Is Wakefield Forest safe?
Annandale, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Wakefield Forest as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Wakefield Forest
“Go. Wakefield Forest is a peaceful, affluent suburban enclave in Fairfax County with exceptionally low crime rates. It is an exclusively residential neighborhood, making it very secure for walking, running, or visiting local parklands.”
About the area
Wakefield Forest is an established, tree-canopied neighborhood of mid-century single-family homes in Annandale, Virginia. Bordered by expansive green spaces like Wakefield Park and Accotink Creek, it offers a tranquil retreat while remaining connected to Northern Virginia's major transportation corridors.
- Wooded Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Peaceful
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Wakefield Forest
Walk score: 24/100 · Bike score: 36/100
Capital Bikeshare stations are scarce in the immediate interior, but bicyclists have direct access to the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail (CCT) for long-distance off-street riding.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are near zero and far below national and regional averages
- High rates of homeownership and well-maintained properties support community stability
- Direct adjacency to extensive recreational facilities and the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail
Cons
- Car-dependent design with no commercial dining or shopping within walking distance
- Some internal streets lack continuous pedestrian sidewalks and streetlighting
- Occasional opportunistic property theft, primarily targeting unlocked vehicles
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence within the residential interior of Wakefield Forest, though occasional unhoused individuals may be seen near commercial plazas along Little River Turnpike.
What Wakefield Forest is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents walking dogs and exercising under tree-lined streets with negligible safety concerns.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and secure with light local traffic and calm residential surroundings.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and safe as residents return home, though reduced lighting requires attention on streets without sidewalks.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Exceptionally quiet and safe, though very dark due to minimal commercial lighting and sparse streetlights.
Transit, parking and getting around
Fairfax Connector bus routes operate along periphery arteries such as Braddock Road and Little River Turnpike; the nearest Metrorail stations (Vienna/Fairfax-GMU on the Orange Line and Franconia-Springfield on the Blue Line) are roughly a 10-to-15-minute drive away.
Parking is completely free and widely available on residential streets, private driveways, and at the adjacent Wakefield Park trailheads.
Things to do in Wakefield Forest
- Hike, run, or bike along the scenic Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail in adjacent Wakefield Park
- Swim, skate, or play tennis at the nearby Audrey Moore RECenter
- Explore the quiet, wooded residential streets and mature tree canopy on a morning stroll
Local favorites
- Kogiya Korean BBQ · Korean Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (2400)Celebrated tabletop barbecue venue serving marinated meats, banchan, and traditional dishes in Annandale.
- Breeze Bakery Cafe · Bakery & Cafe · 4.4★ (1850)Multi-story cafe offering an extensive selection of French-Korean pastries, bingsu, and espresso drinks.
- Kilroy's · American Restaurant & Pub · 4.3★ (1100)Longstanding neighborhood tavern serving classic burgers, steaks, and craft drafts near Braddock Road.
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.