Glenn Dale

Just outside the Beltway, about 15 miles from Washington, D.C., lies Glenn Dale, a sleepy little village southwest of Bowie that is an unincorporated area in Prince George’s County. A four-mile drive to the New Carrolton Metro Station, residents working in the district face a very reasonable commute by car, metro or bus. “Location is key here, being so close to DC and 295,” says Daniel Khoshtinat of RE/MAX Leading Edge. “You’ve also got NASA out here, and right next door is Bowie.” Glenn Dale is a comely bedroom community with a lot to offer the right buyer. “It’s well-kept and quiet, with not a whole lot going on, but proximity to Bowie is a draw,” Khoshtinat says.

Homebuyers looking for a sparse suburban feel in an otherwise heavily populated D.C. Metro area will appreciate Glenn Dale. “This is an extremely competitive market for buyers,” Khoshtinat says. “Inventory is very low, and they don’t have a lot of town homes or condos.” Homes range in price from $400,000 on the low end to upwards of $1 million. There is little diversity of housing in Glenn Dale, with mostly single-family homes that have been being built rapidly since 1960 and some new construction town houses. The biggest building boom took place between 1980 and 2009 when nearly 3,000 housing units were constructed before falling off during the housing crisis.

Buyers on a D.C. budget will appreciate the discount in Glenn Dale – in October 2023, the 12-month median price in the District was around $625,000, compared to about $540,000 in Glenn Dale. That money will buy a six-bedroom, four-bath contemporary home with over 3,000 square feet. The hushed streets are lined with a variety of different housing styles, including modest ramblers, classic colonials, and of-the-era split levels. New construction has become the norm, with a coveted new community being built at the site of the Glenn Dale Golf Club, which closed in 2019. Fairway Estates is one of the newest neighborhoods in the area, offering a comfortable suburban lifestyle with major city amenities.

One of the most diverse school districts in the state of Maryland, Prince George’s County Public Schools is considered the No. 5 best district for athletes. Families with children can start at the walkable community school Glenn Dale Elementary, which has a C- from Niche, but has an enviable student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1, compared to the national average of 17 to 1. Students may then advance to Samuel Ogle Middle School in Bowie, which has a C+ overall from Niche, and an A- in diversity. Bowie High has a mini claim to fame as the school attended by Kathie Lee Gifford and gets a B- from Niche. The school has a robust foreign language department that includes French, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish classes and includes yearly international trips.

Though it’s primarily residential, the business district of Glenn Dale lies near the intersection of Greenbelt Road and Lanham Severn Road. For stocking up on groceries and essentials, there is a Giant Food and a Lidl across the street. SoBe Restaurant and Lounge in Eastgate Centre is a sleek eatery with a modern, airy vibe that offers a mostly American menu, including seafood, plus a full bar and Sunday brunch. Right around the corner is laidback Lambert’s Seafood, which serves up the best crab cakes and hush puppies in town. Located in a modest storefront, Lambert’s is classic and casual inside, with a robust bar and TVs in every direction. Travel South on Glenn Dale Boulevard to the Marietta House Museum, a Federal-style brick house and past tobacco plantation built in 1813. It is also the site of the season Glenn Dale Farmers Market.

With the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and the Chesapeake Bay to the east, the village of Glenn Dale offers many opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy nature. Glenn Dale Park is situated on 12 acres and is home to the Glenn Dale Splash Park, which includes seasonable amenities such as a splash park, water slide and outdoor pool. Set upon 13 lush, green acres, Lincoln-Vista Park has an all-ages playground, tennis and basketball courts, picnic shelters and a community building with public restrooms. Running near both parks is the Washington Baltimore & Annapolis Recreational Trail, which runs 13 miles from Anne Arundel County and ends near Glenn Dale.

Written By

Jessica Haddad

Photography Contributed By

Jesse Snyder

Video By

Reuben Davis