From Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) to a parking space at Hilton Field graduation parking, in the order you’ll do it. Built for the family flying in for Family Day and graduation.
At a glance
- Rental car: Fort Jackson doesn’t allow Uber or Lyft on post. You need your own vehicle to enter the gate and park. Compare rental cars (opens in new tab)
- Gate: Gate 2 (Forest Drive), open 24 hours. Gate 4 (Boyden Arbor Road) also works but keeps limited hours, so Gate 2 (Forest Drive) is the simpler choice. A government photo ID gets every adult in; REAL ID not required on Family Day or graduation (senior-commander waiver). Physical card only.
- Parking: Be parked by 06:30. The graduation lot fills by 7:00 AM. Family Day is more forgiving; aim for 8:15 AM.
Before you go
Fort Jackson visitor pass: pre-register at AIE now
Fort Jackson requires all visitors without a DoD ID to pre-register at pass.aie.army.mil (opens in new tab) before arriving, explicitly including Family Day and Graduation. The background check can take 3 to 30 business days. Select “Army,” then find Fort Jackson, and follow the prompts. You will need your name, SSN, and a physical, government-issued photo ID (digital IDs not authorized). It is mandatory for visits on or after August 1, 2026 for all visitors without a DoD ID, so start as soon as you have your graduation date rather than waiting.
From Columbia Metropolitan Airport
This is the rental pickup airport you want. It's about 23 minutes from the gate. Pick up your rental at the on-airport counters; every major chain operates there.
The next page starts blank: search Columbia Metropolitan Airport; most families pick up the day before your first ceremony and return the day after your last ceremony.
Pick your gate
Gate 2 (Forest Drive)
Most common24/7 · ~23 min from the airport · ~25 min grad-morning wait
The main visitor entrance, open 24 hours, off Forest Drive (I-77 Exit 12). The visitor center is just inside on Strom Thurmond Blvd. Best choice for graduation.
Gate 4 (Boyden Arbor Road)
AlternateMon-Fri 0500-0800 and 1500-1800; closed weekends and federal holidays (hours estimated, confirm before you go) · ~26 min from the airport · ~20 min grad-morning wait
On Boyden Arbor Road. It works for graduation and Family Day too, but its hours are limited, so Gate 2 (open 24 hours) is the easier bet. Double-check Gate 4's hours before you count on it.
Gate hours come from each garrison's official access-control page. Confirm before you drive, hours can change without notice.
At the gate
- Every adult in the vehicle hands any government-issued photo ID (physical card only -- no digital IDs). Fort Jackson waives the REAL ID requirement on Family Day and graduation via a senior-commander special-event waiver; a standard driver's license is fine to the guard. Kids under 18 usually don’t need ID; check with the guard if asked.
- Bag and trunk check. The guard may ask to look in the trunk. Keep it tidy and easy to open. No firearms on post even with a CCW permit; check ahead if you’re traveling with one.
- Vehicle waved through. Starting August 1, 2026, an AIE visitor's pass (pass.aie.army.mil) is required for graduation. The rental agreement is your vehicle credential. Follow signs to the ceremony venue.
Parking at Hilton Field graduation parking
Aim to be parked by 8:15 AM for the ceremony.
Arrive by 8:15 AM for Family Day at 9 AM. Overflow parking will be signed.
Lot fills by 7:00 AM. Aim for a 06:30 arrival. The line of cars stacking into the gate makes the last 30 minutes painful.
Graduation morning fills earlier than Family Day. Aim for a 6:30 AM arrival.
The ceremony venues
Fort Jackson holds both ceremonies on-post. Check arrival time against parking lot fill times above.
Family Day
Directions (opens in new tab)Hilton Field
Outdoor bleacher seating
If weather moves the ceremony
Forecasts this far out aren’t reliable. Treat this as a starting point and check again the morning of.
The garrison announces any venue change the morning of via the Fort Jackson Facebook page.
Graduation Parade
Directions (opens in new tab)Hilton Field
Outdoor bleacher seating
If weather moves the ceremony
Same rule: check the morning of.
Moves from Hilton Field to an indoor location.
Where updates post: The garrison posts the updated venue to the Fort Jackson Facebook page the morning of.
A few rules that catch families out
- Don’t trust GPS once you’re on post. Follow the blue painted lines from your gate to the ceremony venue instead. The garrison warns that GPS apps can route you through unauthorized areas.
- No ride-share on post. Uber and Lyft drivers can’t enter the gate. Rent a car or arrange to meet your Soldier off-post during the day pass.
- No cell phones in your hand while driving on post. MP enforcement is real. Use a phone mount or your passenger.
- Even with a state-issued CCW.
- Real ID matters for getting home. Since the May 2025 deadline it’s required to board a domestic flight and to enter most federal facilities. Travel with a REAL ID-compliant license or a passport. Non-compliant licenses need a supplemental document at this base’s gate.
Map your gate-day timing
Build a dated plan and we will line up your gate, arrival window, and the rest of the week.
Common questions
- What documents do I need to bring to Army graduation?
- All visitors 18 and older need a valid government-issued photo ID to enter a military installation. A standard driver's license is accepted at some posts; a Real ID (gold-star license) or passport is required or speeds up processing at others. REAL ID enforcement varies by installation: Fort Benning now runs 100% ID scanning at its gates, and a REAL ID scans directly into a digital visitor pass (families without one process at the Lindsey Creek Visitor Control Center instead); Fort Jackson waives REAL ID for Family Day and Graduation visitors; Fort Sill and Fort Leonard Wood require REAL ID and generally do not accept digital IDs, though Fort Sill accepts a secondary government-issued photo ID as an alternative for travelers without one. Minors generally do not need ID if accompanied by an adult. Some posts also require vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Always check your specific installation's gate policy before you travel.
- Which gate should I use for Fort Jackson graduation?
- Use Gate 2, off Forest Drive at I-77 Exit 12. It is open 24 hours. For visits on or after August 1, 2026, Fort Jackson requires every visitor age 18 or older to hold an AIE visitor pass for Family Day and graduation. Apply at pass.aie.army.mil well before travel and bring the physical government-issued photo ID tied to the application. Gate 4 on Boyden Arbor Road is another ceremony route but operates limited hours. Follow the current garrison guide for gate changes and allow extra time on graduation morning.
- Where do I park for Fort Jackson graduation?
- Follow the traffic attendants and temporary signs for Hilton Field. Fort Jackson's current visitor guide says parking attendants direct vehicles and accessible parking is available, but it does not publish a permanent lot assignment or universal fill time. Use the arrival instruction in your battalion notice and do not navigate to an unofficial overflow-lot name.
- When should I book my flight home after Army graduation?
- The lowest-risk choice is the day after graduation. If you must fly the same day, use the exact ceremony and release schedule in the unit letter, then add the real drive, rental-return, airline, and security buffers for your airport. Do not use a universal 3:00 PM or four-hour rule: Fort Sill and Fort Leonard Wood publish unit-specific ceremony times, and release windows can change with follow-on travel.
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.