Reston

Founded as Virginia's first planned residential community in the mid 1960's, Reston still embodies its founding principles of "Live, Work, Play and Get Involved." Here you will find more than just an address. You will find a way of life. Reston was conceived as a planned community by Robert E. Simon. It takes its name from his initials. It was the first modern, post-war planned community in America. Simon’s family had recently sold Carnegie Hall, and Simon used the funds to create Reston. The first section of the community was built on Lake Anne. It was designed by architect and planner James Roassant.

Quality of Life

As a planned community, Reston has all manner of abodes to call home. There are various densities and heights and ranges of bedrooms. You can live quietly on a lake or more energetically in a condo over a business at the center of town. Would you like to walk to the grocery store, or take your boat? The choice is yours. There are plenty of options for housing in every price range.

Living in Reston is like living in a park. 1,300 acres of open space are maintained throughout the community, and wide variety of facilities and programs offer year-round opportunities for fitness, fun and exploration.

55 miles of paved pathways and natural surface trails connect our facilities, neighborhoods, schools and shopping, and are perfect for walkers, joggers and bicyclists. More than 700 acres of forest, 50 meadows, and 4 wetlands provide beautiful vistas and important habitat for local wildlife. Aquatic habitats include 4 lakes, 3 ponds and 20 miles of streams, enjoyed by boaters and anglers. Reston is one of just a handful of communities in the United States that has been designated a backyard wildlife habitat community.

In Reston’s 15 community pools, patrons swim laps in the Olympic-sized pool, splash in the children’s interactive area, speed down a giant slide and relax in heated spas. Reston’s vibrant tennis community plays on 48 community courts, 8 of which are clay and 26 of which are lighted. Friends and teams practice and compete on ball fields and multipurpose courts. Playgrounds, garden plots, picnic facilities and community buildings are popular places to gather and enjoy.

Getting Around

Reston is a 10 mile drive from Tysons Corner and the Capital Beltway to the east, and less than 8 miles to Dulles international airport to the west. Reston has four local exits on the Dulles Toll Road. Direct access to the airport is free. The Dulles Toll Road splits the community along its east-west axis and is the primary transportation corridor. Avoiding the toll means taking Rt. 7 or other secondary roads. Not a bad option depending on the time of day. Because Reston is a planned community with multiple uses built-in, many residents find that they can live within close proximity to work – avoiding a daily commute altogether.

Airports:

Ronald Reagan National Airport:  < 25 miles
Washington-Dulles International Airport:  < 8 miles
Baltimore-Washington International Airport:  < 55 miles