Burke, Virginia
Burke pairs a large planned community with older single-family streets and more lakes and trails than most people expect.
Welcome to Burke.
Burke is an unincorporated part of Fairfax County, bordered by Springfield, West Springfield, Fairfax and Fairfax Station. Its best-known neighborhood is Burke Centre, a 1970s planned community split into five neighborhoods: the Commons, the Landings, the Oaks, the Ponds and the Woods.
Outside Burke Centre you’ll find established subdivisions around Lake Braddock and along Burke Lake Road, plus some newer infill. It suits people who want a suburban setup with real green space without moving far from the Beltway.
Burke Centre and Beyond
Burke Centre mixes townhomes, condos and single-family houses, tied together by miles of walking paths, ponds, pools and community centers. HOA dues pay for a lot of that. Many homes also belong to a smaller cluster association, so there can be two sets of rules and fees, and I go over both with buyers early.
Beyond Burke Centre, expect two-story Colonials, split-levels and Dutch Colonials, many from the 1970s and ’80s, on lots that are bigger than you’d get closer to D.C.
Burke Lake and the Stream Valleys
Burke Lake Park, technically just over the line in Fairfax Station, has a trail of almost five miles around the lake, plus fishing and picnic areas. Closer to home, the Pohick Stream Valley trails run right through Burke, and the Lake Braddock community wraps around its own lake.
Saturday Mornings at the Market
From spring through late fall, the Burke Farmers Market sets up on Saturday mornings in the VRE lot on Roberts Parkway. Everyone selling there grows or makes what’s on the table.
For weekday errands, the shopping centers around Burke Centre and along Old Keene Mill Road cover groceries, pharmacies and the rest of the usual list.
Two Stops on the Manassas Line
Burke has two VRE stations, Burke Centre and Rolling Road, both on the Manassas Line into Alexandria, Crystal City and Union Station. Fairfax Connector buses link many neighborhoods to the trains and to Metro.
By car, Burke Centre Parkway, Old Keene Mill Road and the Fairfax County Parkway get you to I-95, the Beltway and Route 123, and George Mason University is a short drive north.
Trying to decide between Burke Centre and the streets around it? Reach out, and I’ll walk you through how they compare on homes, HOAs and commutes.
Comparing areas? See all the community guides
More Neighborhood Guides
Springfield
Central, well connected, and full of solid older homes.
West Springfield
Settled neighborhoods, big trees and stream valley trails close to home.
Fairfax
A small historic city surrounded by a much bigger Fairfax.
Fairfax Station
Wooded lots, quiet roads and a little horse country, close to Burke Lake.
Lorton
Newer neighborhoods, Mason Neck parkland and an easy run up I-95.
Alexandria
Old Town rowhouses, close-in suburbs and the Potomac waterfront.
Arlington County
Metro corridors, older brick neighborhoods and trails along the Potomac.
Prince William County
More room for the money, historic river towns and parks along the Potomac.
Thinking about Burke?
I’d love to tell you more about the area, what homes are selling for, and what to look for.