just prior to the homecoming, they were doing routine searches of all vehicles; not a big deal, but give yourself a few extra minutes.

PROOF OF INSURANCE
You must have proof of insurance to get on the base. If you arrive without proof of insurance, call your insurance company and have them fax it to the following number: 1-760-830-6795. (phone number accurate as of May 23, 2003)

Homecoming Reunions: at Victory Field 2004
I do not have driving instructions to Victory Field at this time.

Homecoming Reunions: at the East Gym on Base 2003
To get to the east gym, go in through the main gate and continue to the first light. Turn left at the first light. Go down that road a ways and turn right on 4th Street. The gym in just a little ways down that road. The MCCS provided light refreshments and cold beverages as well as reading material in the gym. It could be a long wait for children, so bring things to entertain them. I'd suggest toting a cooler with beverages and snacks just in case MCCS is not able to provide refreshments. We got there way to early for homecoming, but I loved meeting all the other parents, wives, and families and taking photos and sharing my overabundance of excitement and adrenalin.

POSTERS WITH YOUR MARINE'S PHOTO
I couldn't bring posters with me, so we made them there. There is a little office supply store as you're driving up Adobe Road towards the base (it's on the right, past the McDonalds, a ways before the drive-up Mexican Restaurant on the left if my memory serves me correctly). They enlarged my wallet-size photo to an 11x13 for just a couple dollars. They had all the poster making tools we needed and we didn't have to spend a fortune.

NOTE: Posters and signs are can be hung up to 2 days prior to your Marine's homecoming date. They MUST be removed prior to your departure from 29 Palms.

The City of Twentynine Palms
The City of Twentynine Palms is home to the globally recognized Mural Project, Joshua Tree National Park Headquarters, and the largest and fastest growing United States Marine Corps base (Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center). Visit the web site: www.29palms.com.

29 Palms Chamber of Commerce: 760-367-3445
Chamber Web Site: www.29chamber.com

Airport Shuttle Service
Base Taxi (see number below) offers shuttle service to every airport in the 29 Palms area, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Ontario and San Diego. It is a group rate, with up to 8 persons per trip. Prices start at $100 and vary by airport destination.

Onbase Accomodations: TLF
The Sleepy Tortoise is the Temporary Lodging Facilities on the base at 29 Palms. They run about $48 a night and have a small kitchenette. Call 760-830-6573 or 6583.

The Holiday Inn Express and the Best Western Inn are 'bookends' to a shopping mall. Tell the folks that you found them on www.MarineParents.com and that you have a family member returning from the Middle East, and you will qualify for the military discount.