Dahlgren is a Northern Neck suburb close to a busy naval base
Dahlgren is a modest suburban community in Virginia’s Northern Neck region, next to the Potomac River and Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, a major employer in King George County. “One of the biggest draws is employment on the naval base,” says Jon Snow, a Realtor with EXIT Realty Expertise with over 26 years of real estate experience. “The tax base and house prices are lower here, and the pay scale is comparable to Northern Virginia without dealing with the NoVa traffic and commute headaches.” Residents here have a handful of local establishments near home, and they can venture over to Fredericksburg in 40 minutes, while retail hubs in Maryland are just across the Potomac River.
Plenty of hiking, boating and fishing right at home
Caledon State Park has ten hiking trails and four multi-use paths through old-growth forests and marshlands. It’s a popular place to spot bald eagles as they nest in the park for the summer. The park also has campsites and allows fishing in the open areas around the Potomac River. “Fishing and boating are for sure a big draw; we have a few state parks like Caledon, which is pretty popular,” says Snow. “There’s also the Rail Trail that people like to bicycle and jog down.” The Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail stretches 16 miles across King George County for hikers and cyclists.
Farther south at Machodoc Creek Marina, residents can dock sailboats, motorboats or smaller paddleboats, and purchase bait and tackle. Barnesfield Park sits on the riverbank to the east, and has a playground, disc golf course, picnic pavilion and baseball fields. Colonial Beach is a few miles south of Dalgren, with a sandy beach for swimming and kayaking, and a wooden pier for fishing in the brackish waters where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay.
Single-family homes on suburban streets
Single-family homes range in price from $350,000 to $620,000, varying by square footage and lot size. Styles range from brick Cape Cods and ramblers to larger Colonial Revivals built in the early 2000s. Dahlgren has modest curb appeal, with narrow suburban streets and stretched lawns in place of sidewalks.
Small local establishments, with options in Fredericksburg or Maryland
Diners can grab a hot slice with spaghetti alfredo or prime rib entrees at Roma Pizza. Further south down Dahlgren Road is Bangkok House, serving Thai dishes like basil fried rice, pad Thai and coconut ice cream. The community is also homes to a Food Lion and a Walmart for groceries or a quick shopping run. For more expansive shopping and dining options, residents can drive 28 miles to Fredericksburg or cross the Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge into Maryland for larger commercial centers in La Plata and Waldorf.
Quality schools around King George County
King George County Schools is the primary district serving Dahlgren. Students can attend Potomac Elementary School, King George Middle and King George High School, which all get B-plus ratings from Niche. King George High offers numerous Career and Technical Education courses in agriculture, finance, STEM and IT.
Commuting to Naval Support Facility Dahlgren or D.C. area employers
Naval Support Facility Dahlgren employs over 11,000 civilians, contractors and military servicemembers, and is the largest military base in the county. Washington, D.C., is a 53-mile drive north on U.S. Route 301, while Richmond is 70 miles south on the bustling Interstate 95. Commutes to either city typically take about an hour and a half. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 50 miles away. Mary Washington Hospital is a regional medical center 30 miles away in Fredericksburg.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
