Moving from Fort Hood (formerly Fort Cavazos) to Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal

Leaving Fort Hood and Killeen for Redstone Arsenal? This guide covers the drive, how the climate and costs compare, what changes when you go from Texas taxes to Alabama taxes, and the Alabama deadlines that start when you arrive.

Naming note: the Army redesignated Fort Cavazos as Fort Hood effective June 11, 2025, this time honoring Col. Robert B. Hood, a World War I Distinguished Service Cross recipient. Orders and documents from 2023 to mid-2025 may still say Fort Cavazos.^[1,2] Distances and city data on this page use Killeen, the city next to the post, and the Killeen-Temple metro area (Bell and Coryell counties).^[3]

Quick facts: Killeen, Texas vs. Huntsville

The drive: Killeen, Texas to Huntsville

The fastest route we computed runs north on I-35 through Waco to Dallas, then northeast on I-30 to Little Rock, east on I-40 to Memphis, and east on US-72 across north Mississippi into Alabama, finishing on I-565 into Huntsville.^[4] Compare it with other routes in a live maps app for current traffic, construction and weather. If you're moving under orders, check what your travel entitlements cover before you plan stops.^[8]

At about 820 miles, most families split it over two days, with an overnight stop around Texarkana or Little Rock. You can search hotels along your route on Expedia. For your first nights in North Alabama, compare Huntsville hotels on Hotels.com (affiliate link: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you; see our disclosure). Book refundable rooms if your pickup or delivery dates might still change.

Cost of living: Huntsville vs. Killeen, Texas

The Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes Regional Price Parities (RPPs), which compare price levels across metro areas (U.S. average = 100). In 2024, overall prices were about 2% higher in Huntsville than in the Killeen-Temple, Texas metro (93.1 vs. 91.1). Housing price levels were essentially the same (77.9 in the Killeen-Temple, Texas metro vs. 77.9 in Huntsville).^[7] RPPs are metro-wide averages and lag by about two years, so check current rents and listings for the neighborhoods you're considering.

Weather and climate

Expect a cooler, much wetter place. NOAA's Killeen station averages 66.6°F and 34.75 inches of precipitation a year; Huntsville's airport averages 62.9°F and 54.29 inches, so plan on roughly 20 more inches of rain a year. Killeen's snowfall normal is 0.0 inches; Huntsville's is 2.4 inches (1991-2020 normals). North Alabama also gets severe storms and tornadoes, so learn tornado safety and sign up for alerts from the National Weather Service Huntsville office.^[5,6,9,10]

Taxes: Alabama vs. Texas

Active-duty members' state of legal residence, and military spouses' tax residency, follow federal rules such as the SCRA and the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, so a PCS to Alabama doesn't automatically change your tax home. Start with Military OneSource's tax resources or free MilTax help.^[17] This is general information, not tax advice.

When you get to Huntsville

1. Before you leave: contact the Redstone Army Community Service Relocation Readiness Program as soon as you have orders (3443 Aerobee Road; Mon 1–4 p.m., Tue–Fri 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.).^[18,19] Military members can set up household goods in DPS and build a checklist in Plan My Move.^[20,21]
2. Getting on post: DoD ID holders are enrolled automatically at their first gate scan, and family without DoD IDs register at the Visitor Control Center.^[22] Only Gate 9 is open 24/7; see Redstone Arsenal gate hours by gate.
3. Housing: choose your gate and building first, then compare neighborhoods near Redstone Arsenal, on-post housing and the waitlist, and how BAH works for Redstone.
4. Schools and child care: start with the school districts guide and Redstone child care.
5. Within 30 days: new Alabama residents must get an Alabama driver's license within 30 days, and an out-of-state vehicle must be registered within 30 days of entering the state. Active-duty members may keep their home-state registration. Details are in our car registration and license guide.^[23,24,25]
6. Then: work through the first-90-days checklist and sign up for severe-weather alerts. NWS Huntsville says March through May is the busiest severe-weather season, with a second peak in November (Huntsville tornado guide).^[26,10]