Laurel Hill

Hunker down in Laurel Hill, a neighborhood on the Occoquan River that has the hallmarks of a classic suburb: newer construction housing along with well-rated schools. Nevertheless, Laurel Hill isn’t cookie-cutter. Rich in the arts and a fascinating history, the community appeals to the culturally inclined, plus outdoorsy types with recreation on land and water.

With Occoquan Regional Park on its southern edge and Laurel Hill Park to the north, the central section of the neighborhood mostly consists of housing. Many single-family homes have attached garages and lots around half an acre in size decorated with trees and garden beds. The home styles include cottages, Colonial Revivals and newer construction with wraparound porches. “Largely developed post-2001, the area has a great selection of newer homes with modern layouts and two-car garages,” says Realtor Brad Kintz with Long & Foster Real Estate for over 20 years. Sales prices can range from $576,600 for cottages to $1.19 million for new construction. The area also has sections with newer town houses priced around $808,500.

Students in the area go to Fairfax County Public Schools, which earns an A rating according to Niche. The district of approximately 178,479 students has a student-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. Schools for the community include Laurel Hill Elementary School, South County Middle School and South County High School. On Niche, the elementary school has an A-minus rating, the middle school earns an A and the high school also has an A-minus. South County High School has an extensive AP course selection from AP Japanese Language to AP Computer Science Principles.

The community has expansive parks chockful of outdoor recreation. At Occoquan Regional Park, bring your kayaks or rent one at the boat launch, where you can go for scenic paddles on the river. You can also go fishing — there’s plenty of bass in the Occoquan. “There are many opportunities for recreation with the Pohick Bay Regional Park 18-hole golf course, campgrounds, hiking trails, wildlife refuge and boat launch,” Kintz says. For an abundance of land activities, visit Laurel Hills Park for mountain bike trails, a disc golf course and baseball fields.

At Lorton Marketplace strip mall, you can shop and eat at a local retail and restaurant hub. Stock up on the week’s groceries at Amazon Fresh. To go out to eat, head to Tokyo One for action-packed hibachi on spacious tables ideal for large parties and special occasions like birthdays. At Glory Days Grill, order American fare in a laidback sports bar with plenty of TVS inside and patio seating for lunch in the sun.

As for the artistic flair, you can find it in a former prison work camp turned cultural epicenter. This historic venue is the Workhouse Arts Center, a place for creatives to gather for classes, events, galleries and live performances. The arts center also has a history museum called the Lucy Burns Museum, which explores the structure’s past as a prison complex and how this impacted the women’s suffrage movement.

About 21 miles from Washington, D.C., residents of Laurel Hill can commute to the nation’s capital via Interstate 95. “It’s strategically located next to Fort Belvoir with easy access to I-95. Quick access to Quantico, the Pentagon, and D.C. makes Lorton an ideal choice for military members as well as government workers,” Kintz says. For weekend trips in Washington, visit monuments and Smithsonian museums. As for public transportation, easily access buses throughout the area with the Fairfax Connector system. In Laurel Hill, enjoy a suburban community with an artsy vibe and plentiful outdoor recreation.