Apartments for rent in Arlington, VA

Geographic orientation: Arlington County, Virginia

Landmarks: Arlington National Cemetery, The Pentagon, Pentagon Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Ronald Reagan National Airport

Why You'll Love This Area: Arlington offers convenient access to downtown Washington D.C. and a choice of a suburban or urban lifestyle. The community is also one of the most diverse in the nation.

Arlington, Virginia is an urban county located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. and one of the wealthiest and most highly educated communities in the country. It is home to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, Marymount University and the highest concentration of scientific research agencies including the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

Convenient access to the nation's capital makes Arlington a desirable, yet expensive place to live. Crystal City and Rosslyn border the city and are almost exclusively populated by high-rise apartment buildings, corporate offices, hotels, shops and restaurants. Many D.C. tourists stay in these areas because of the close proximity to the region's top attractions. Ronald Reagan National Airport is located in Arlington, within the boundaries of Crystal City, while Dulles International is located 25 miles to the west.

Arlington's Urban Villages

While Arlington is comprised of many suburban neighborhoods, many of its apartment buildings are located in its urban villages. Each of these villages has its own unique character, is pedestrian friendly and has shopping, restaurants, recreation, offices and homes all within a few blocks of each other.

All of these neighborhoods are close to Metro stations. You can easily get around without a car. A dedicated parking spot is highly desirable as on-street parking can be scarce in these popular communities. While there are no major green spaces within Arlington, a number of small parks are scattered throughout the area providing recreational space with playgrounds and picnic areas.

The main campus of Georgetown University, a highly regarded Jesuit private university, is located on the western edge of the neighborhood. Healy Hall, built in Flemish Romanesque style from 1877 to 1879, is the architectural gem of the campus and is a National Historic Landmark.

Ballston: Home to Ballston Common Mall, the area is walkable with a variety of hotels, shopping and dining.

Virginia Square: Just a few blocks from a Metro station, the neighborhood is more residential than nearby areas and home to Quincy Park, featuring picnic areas, a playground, and baseball fields.

Clarendon: The urban area blends nationally-known retailers with funky, one-of-a-kind boutiques and well known favorite restaurants.

Courthouse: Surrounding the Arlington General District Court, this area is home to a variety of restaurants and lounges, a movie theater and hotels.

Columbia Pike: This major thoroughfare has a vibrant main street with specialty retail shops and many ethnic restaurants.

Crystal City: Located just one mile from Ronald Reagan National Airport, Arlington's largest downtown area is home to Crystal City Shops, a variety of restaurants, hotels and the Synetic Theater.

Lee Highway: The neighborhoods of Williamsburg, Lee-Harrison, Highview Park, Lee Heights, Cherrydale, and Lyon Village each have their own unique neighborhood feel and their own shopping areas.

Rosslyn: The closest neighborhood to the National Mall, Rosslyn has its own downtown skyline and is home to Arlington National Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial.

Shirlington: The Village at Shirlington is a walkable town center that offers a variety of dining, entertainment and shops.

Westover: Washington Boulevard is pedestrian friendly with unique small businesses. The 45-mile-long Washington and Old Dominion Trail is just a few blocks from the shopping area.

Future Georgetown Development Plan

Arlington has many urban development plans underway with a commitment to transit oriented, mixed-use, walkable communities. A plan has been approved to redevelop a 7.65-acre superblock located along the eastern boundary of Rosslyn into three new blocks with 2.5 million square feet of offices, residences, retail, a hotel and a public park. Ballston Common Shopping Mall is being renovated and will develop a new mixed-use building with residential and retail properties.

Arlington is a prime place for apartment living with great access to a wide range of employers and attractions.

Getting Around

There is no Metro station in Georgetown. The closest station is Foggy Bottom-GWU, about a 15-minute walk. Metrobus operates several lines to the area and the DC Circulator provides bus service using the Georgetown/Union Station or the Rosslyn/Georgetown/Dupont Circle lines.

Georgetown has heavy traffic on the weekends and holidays. M Street, Wisconsin Avenue and even the Key Bridge can be backed up at times. Street parking is hard to find and residents with cars are best served by reserved parking spaces. Reagan National Airport is just 5 miles south and Dulles International is 25 miles west.

School District(s): Arlington Public Schools