South Run blends suburban comfort with natural beauty outside D.C.
Nature takes center stage in South Run, a leafy suburb in southern Fairfax County. Trails connect its quiet streets to expansive green spaces like Burke Lake Park, offering residents a balance between suburban convenience and outdoor serenity. “My house backs up to Burke Lake Park, so it was the oversized lot that did it for me. Everyone who comes to the community is attracted to those larger lots and the parks,” says Kathleen Quintarelli, a Realtor with Weichert, Realtors, who has lived in South Run for 30 years.
While the natural setting may draw people in, Quintarelli says it’s the strong sense of community that makes them stay. “It’s got all the amenities on paper, but then when you live it, people really do know each other because they’re so active and get outside,” she says. “People don’t want to move until their kids have all graduated, and then those kids come back to the neighborhood.” South Run stands out as a tight-knit enclave of Northern Virginia, just over 20 miles from Washington.
Boating, fishing at Burke Lake; zipline at South Run District Park
Burke Lake Park offers outdoor activities, from boating and fishing on the lake to hiking and biking along gravel trails. It also has an 18-hole golf course, playgrounds and an amphitheater where the county hosts a summer concert series. Lake Mercer sits on South Run’s opposite side, providing a smaller and quieter alternative to Burke Lake Park. The community’s centerpiece is South Run District Park, a nearly 200-acre green space with outdoor and indoor attractions. It features a playground, athletic facilities, a fenced-in dog park and a recreation center with an indoor pool and gym. The park is also home to the Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park, where obstacle courses take residents high up into the trees. Other favorites include the South Run Swim & Racquet Club, a popular spot for events. “We have cookouts at the pool, and they’ve got food trucks during the summer,” Quintarelli says. Community festivities are also held at Pond Point Park, an open field across the street from the pool. “They do a campout where you literally put up a tent with the kids and sleep there overnight,” Quintarelli says.
Established suburb with classic homes and spacious lots in high demand
South Run has several subdivisions with single-family homes built between the 1980s and the 2000s. Common styles range from stately Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals to traditional split-level and ranch-style homes. Manicured lawns and mature landscaping contribute to the community’s suburban charm, and most properties have wooded lots of up to an acre. Prices for single-family homes typically range from $820,000 to $1.5 million. Near Lake Mercer, traditional townhouses generally sell for $710,000 to $780,000. HOA fees vary across communities, and Quintarelli mentions that the housing market can be competitive. “So many houses never go on the market because they’re exchanged privately. Inventory is always tight, and homes sell fast,” she says. The community’s overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Top-rated schools in the Fairfax County Public Schools district
The Fairfax County Public Schools district earns an A from Niche and has an average student-to-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. Prekindergarten through sixth-grade students can attend the A-rated Sangster Elementary School before moving on to the A-plus-rated Lake Braddock Secondary School for seventh through 12th grade. Lake Braddock Secondary School boasts several award-winning athletic programs, with the girls' gymnastics team taking home its fourth consecutive state championship in 2025.
Shopping plazas and malls are a short drive away from South Run
South Run is located between state Routes 123 and 286, meaning residents can quickly hop on the highway and drive to nearby shopping centers. Huntsman Square is less than a mile away and has a Giant, a few local businesses and casual restaurants like Starbucks, Eat Pizza and Chopsticks Express. There are more shops and restaurants in the Springfield Town Center, an indoor mall less than 8 miles from South Run. Its anchor stores include Macy’s and Target, and locals can grab dinner at Maggiano’s Little Italy or catch a movie at Regal Cinemas.
D.C. commuters can drive or take public transportation into the city
While residents can walk to nearby parks and community spaces, most rely on cars for travel beyond South Run. Interstate 395 provides a direct route to Washington, about 20 miles away, though rush hour traffic is common. “In Northern Virginia, if you work, you drive, and it’s made our traffic one of the worst hot spots in the nation,” says Tammy Irby, an area Realtor with Live the Easy Life Real Estate. To avoid congestion, commuters can use the Franconia-Springfield Station, 8 miles away, to catch Metro's Blue Line or Virginia Railway Express's Fredericksburg Line. “It’s a nice location for military residents or government employees, because we’re not far from Quantico or the Pentagon,” Irby says. Washington Dulles and Ronald Reagan airports are within 25 miles, and Inova Fairfax Hospital is less than 15 miles away.
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Sally Stimpson
