Reston

Quick Facts at a Glance

  • Jurisdiction Type: Unincorporated community within Fairfax County, Virginia (not an independent city). The Reston Association (RA) is a private homeowner association that manages community amenities, open spaces, and covenants for most residential properties — RA membership does not equate to municipal governance.

  • ZIP Codes: 20190, 20191, 20194

  • County: Fairfax County, Virginia

  • Metro / Transit Access:

    • Silver Line: Reston Town Center Station, Herndon Station

    • Fairfax Connector bus service

  • Distance to Washington, DC: Approximately 23 miles west of downtown Washington, DC via the Dulles Toll Road (VA-267)

  • School System(s): Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the largest school division in Virginia

  • Land Area: Approximately 16.3 square miles

  • Population: Approximately 65,000–67,000 residents (2020 Census and estimates)

  • Founded / Established: Founded in 1964 by Robert E. Simon; planned community development began that year

  • Walk Score:

    • Reston Town Center core: ~72–78 (Very Walkable)

    • Outer residential areas: ~35–50 (Car-Dependent)

Overview & Geography

The Town of Vienna is an incorporated municipality in central Fairfax County, Virginia, located approximately 15 miles west of Washington, D.C. The town sits along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad Regional Park corridor, which runs east–west through its center. Major roads traversing or bordering Vienna include Route 123 (Maple Avenue), the town's primary commercial spine; Route 243 (Nutley Street), connecting to Interstate 66 and the Vienna Metro station; Chain Bridge Road (Route 123 north); and Beulah Road. The town is bounded roughly by Interstate 66 to the north, Lawyers Road to the south, Nutley Street to the east, and Hunter Mill Road to the west.

Immediately adjacent to the town's eastern and northern edges lies the unincorporated community of Oakton, a Census-Designated Place (CDP) that shares ZIP codes 22181 and 22182 with portions of Vienna. To the northeast, the Tysons urban employment center straddles the Fairfax County border along the Capital Beltway (I-495) and Route 7 (Leesburg Pike).

Vienna was first settled in the early 19th century and known as "Ayr Hill" and "Flint Hill" before adopting the name Vienna around 1850. The town was formally incorporated on March 29, 1890. Its historic downtown core along Church Street NE and Maple Avenue retains its walkable, small-town character, with locally owned shops, restaurants, and the Vienna Town Green serving as a civic gathering space.

Named Neighborhoods & Communities

Town of Vienna — the incorporated municipality; governed by the Vienna Town Council with its own zoning, police, and parks departments.

Town of Vienna Neighborhoods & Subdivisions

  • Ayr Hill — Historic neighborhood near the town's original settlement area, north of Maple Avenue, known for period homes and tree-lined streets.

  • Vienna Woods — Established subdivision south of Maple Avenue with Mid-Century ranch and colonial homes; direct trail access to the W&OD.

  • Westwood — Quiet residential enclave west of Nutley Street with single-family homes popular among commuters using Vienna Metro.

  • Church Street / Town Green area — The walkable downtown core stretching along Church Street NE and Maple Avenue, anchored by small businesses and the Vienna Town Green.

  • Courthouse Square / Center Street — Mixed residential-commercial blocks adjacent to Vienna's historic town hall and Freeman House museum.


Oakton & Surrounding Unincorporated Areas (Fairfax County)

  • Oakton — Unincorporated CDP in Fairfax County east of Vienna, characterized by large-lot single-family homes and low-density suburban development; ZIP codes 22124 and 22181.

  • Tysons / Tysons Corner — Major urban employment and retail district northeast of Vienna along Route 7 and I-495, accessible via the Silver Line Metro.

  • Hunter Mill corridor — Rural-transitional residential area along Hunter Mill Road west of Vienna, part of unincorporated Fairfax County.

Transit, Commute & Walkability


Metro Rail

Vienna is served by the Vienna/Fairfax–GMU Metro station on the Orange Line of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) system, located at the eastern edge of town off Nutley Street (Route 243). From Vienna/Fairfax–GMU station, typical peak-hour rail travel time to Farragut West is approximately 33–38 minutes; to Metro Center approximately 35–40 minutes. The station includes a large park-and-ride facility with over 5,000 spaces, one of the largest on the Orange Line.

The Silver Line serves the Tysons area immediately northeast of Vienna, with stations at Tysons Corner, Greensboro, and Spring Hill (all approximately 2–4 miles from central Vienna). These stations provide direct access to Tysons employment and onward connections to Reston, Dulles Airport, and Ashburn.


Bus Service

  • Fairfax Connector — Fairfax County's bus network operates multiple routes connecting Vienna neighborhoods to the Vienna Metro station, Tysons, and surrounding employment centers.

  • WMATA Bus (Metrobus) — Select routes serve the Vienna corridor, connecting to the Vienna Metro station and points toward Arlington and D.C.


Road Commuting

Interstate 66 is the primary highway corridor for Vienna commuters, accessible from Nutley Street and Cedar Lane interchanges. Peak-hour travel times on I-66 eastbound to D.C. can range from 25–55 minutes depending on traffic and express-lane usage. Route 123 (Maple Avenue) connects westward toward Fairfax City and eastward toward Tysons and Falls Church. Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) provides an alternate northward corridor to Tysons and Bethesda via the American Legion Bridge.


Walkability & Bike Infrastructure

The Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad Regional Park trail runs approximately 45 miles from Shirlington to Purcellville, bisecting central Vienna. The trail provides a continuous paved surface for cyclists, runners, and pedestrians. Vienna's town center has a Walk Score of approximately 64 (Somewhat Walkable), with most residential areas ranging from 30–55 (Car-Dependent). The W&OD trail connection and proximity to Nottoway Park and Wolf Trap Stream Valley Park trails supplement non-motorized commuting options.


Local & Retail Economy

Vienna's Maple Avenue commercial corridor hosts a mix of independent restaurants, specialty retail, and professional services. Whole Foods Market operates a store on Maple Avenue, and Giant Food maintains a location nearby. 

Parks, Landmarks & Community Life


Parks & Trails

  • Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad Regional Park — A 45-mile paved trail managed by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA), running east–west through central Vienna; the town's signature outdoor amenity.

  • Nottoway Park — A 84-acre Fairfax County park at 9601 Courthouse Road featuring athletic fields, a skate park, picnic shelters, and woods trails.

  • Meadow Lane Park — A Town of Vienna park on Meadow Lane featuring athletic courts and playground equipment; central to residential neighborhoods.

  • Vienna Community Center (Maple Avenue Community Center) — Town-operated community center at 320 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive offering recreation programs, fitness facilities, and event space.

  • Wolf Trap Stream Valley Park — A Fairfax County parkland corridor along Difficult Run tributaries providing hiking and nature access on Vienna's western edge.

  • Glyndon Park — Town of Vienna park near the downtown core with tennis courts and open space.


Historic Landmarks

  • Freeman Store and Museum — Located at 131 Church Street NE, the Freeman Store (ca. 1859) is one of Vienna's oldest commercial buildings, now operated as a local history museum by the Historic Vienna, Inc.

  • Vienna Town Hall — Located at 127 Center Street South; the seat of Vienna town government and site of civic meetings.

  • St. Mark Catholic Church — A historic parish on Lawyers Road that has served the Vienna community since the 19th century.

  • Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts — A National Park Service unit and major outdoor amphitheater at 1645 Trap Road, Vienna, hosting nationally touring artists across music, theater, and dance genres each summer season; the Filene Center seats approximately 7,000.


Community Events

  • Vienna Halloween Parade — Annual community parade along Maple Avenue, one of the largest Halloween events in Northern Virginia, typically drawing tens of thousands of attendees.

  • Vienna Vibe Summer Concert Series — Free outdoor concerts held at the Vienna Town Green on weekend evenings throughout summer months.

  • International Food and Fitness Festival (Vienna IFF) — Annual outdoor festival on Maple Avenue celebrating food, fitness, and community; organized by the Town of Vienna.

  • Farmer's Market at Vienna — Seasonal farmers market at the Vienna Community Center parking lot offering local produce, artisan goods, and prepared foods.

Frequently Asked Questions


Is Vienna, Virginia a city or a town?

Vienna is an incorporated town, not an independent city, within Fairfax County, Virginia. It has its own elected Town Council, mayor, police department, and public works functions, but residents also pay Fairfax County taxes and use county services including public schools, libraries, and the Fairfax County park system. This dual-layer governance is common in Virginia and differs from independent cities such as Falls Church or Alexandria, which are entirely separate jurisdictions from their surrounding counties.

What Metro station serves Vienna, Virginia?

The primary Metro station serving Vienna is the Vienna/Fairfax–GMU station on the Orange Line of the Washington Metro (WMATA) system, located at the eastern end of the town near Nutley Street and I-66. The station is a major Park & Ride terminus with over 5,000 parking spaces. Peak-hour train travel from Vienna/Fairfax–GMU to Farragut West in downtown D.C. is approximately 33–38 minutes. The Silver Line's Tysons-area stations (Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill) are located 2–4 miles northeast and are accessible by car, bus, or the W&OD trail.

What school district serves Vienna, Virginia?

All public schools in Vienna, both within the incorporated town and in the surrounding unincorporated Fairfax County areas marketed as Vienna, are served by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the 10th-largest school district in the United States. School building assignment is based on a student's residential address within FCPS attendance zones. The main high schools serving Vienna addresses are James Madison High School and Oakton High School. Families should verify their specific school assignments using the FCPS online school locator tool before making relocation decisions.

What is the difference between Vienna and Oakton, Virginia?

Vienna refers primarily to the incorporated Town of Vienna (ZIP 22180) plus unincorporated areas of Fairfax County that carry the Vienna mailing address (22181, 22182). Oakton is an adjacent unincorporated community (Census-Designated Place) in Fairfax County with its own ZIP code (22124) that also overlaps into 22181. Neither Oakton nor the unincorporated Vienna areas have their own government; they are administered entirely by Fairfax County. Real estate listings in the broader area often group Vienna and Oakton together due to geographic and community overlap, but buyers should note which jurisdiction a specific address falls in for purposes of zoning, permitting, and tax rates.

How far is Vienna, Virginia from Washington, D.C.?

The Town of Vienna is approximately 15 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. by road. By car via Interstate 66, the trip typically takes 25–40 minutes during off-peak hours and 40–70 minutes or more during peak rush hour eastbound in the morning. By Metro (Orange Line from Vienna/Fairfax–GMU to Metro Center), the trip takes approximately 35–42 minutes. Vienna is one of the most westerly communities in the Northern Virginia suburbs that still has direct Metro rail service to downtown D.C.

What is Wolf Trap National Park, and is it in Vienna?

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is a unit of the National Park Service located at 1645 Trap Road in Vienna, Virginia (22182). It is the only national park in the United States dedicated primarily to the performing arts. The park's main outdoor amphitheater, the Filene Center, seats approximately 7,000 and hosts performances by nationally and internationally recognized artists across music, theater, dance, and opera genres, primarily during the summer season. An indoor venue, The Barns at Wolf Trap, operates year-round with smaller-capacity performances. The park is operated in partnership with the nonprofit Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Our Vienna Market Expertise

Our team brings deep, transaction-tested knowledge of the Vienna \ Oakton real estate markets, including the distinctions between properties within the incorporated Town of Vienna and those in unincorporated Fairfax County. We have guided buyers and sellers through Vienna's competitive single-family home market, Oakton's larger-lot properties, and the condo and townhome communities near the Vienna Metro corridor.

Services We Offer Vienna & Oakton Buyers and Sellers

  • Buyer Representation — Expert guidance on Vienna home search, competitive offer strategy, and school-zone verification.

  • Seller Representation — Comprehensive listing services including pricing analysis, professional photography, targeted digital marketing, and negotiation.

  • Relocation Services — Orientation to Vienna's neighborhoods, commute options, school assignments, and Fairfax County services for incoming residents.

  • Investment Property Analysis — Rental market data and income projections for Vienna-area investment properties.

Ready to explore Vienna real estate? Contact our team today for a no-obligation consultation. We are available by phone, email, and in-person meeting to discuss your specific goals in the Vienna and Oakton market.

Authoritative Resources for Vienna Research

1. Town of Vienna Official Website — www.viennava.gov — The official municipal website of the Town of Vienna; contains town code, meeting agendas, parks and recreation programs, police department contacts, and permit applications for properties within the incorporated town.

2. Fairfax County Government — www.fairfaxcounty.gov — The official website of Fairfax County, Virginia; authoritative source for county tax records, zoning maps, unincorporated area services, and GIS parcel data applicable to Oakton and non-town Vienna addresses.

3. Fairfax County Public Schools — www.fcps.edu — The official website of Fairfax County Public Schools; contains school-finder tool for address-based school assignment lookup, enrollment figures, academic program information, and school boundary maps for Vienna and Oakton elementary, middle, and high schools.

4. WMATA Metro (Orange Line — Vienna/Fairfax–GMU) — wmata.com — Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's official trip planner and system map; contains real-time schedules, fare information, and parking availability for the Vienna/Fairfax–GMU Orange Line station.

5. Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (W&OD Trail) — www.nvrpa.org/park/w_od_railroad — The official NVRPA page for the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park, including trail maps, rules, trailhead locations, and mileage markers for the 45-mile trail that runs through Vienna.

6. Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts — www.wolftrap.org — Official website of the Wolf Trap Foundation; contains the full performance schedule for the Filene Center and The Barns at Wolf Trap, ticket purchasing, directions to 1645 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182, and

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