Doswell offers a country lifestyle with plenty of entertainment
For most of the year, Doswell is a peaceful rural community, but each fall, the State Fair of Virginia brings giant pumpkins and big crowds to the area. With its rolling farmland, central location near Richmond and history as the birthplace of Triple Crown winner Secretariat, Doswell is the perfect place to celebrate the state’s agriculture. Horses are still a big part of life here, and you can find houses on several acres with everything you need for horse care. Doswell is also home to the Kings Dominion theme park, and Interstate 95 makes it easy to get around the region.
Home styles and prices you can find in Doswell
The median home sale price in Doswell is in the lower $400,000s, higher than Richmond’s overall median but lower than that of Ashland and Montpelier. Ranch-style, Cape Cod and colonial-inspired homes typically range from the lower $300,000s to the upper $700,000s, while New Traditional homes with luxury features range from the upper $800,000s to around $1.3 million. Most properties include several acres of land, and some come with barns or stables. “Any place that has 5 acres or more is horse-friendly,” says Angela Chadwell, who’s been selling homes throughout the area since 2016 and is the principal broker with At Your Service Realty. Most people own their homes, but you can find some available for rent.
What commutes to Richmond and Fredericksburg look like
Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 pass through Doswell, so commutes to Richmond and Fredericksburg are straightforward. You can drive to Downtown Richmond in around 30 minutes and to Downtown Fredericksburg in around 40 minutes. Traffic on I-95 can get backed up, so rush-hour commutes might take longer. Without traffic, you can get to Washington in around an hour and a half.
Kids can go to highly rated Hanover County schools
The highly rated Hanover County Public Schools district serves the area. Depending on where they live, kids might start at Beaverdam Elementary School in Beaverdam or Ashland Elementary School, which opened in 2024. Older kids can go to Liberty Middle School and Patrick Henry High School, which both get high ratings, or apply to specialty schools like The Hanover Center for Trades and Technology in Atlee and the highly rated CodeRVA Regional High School in The Diamond.
From rollercoasters to a round of golf, there’s plenty to do nearby
For being a rural area, Doswell has a surprising amount of entertainment. Here, you can:
- Ride rollercoasters at Kings Dominion, a theme park with over 60 rides and a waterpark
- Go to The State Fair of Virginia or a rodeo at The Meadow Event Park
- Walk the trails at North Anna Battlefield Park
- Take the kids to Poor Farm Park, which has a playground and baseball fields
- Play a round at the public Hanover Golf Club
Rural living with gatherings that help residents stay connected
Doswell is very rural, so you can expect narrow country roads, open fields and lots of space between neighbors. The overall feel is very peaceful, and community events will help you feel connected to your neighbors. Residents can gather at the Doswell Community Center, where the Doswell Ruritan Club hosts regular meetings and dinners. You can also go to kid-friendly events like the SpookyFUN Fest, which has trick-or-treating, crafts and hayrides.
Where to go for dining and shopping
If you want to go out for dinner, La Herradura Authentic Mexican Restaurant is your closest option. For shopping, Chadwell says, “You're going to have to go away from Doswell. … Ashland is the closest.” In Ashland, you can:
- Shop for groceries at Food Lion or Walmart
- Browse locally owned shops like Ashland Meat Co. and Center of the Yarniverse downtown
- Run errands at national retailers like Petco and Harbor Freight
- Eat at Iron Horse, a restaurant with a modern take on Southern cuisine
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Written By
Annie Franklin
