Is Fair Lakes safe?
Centreville, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Fair Lakes as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Fair Lakes
“Go. Fair Lakes is an exceptionally safe, affluent master-planned suburban community in Fairfax County with virtually negligible violent crime. Visitors can comfortably shop, dine, and stay in the area at any hour, though navigating the sprawling layout is best done by car.”
About the area
Fair Lakes is a modern, master-planned suburban enclave featuring major corporate office parks, expansive shopping centers, and tranquil residential developments surrounded by preserved woodland and man-made lakes. It serves as a major retail and business hub for western Fairfax County, offering a peaceful, well-manicured environment.
- Affluent Suburb
- Car-Dependent
- Corporate & Retail Hub
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Fair Lakes
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 46/100
While Capital Bikeshare has limited local coverage, Fair Lakes features a private network of multi-use paved paths linking to the regional Rocky Run Stream Valley Trail.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are exceptionally low and well below national and state averages
- High median household income exceeding $135,000 with strong local public infrastructure
- Well-maintained commercial plazas and residential subdivisions with abundant private security and lighting
Cons
- Car break-ins and retail shoplifting occasionally occur in large shopping center parking lots
- Heavily car-dependent layout with wide multi-lane arterial roads separating commercial nodes
- Subdued night-time atmosphere with minimal foot traffic after standard retail hours
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically nonexistent in Fair Lakes, with only occasional transient panhandling near major highway off-ramps along Route 286 and I-66.
What Fair Lakes is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with commuters and joggers along the landscaped perimeter trails, presenting virtually no safety concerns.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active with corporate employees and shoppers navigating the busy retail centers in a secure, orderly environment.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Family-friendly and safe around restaurants and retail plazas, though pedestrian movement across major roads requires caution due to vehicular traffic.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and largely deserted outside hotel corridors and 24-hour retail pads, remaining safe with very low risk of street crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Fairfax Connector operates local routes (such as Routes 605 and 621) through the neighborhood, connecting directly to the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station (Orange Line) roughly 6 miles east.
Parking is abundant, free, and straightforward, with expansive surface lots and complimentary garages across all shopping plazas and office parks.
Things to do in Fair Lakes
- Stroll or jog along the paved, tree-lined trails around Fair Lakes Basin and corporate ponds
- Shop and dine at Fair Lakes Center and the neighboring East Market at Fair Lakes
- Visit the nearby Rocky Run Stream Valley Trail for extended hiking and nature exploration
Local favorites
- Blue Ridge Grill · American Restaurant · 4.4★ (1250)Upscale yet casual tavern offering polished American comfort food, ribs, and fresh seafood.
- Chantel's Bakery · Bakery · 4.7★ (380)Acclaimed local boutique bakery specializing in gourmet specialty cakes, pastries, and tarts.
- Tony's NY Pizza · Pizza Restaurant · 4.5★ (890)Neighborhood favorite serving authentic New York-style thin-crust pizza and classic Italian subs.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.