A note on the fort’s name: This installation has gone by 2 names recently. It was renamed Fort Eisenhower in 2023 and has since been redesignated back to Fort Gordon. You’ll see both names in housing searches and military forums. We use Fort Gordon throughout this post but reference Fort Eisenhower where relevant for search purposes.

Why Riverwood Plantation In Evans, GA, Should Be On Every Military Family’s PCS Shortlist

If you’re PCSing to Fort Gordon (recently redesignated back from Fort Eisenhower) and want a neighborhood with top-rated Columbia County schools, a real community feel, and a commute under 25 minutes, Riverwood Plantation in Evans, GA, checks every box. Homes here typically align well with E-6 through O-4 BAH rates for the Augusta area, and the neighborhood’s stability and resale value make it a smart choice even for shorter tours. 

If you’re searching for Fort Eisenhower housing, you already know the drill: PCS orders arrive, you have 10 days of TLE, a tight timeline, and roughly zero time to figure out where 30,000 other military families in the Augusta area have landed and why.

Here’s one answer worth knowing about Riverwood Plantation in Evans, Georgia. It’s not a new development with cookie-cutter floor plans. It’s a 3,000-acre master-planned community that’s been filling up with families, many of them military, for years. Here’s why it keeps coming up. 

How Far Is Riverwood Plantation From Fort Gordon?

Riverwood Plantation sits in Evans, Georgia, about 20 to 25 minutes from Fort Gordon (Fort Eisenhower), depending on your gate and time of day. That’s not the 10-minute commute you’d get in Grovetown, but most military families who choose Evans make a deliberate trade: a slightly longer drive in exchange for Columbia County schools, larger lots, and a more established neighborhood. 

For context, the base’s main entrance off Chamberlain Avenue puts you on Gordon Highway toward Evans. Morning gate traffic is real, so most residents factor in 25 to 30 minutes during busy PCS season. 

Why Military Families Choose Columbia County Over Richmond County 

This is the piece that matters most if you have school-age kids. 

Fort Gordon sits on the Richmond County side of Augusta, but the majority of military families with children specifically choose Columbia County for off-post housing. Riverwood Plantation is in Columbia County. 

Columbia County schools consistently outperform Richmond County schools on state performance metrics. Riverwood Plantation feeds into the Greenbrier school cluster: Greenbrier Elementary, Greenbrier Middle School, and Greenbrier High School. All 3 are well-regarded and relatively stable, which matters when you’re thinking about what your kids are walking into mid-year during a PCS. 

For families without kids, or with kids in college, this distinction matters less. But for a majority of military families researching neighborhoods near Fort Gordon, Columbia County is a hard filter. 

What Riverwood Plantation Actually Looks Like 

Riverwood Plantation is a master-planned community on about 3,000 acres of pine forest and hardwoods in Evans. Homes range from mid-size single-family builds to larger custom homes, with most sitting on well-maintained lots with mature tree cover. 

The neighborhood has a golf course community feel without being exclusively a golf community. Amenities include: 

• Swimming pools 
• Tennis courts 
• Walking and biking trails 
• Golf course access 
• Community events and neighborhood gatherings 
• Easy access to Evans Towne Center for shopping, dining, and outdoor events 

One thing military families note consistently is has a neighborhood feel that’s harder to find in newer developments. People know their neighbors here. That matters when you’re arriving without a built-in social network. 

Does BAH Cover Homes In Riverwood Plantation?

This is the question nobody answers directly, so here it is. 

BAH rates for Fort Gordon vary by rank and dependent status. For E-6 through 0-3 with dependents, rates generally fall in the $1,600 to $2,000 range monthly. Homes in Riverwood Plantation typically list between $300,000 and $550,000, with HOA fees around $63 per month. 

At current mortgage rates, a $320,000 at $380,000 home with a conventional loan and solid credit often produces a monthly payment that works within mid-grade BAH for this area. That said, BAH alignment is always rank-specific and changes annually, so run your actual numbers before committing. 

If you’re renting instead of buying, Evans rental inventory is tighter than Grovetown, but 3 to 4-bedroom rentals in and near Riverwood Plantation do come up. Expect to pay more than you would in Grovetown for comparable square footage. 

Riverwood Plantation Vs. Grovetown: Which Is Right For Your Family? 

Military families near Fort Gordon typically end up choosing between these 2 areas. Here’s how they stack up:

Grovetown:

• 10 minutes from Fort Gordon
• More affordable, with new construction starting in the low $200s
• Faster-growing, more new development 
• Good schools, same Columbia County district
• Better fit for shorter tours or tighter BAH budgets 

Riverwood Plantation / Evans:

• 20 to 25 minutes from Fort Gordon 
• More established neighborhood with mature landscaping and larger lots 
• Stronger resale value and more neighborhood stability 
• Top-tier schools in the Greenbrier cluster 
• Better fit for families planning to stay 3-plus years or buy and hold 

Neither is the wrong answer. Grovetown wins on commute and price. Riverwood Plantation wins on schools, community, and long-term value. If you have kids and a longer tour, Evans is worth the extra drive time. 

What To Know About Buying Remotely Before Your PCS Date 

Most military families trying to buy in Riverwood Plantation are doing it remotely. You’re probably stationed somewhere else right now, working through orders, and trying to make a decision you’d normally want 3 weekends to make in person. 

A few things that help: 

• Virtual tours are standard in the Augusta market. Any agent worth working with can walk you through a property on a video call. 
• Columbia County inventory moves. Homes in Riverwood Plantation don’t sit for months the way they might in slower markets. Having your financing in order before you start touring matters. 
• Your VA loan benefit works here. VA loans are well understood in the Augusta and Evans market because military buyers make up a significant portion of the buyer pool.
• Timing your close to your report date is manageable with the right agent. The goal is to have a home ready when you arrive, not scrambling for a rental from temporary lodging. 

Peter Larson is a military relocation specialist and Augusta-area realtor who works specifically with families PCSing to Fort Gordon. If you want a real conversation about whether Riverwood Plantation fits your situation, your budget, and your timeline, reach out directly. 

Ready to figure out if Riverwood Plantation fits your PCS timeline and budget? Peter Larson is a military relocation specialist in the Augusta area who works specifically with families making the move to Fort Gordon. Contact Peter today to talk through your options before your report date.

Summer House Realty 2735 Washington Road, Augusta, GA 30909

Call or text: 706-993-0414

peterlarsonhomes.com