The Pentagon Ultimate PCS Guide
to Housing, Commutes, and Tips
Embarking on a new journey being stationed at the Pentagon?
Then you’ll need some help in navigating Northern Virginia.
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We’ll run you through some key information to ensure your transition here is smooth and suits your lifestyle – we’ll be talking about commuting, finances, and more, and we’ll help you know more about the counties that make up Northern Virginia.
So, without further ado, let’s find your perfect home base.
So, without further ado, let’s find your perfect home base.
Living in
Northern Virginia
First things first, let’s get to know the area you’re moving into. Northern Virginia is known for several things, making it a sought-after place to live in or visit.
It has such a diverse business landscape that’s led by technology-based companies and government contractors, and it’s headquartered by big-named companies like Freddie Mac, Capital One, and Northrop Grumman.
Plus, Northern Virginia is home to some of the top-ranked schools nationally, be it public or private. Based on Scholaroo’s data, which ranked each state’s public schools based on student success, student safety, and school quality, Virginia ranks 10th for the best public schools in the country. Most of these schools are located in Northern Virginia.
Combining both its strong economy and excellent schools, Northern Virginia is also known for its highly educated, high-income workforce.
When it comes to recreation and entertainment, there are plenty to choose from here. From horseback riding and exploring vineyards in rural NoVA’s rolling hills to shopping til you drop and tasting cuisines from all around the world in the many vibrant urban hotspots, there’s something that suits everyone’s preferences here.
Practice your swing at many of the premier golf courses in the area, go rock climbing or whitewater rafting on the Potomac River, hike an endless network of trails, and appreciate a bit of history with the many historical landmarks dotted throughout Northern Virginia.
This is just a glimpse of what you can expect from living here because we’ll get into more detail in the next section.
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8 Beds
15 Baths
16,000 sq ft
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123 Palm Drive, Beverly Hills, CA
6 Beds
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Modern Mansion For Sale
Oceanview Estate
456 Seaside Blvd, Miami, FL
5 Beds
6 Baths
7,500 sq ft
$60,000,000
Single Family Residence For Sale
Wellington Subdivision
7979 E Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308
8 Beds
15 Baths
16,000 sq ft
$5,400,000
Luxury Villa For Sale
Sunset Villa
123 Palm Drive, Beverly Hills, CA
6 Beds
8 Baths
9,200 sq ft
$3,800,000
Modern Mansion For Sale
Oceanview Estate
456 Seaside Blvd, Miami, FL
5 Beds
6 Baths
7,500 sq ft
Regions of
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia is made up of several counties, and we’ll give you a quick overview of each below, along with some popular cities worth mentioning for someone who’ll work at the Pentagon.
Arlington County
Arlington is the county located immediately south of the nation’s capital. Known for its great neighborhoods, excellent workforce, vibrant art and culture, and energetic urban vibe, this is an excellent place to work and live.
Home to the Pentagon, Fortune 500 companies, high-tech companies, and startup companies, especially in Clarendon, the diverse job market here is why Arlington’s population swells to around 279,100 people during the day and why it’s one of the richest counties in the country. And when it’s time to have fun, you’ve got numerous shopping options, a great nightlife, and tons of restaurants, bars, and bakeries, that boast flavors from around the world with a local flare.
For its top-notch education, nightlife, family-friendly amenities, outdoor activities, commute, and diversity, Niche rated Arlington the second-best city to live in America, although it’s really a county rather than a city.
Fairfax County
Bordering Arlington to its northwest and southwest is Virginia’s most populous county, Fairfax County. To me, this is the land of extremes because of the sheer wealth of history, dining, and shopping options that it offers.
It’s well known that Virginia has a rich history that dates back to the 1800s, but Fairfax County’s goes way before that as it was formed in 1742 which was 30 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The county has seen numerous historical events and is home to 455 historical markers, such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Despite that, the county’s sophisticated urban vibe is one of its strengths. It’s home to some of the best public and private schools in the nation, such as Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, one of the best high schools in the nation.
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Loudoun County
Northwest of Fairfax is Loudoun County. While it’s quite rural compared to the previous counties mentioned, Loudoun is still a well-visited place for a few reasons.
Loudoun has rich agricultural roots that remain strong today, despite the rapid urbanization of Northern Virginia. Farms are still a big contributor to its economy.
Loudoun’s agricultural industry is most known for its orchards and vineyards that sit on rural Virginia’s rolling hills, which brought about over 50 top-notch wineries that many come to visit. Thus, Loudoun is proudly called “DC’s Wine Country”, though it also has a wealth of breweries and distilleries dotted around the area.
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Prince William County
Southwest of Fairfax lies Prince William County, known for its charming rural vibe, a collection of historic small towns, beautiful outdoors, and a growing arts and entertainment scene. Three significant national sites are located within the county – Manassas National Battlefield Park, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and the Prince William National Forest – giving you a glimpse of the rich history here.
Home to a portion of the Quantico base, a great chunk of the workforce here is employed by the military sector, followed by the government, given its proximity to the nation’s capital. Benefiting from a well-educated and proficient workforce, coupled with the rise of high-tech companies in the area, the technology sector has a strong presence in this locality.
When it comes to outdoor adventures, you’ve got plenty of options here no matter your preference. Boasting two national, 42 local, four regional, and one state park, along with a large lake and ponds throughout the county, Prince William has a spot for hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and more.
Stafford County
The southernmost county in Northern Virginia, Stafford County is a delightful mix of historical charm, the great outdoors, and top-notch wineries and breweries. Historical sites dot Stafford, such as the Stafford Civil War Park, the Patawomeck Museum & Cultural Center, and the Chatham Manor. Home to five local breweries, vineyard tours, and tasting award-winning wines are an easy weekend getaway here.
Enjoying the natural beauty of Stafford is an easy task since it’s home to many parks and natural areas. Go hiking and enjoy the waterfront views at Government Island Park, head for some water fun and fishing at Rappahannock River, or take a dip and sunbathe at Aquia Beach Park.
A portion of the Quantico base is within this locality, making it another option for those working there.
Alexandria
Now, Alexandria isn’t a county but a city, situated just beside Arlington County and along the banks of the Potomac River, just across Washington. Old Town Alexandria, its historic center, is a lively hub of local stores, and excellent and award-winning restaurants situated within colonial-era architecture along cobblestone streets.
Alexandria boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene, ranging from popular galleries like the Torpedo Factory Art Center and the Athenaeum to popular live entertainment hubs like Birchmere Music Hall and MetroStage.
Despite all the hustle and bustle in Alexandria, you’ve got spots for slow days too. Take in the views of the scenic waterfront, go on a picnic or dockside dining, or cruise along the Potomac River.
Location of the Pentagon
Let’s talk about the location of the Pentagon next in relation to the Northern Virginia regions mentioned above as this will be crucial for you to determine the best place to live in. While the Pentagon is located in Arlington County, it has a Washington address – six D.C. zip codes, to be exact. Radiating from the Pentagon are easily accessible major roads that make the rest of Northern Virginia accessible:
- I-66: Goes through Arlington, Oakton, Vienna, and Centreville in Fairfax County, going as far as Middletown; intersects with I-495 roughly at the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Station.
- I-495: Runs vertically to the west of the Pentagon and connects with I-66 and several other smaller roads that lead to the Pentagon.
- I-395: Runs from US 50 (New York Avenue) in D.C. and on the Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge, to Shirlington in Arlington, Lincolnia in Fairfax County, and ends at I-95/I-495 in Springfield in Fairfax County
- I-95: A north-south road interstate highway that runs through Virginia. Within I-495 (the Capital Beltway), I-95 is known as I-395.
- US Route 1: A major north-south route that goes through Alexandria all the way to Stafford County.
- US Route 50: Starts from the D.C. border at a Potomac River crossing at Rossylin in Arlington, intersecting with I-495 at Falls Church City, to Chantilly in western Fairfax County, through Aldie and Middleburg in Loudoun County, all the way to the West Virginia state line.
- State Route 244: Starts at the Pentagon and goes all the way to Annandale in Fairfax County.
From the map above, you’ll see that Arlington and Alexandria or even some parts of Fairfax County are great places to live in if you work at the Pentagon just because they’re pretty close. But proximity alone isn’t enough here because Northern Virginia is notorious for traffic, especially on the interstates. You may live just 5 miles away from the Pentagon and spend an hour on the road, and you could also live 15 miles away and be there in under an hour.
That’s why we’ll be talking about your commuting options to the Pentagon next.
Commuting to the Pentagon
There are four ways to commute to the Pentagon, you either drive, take the bus, take the metro, or the VRE. Though your choices really depend on where you live, because in most cases, you’ll only have three of them.
Driving
Now whether you like it or not, traffic will be a part of your daily life here in Northern Virginia.
In the previous section, we talked about some useful roads when commuting to the Pentagon, one of which is I-95.
Much of Northern Virginia’s traffic is along I-95, where there’s an average of 23 traffic jams in a day.
But really, virtually every major thoroughfare here is congested, especially during rush hour, between 8 AM to 10 AM and 4 PM to 6 PM.
It tends to be busier in areas around the beltway, especially if you move closer to Arlington and the capital.
A lot of Northern Virginia residents moved to areas farther away from D.C., such as Merrifield, Springfield, and Tysons Corner.
This increased the through traffic of major roads, thus, it tends to be busier in areas around the beltway,
especially if you move closer to Arlington and the capital.
We got traffic out of the way first because that’s gonna be your biggest hurdle when driving to work, and most residents (73%, to be exact) drive to get around Northern Virginia. And for some places, driving remains to be the easiest option.
Northern Virginia’s infrastructure is better in the areas closer to D.C., which is no surprise. For some regions, like the western part of Loudoun County, there’s no railway, very few metro stations, and only a small network of bus routes. Great Falls in Fairfax County, for example, has practically no public transportation if you take a look at this map. This is why 98.2% of its residents own at least one car, and of that percentage, 56.8% of them own 3 vehicles or more, 34.7% of them own two, and 6.7% only own one.
Taking your vehicle to work, you’re gonna have to park it somewhere. Keep in mind that public parking isn’t available at the Pentagon. But you can also apply for permit parking if you want the convenience of parking within the Pentagon lots. Otherwise, you can opt for street parking that’s available both in Crystal City and Pentagon City or look for commercial lot parking spaces just a short walk or metro ride to the Pentagon.
Out of all the regions we discussed, commuters are more likely to take public transportation than driving alone in Arlington, where 47% of commuters use transit. Second to Arlington is Alexandria, whose transit usage for commuters is at 35%. As for the mode of transportation, 77% of Northern Virginia residents use the train for at least part of their commute, while only 23% take the bus.
Bus
For the purpose of organization, we’ll divide bus services into two: those that connect you directly to the Pentagon, and those that are useful for commuting around Northern Virginia. In some places, you could use both in conjunction and you never have to get behind the wheel.
Bus Services for the Pentagon
The Washington Headquarters Services Transportation Management Program Office (WHS TMPO) manages transportation services at the Pentagon and the Mark Center. These services include shuttle buses, ride-sharing, and providing personnel who work at both locations with commuting information.
The DoD Shuttle Bus Program facilitates the movement of personnel between the Pentagon and various destinations across the National Capital Region (NCR). These locations include the U.S. Department of State, the New and Old Executive Office Buildings, the Office of Personnel Management, Capitol Hill, the Washington Navy Yard, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Base, the Defense Health Headquarters, and the Mark Center.
The DoD Shuttles pick-up at the Pentagon Transit Center (PTC) lower-level bus bays L8-L11. The PTC is the largest transit hub in Northern Virginia and is located on the east side of the building. Keep in mind that these shuttle buses are for official use only, such as meetings and conferences, and aren’t to be used for home-to-work purposes.
The Pentagon Circulator offers free transportation for all personnel on the Pentagon Reservation. It follows two routes – one services parking lots on the north side of the Pentagon while the second one services parking lots on the south side along Army Navy Drive. The Circulator is open from 6 AM to 6 PM on the weekdays and runs every 10 minutes. It picks up commuters at the Pentagon Transit Station at the upper-level bus bay U8.
Other Bus Services
There are several operators that offer bus services for mass transportation in Northern Virginia, many of which are bound by their counties. We’ll give you an overview of each and link you to their websites so you’ll know more details about each one – schedules, routes, and every other relevant detail.
WMATA’s Metrobus: Metrobus operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing service to the nation’s capital with a fleet of 1,500 buses. These bus services have routes all over Northern Virginia.
Arlington Transit (ART): Arlington Transit complements Metrobus in Arlington County by offering cross-county routes and neighborhood connections to the Metrorail system. These bus services have extensive routes in and around Arlington – you can take a look at a route map here.
Fairfax Connector: Fairfax Connector stands as the largest local bus system in the Northern Virginia region, serving around 26,000 passengers across 93 routes on a daily basis. Here’s an extensive map of this operator’s bus routes, including several other details that may help your commute.
