Is Woodlawn Manor safe?
Mount Vernon, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Woodlawn Manor as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Woodlawn Manor
“Go. Woodlawn Manor is an established, quiet residential enclave nestled between historic estates and Fort Belvoir in southern Fairfax County. While adjacent sections of Richmond Highway experience occasional commercial property crime, the residential neighborhood itself is very safe and peaceful.”
About the area
Woodlawn Manor is a leafy, mid-century suburban community located in the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County. It offers visitors easy access to premier historic sites like George Washington's Mount Vernon and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House while remaining tucked away from main thoroughfares.
- Suburban
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Woodlawn Manor
Walk score: 32/100 · Bike score: 42/100
The neighborhood lacks dedicated bike lanes, but the scenic paved Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac River is reachable within a 10-15 minute ride east.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Low violent crime rate characteristic of suburban Fairfax County residential tracts
- High rates of owner-occupied single-family homes ensuring neighborhood stability
- Immediate access to top historic sites including Pope-Leighey House and Woodlawn Estate
- Strong local economy anchored by Fort Belvoir and regional federal/contracting employment
Cons
- Car-dependent setting with poor walkability to day-to-day amenities
- Pockets of vehicle and property crime along the neighboring Richmond Highway commercial corridor
- Pedestrian hazards and high vehicle speeds on adjacent arterial roads like Route 1
Homelessness: Homelessness is virtually nonexistent inside the residential subdivision, though occasional unhoused individuals or panhandling can be observed near bus stops and commercial plazas along Richmond Highway.
What Woodlawn Manor is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe with residents walking dogs and heading out for morning commutes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Low-traffic residential streets with children and families active after school hours.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and residential; standard situational awareness is advised only if walking through strip mall parking lots on Route 1.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet and dark due to residential canopy, remaining generally safe with minimal street activity.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by Fairfax Connector, with Route 171 and 371 bus lines running along Richmond Highway that connect directly to the Huntington Metro Station (Yellow Line), located roughly 6 miles north.
Parking is abundant and hassle-free, with unrestricted free street parking throughout the neighborhood and large free surface lots at neighboring shopping plazas.
Things to do in Woodlawn Manor
- Tour Woodlawn Historic Site and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
- Visit George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill just down the road
- Sample local Virginia wines at the nearby Woodlawn Press Winery
Local favorites
- Woodlawn Press Winery · Winery · 4.9★ (175)A cozy family-owned craft micro-winery offering tastings and locally bottled varietals.
- El Paso Mexican Restaurant · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (1650)Longtime local staple serving generous portions of classic Tex-Mex dishes and margaritas.
- Cosmopolitan Grill · European Restaurant · 4.6★ (610)Comfortable dining room featuring hearty German and Eastern European specialties like schnitzel.
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.