Goodfellow graduation weekend guide
Graduation dates, getting a base visitor pass, hotels near the base and what to do with your graduate afterward.
Upcoming graduation weekends
Goodfellow trains intelligence and other specialists for the Air Force and other services, so classes graduate all year. Your graduate’s unit has the exact time and place; the dates below help you lock in a hotel early.
Getting on base
- Visitors 16 and older need a visitor’s pass; visitors 10 and older get a background check.
- The Visitor Control Center is next to the South Gate. Phone: (325) 654-4125.
- Bring a valid photo ID, plus vehicle registration and insurance if you are driving on.
- At last check, the South Gate is open 24 hours and the North Gate 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Ask your graduate whether their unit is putting guests on an entry list for the ceremony.
Rules can change. Always confirm on the official Goodfellow visitor page (opens in a new tab).
Know your graduation date?
Tell us the date and we’ll add the weekend to the list, so other families can book hotels early too. Right after you send it, you’ll get a hotel search for your dates.
Hotels for graduation weekend
Goodfellow is on the southeast side of town, a short drive from downtown. Book early: graduation weekends bring in families from all over the country.
Search hotels for your graduation dates
The map shows hotels and rentals across town; zoom toward downtown, Goodfellow AFB (southeast side), the fairgrounds (north) or Lake Nasworthy (south). Prefer a list? See every San Angelo hotel on Booking.com (opens in a new tab). We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Graduation weekend partners
What to do with your graduate
After the ceremony, take a walk on the Concho River Walk, tour Fort Concho’s frontier buildings, celebrate over a good meal and catch a sunset at Lake Nasworthy.
Tip from locals
Graduates may still be under training rules off base. Ask what is allowed before you plan the celebration, and leave extra time for traffic and parking on the day.
Goodfellow graduation FAQ
Do I need a pass to attend a graduation on Goodfellow AFB?
Yes. Goodfellow says all visitors 16 and older need a visitor's pass to get on the installation, and visitors 10 and older get a background (NCIC) check. Start early: your graduate or their unit can tell you what is required for your ceremony. Some large events use an entry list arranged by the unit.
Where is the Goodfellow Visitor Control Center?
Next to the base's South Gate. The base lists the Visitor Center phone as (325) 654-4125.
What should I bring to get a visitor's pass?
Bring a valid photo ID. If you are driving onto the base, bring your vehicle registration and proof of insurance too. Goodfellow posts the current list of accepted documents on its Visitor Control Center page, so check it before you travel.
What are the Goodfellow gate hours?
When we last checked, the base said the North Gate is open 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the South Gate is open 24 hours. Hours can change, so confirm with the base before your trip.
When are graduations at Goodfellow?
Goodfellow trains intelligence and other specialists, and courses graduate on different schedules all year. Your graduate's unit sets the exact date, time and location. We post graduation weekends on this page as they are confirmed.
Which services train at Goodfellow?
Goodfellow is home to the Air Force's 17th Training Wing and also trains members of other services, including Army, Navy and Marine Corps units based on the installation.
Where should we stay for a Goodfellow graduation?
Goodfellow is on the southeast side of San Angelo, a short drive from downtown. Staying near the base keeps graduation morning simple; staying downtown puts you by the River Walk and restaurants. Either way, book as early as you can.
How early should we book a hotel for graduation weekend?
As soon as you know the date. Graduation weekends bring in families from all over the country and the closest hotels can fill up, especially when a graduation lands on the same weekend as another big event.