Picatinny Arsenal is an active U.S. Army installation in northern New Jersey. It is surrounded by Wharton and Dover. This guide covers directions, visitor rules, housing, services, child care, medical care, and recreation.

Base Overview

Official name U.S. Army Garrison Picatinny Arsenal
Military branch U.S. Army
Base status Active
Street address Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000
Main phone number 973-724-7247
Visitor Center phone 973-724-4595
Official website U.S. Army Garrison Picatinny Arsenal

Location and Directions

Picatinny Arsenal is in northern New Jersey, surrounded by Wharton and Dover. From Interstate 80, take Exit 34B to New Jersey Route 15 north. Go through the traffic light, then bear right to the main entrance before the underpass.

The official welcome guide gives driving directions from Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, North Jersey, South Jersey, Aberdeen, Maryland, and Watervliet, New York.

Visitor Information

The Visitor Control Center is at Building 1136, 1136 Parker Road, at the Main Gate. It is open Monday through Friday from 0700 to 1500 and is closed on weekends and holidays. Visitors without an accepted DoD credential must show government-issued photo identification and may have a background check.

Drivers need a driver's license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. Sponsors must submit visitor registration information before the visit. Foreign national visitors have extra requirements and must be escorted by a U.S. government employee. Confirm current access rules before traveling.

Housing and Lodging

The installation provides housing services and oversees privatized housing through the Residential Communities Initiative. The Housing Office also offers relocation help, housing referrals, and support for off-post housing.

Service Details
Housing Office 117A Farley Avenue; 973-328-9229; Monday-Friday, 0730-1630
Single Soldier Housing Picatinny Arsenal does not have barracks or Single Soldier Housing.
Recreational lodging 973-724-4014; ask the lodging office for rates and availability.

Facilities and Services

Picatinny Arsenal has a commissary and Exchange. Army Community Service provides relocation help, family support, readiness programs, and related military and family services. Other confirmed services include legal assistance, CAC and identification card services, a chaplain, and Armament University for adult education.

For contacts, call the commissary at 973-724-2918, the Exchange at 973-724-2518, Army Community Service at 973-724-7247, or the chaplain at 973-724-4139.

Schools and Childcare

Child and Youth Services offers full-time, part-time, and hourly child care, before- and after-school care, camps, teen programs, classes, youth sports, and fitness programs. Services are available Monday through Friday from 0700 to 1730 and are closed on weekends. Call 973-724-5555.

Programs are listed at Building 175 on Buffington Road and Building 3156 on Schrader Avenue. No DoDEA-operated school was identified in the reviewed official sources. Families should contact Child and Youth Services or the Military and Family Support Center for current school-registration and local-school information.

Medical Services

Care option Verified information
On-base care There is no installation clinic or other routine medical service on base.
TRICARE status Picatinny Arsenal is designated Prime Remote in the TRICARE East Region.
Keller Army Community Hospital 900 Washington Road, West Point, NY; 315-774-8900; Monday-Friday, 0745-1600

Active-duty personnel should contact their TRICARE Prime Remote primary care manager for basic sick-call and routine-care guidance. St. Clare's Hospital in Dover, New Jersey, is listed as the closest hospital. Call 911 for emergencies.

Recreation and Amenities

Recreation programs include an aquatic park, recreational vehicle park, golf, a fitness center, Lake Denmark Recreation Area, and outdoor recreation. Outdoor activities include hiking, geocaching, archery, skeet and trap shooting, paintball, climbing, biking, fishing, and equipment rentals.

Other amenities include Picatinny Federal Credit Union, leisure travel services, recreational trips and tours, sports teams, and clubs.

Things to Know

  • Picatinny Arsenal is an active Army installation, not a public park or open-access historical site.
  • Coordinate with an installation sponsor before arriving and complete the required visitor-registration steps.
  • All vehicles entering the installation may be searched.
  • Weapons, ammunition, drugs, alcohol, photographic equipment, and recording devices are prohibited.
  • The installation does not have on-base routine medical care or barracks.
  • Gate hours, access rules, and operating information can change. Check current details before traveling.
  • Call 911 for fire, police, or medical emergencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Picatinny Arsenal?

It is in northern New Jersey, surrounded by Wharton and Dover.

What is the phone number for the Visitor Control Center?

Call 973-724-4595.

When is the Visitor Control Center open?

It is open Monday through Friday from 0700 to 1500. It is closed on weekends and holidays.

Does Picatinny Arsenal have barracks?

No. The installation does not have Single Soldier Housing or barracks.

Is there a clinic on base?

No. Picatinny Arsenal does not have an installation clinic or routine medical services on base.