Is Parkfairfax safe?
Alexandria, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Parkfairfax as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Parkfairfax
“Go. Parkfairfax is an exceptionally safe, serene, and historic residential neighborhood on the border of Alexandria and Arlington. Visitors and residents can walk comfortably at all hours with minimal safety concerns, enjoying direct footbridge access to the dining and arts scene in neighboring Shirlington.”
About the area
Parkfairfax is a historic mid-century planned community in Alexandria characterized by picturesque Colonial Revival brick townhomes set amidst rolling hills and mature trees. It offers a park-like, quiet suburban feel while maintaining direct connectivity to Washington D.C., Interstate 395, and neighboring urban villages.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Quiet & Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Parks & Greenery
Walking and biking in Parkfairfax
Walk score: 62/100 · Bike score: 58/100
Capital Bikeshare stations are stationed along the borders and near the Shirlington bridge, providing direct access to the Four Mile Run and Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) paved multi-use trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime is virtually nonexistent and overall property crime rates are far below national and regional averages.
- Affluent, stable community with high median household incomes and high rates of homeownership.
- Direct pedestrian footbridge connection to the Village at Shirlington's dining and entertainment district.
- Meticulously maintained condominium grounds with dedicated on-site maintenance and active community oversight.
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic theft from unlocked motor vehicles parked along perimeter public streets.
- Proximity to Interstate 395 brings ambient highway noise to units on the western boundary.
- Winding, heavily wooded footpaths can be dimly lit and confusing to navigate after dark.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is essentially absent within Parkfairfax. Occasional panhandling may occur around distant major commercial arterial intersections, but there are no encampments in the neighborhood.
What Parkfairfax is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with joggers, dog walkers, and commuters navigating the leafy pathways in complete safety.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with landscaping crews working and residents enjoying the community courtyards and open spaces.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Pleasant and social, with steady foot traffic of residents walking to dinner or returning via the Shirlington bridge.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very tranquil with almost no street activity; while lighting can be soft on wooded paths, the area remains remarkably secure.
Transit, parking and getting around
DASH Bus (Alexandria Transit Company) routes 35 and 36 provide frequent connections to the King Street-Old Town and Pentagon Metro stations, with additional WMATA Metrobus service running along Quaker Lane and King Street.
Parking inside the community is managed via resident condo permits, but unmetered street parking is available along perimeter streets like Valley Drive and Martha Custis Drive, though spots fill up in the late evening.
Things to do in Parkfairfax
- Stroll the park-like grounds and historic courtyards once inhabited by Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
- Cross the pedestrian footbridge over I-395 to access the shops, restaurants, and Signature Theatre in Shirlington.
- Explore the nearby Civil War earthworks and nature trails at Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site.
Local favorites
- Ramparts Tavern & Grill · American Restaurant & Pub · 4.3★ (850)Longtime neighborhood watering hole serving classic pub fare, burgers, and craft beers on tap.
- Palette 22 · Tapas Restaurant & Bar · 4.5★ (2400)Vibrant, art-filled dining spot just across the pedestrian footbridge offering international small plates and live painting.
- Fairlington Pizza · Pizza Restaurant · 4.4★ (360)Convenient local counter-serve joint offering classic pies, subs, and Italian comfort food.
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.