Gainesville is the gateway to Northern Virginia’s finest! Conveniently located near the historic Manassas Battlefields, it is also en route to Shenandoah National Park. Gainesville’s most recent improvements provide pedestrian-friendly shopping and entertainment, and easy access to commuter routes. If you’re looking to move into the Gainesville area and having nature and conveniences nearby is important to you, I’ve compiled this list of the most walkable and bikeable communities in the area. I’ve also assigned a “walkability” and “bikeability” rating to each community, based on the Walkscore.com methodology and my personal knowledge and local experience.
The Rating System
Before we dive into some of the locations in Gainesville and what I rate them as, let me go over the rating scale.
Walkable Score
The walk score measures the walkability of any address based on the distances to nearby places and pedestrian friendliness.
- 90-100% – Walkers Paradise – Daily errands do not require a car.
- 70-89% – Very Walkable – Most errands can be accomplished on foot.
- 50-69% – Somewhat Walkable – Some errands can be accomplished on foot.
- 25-49% – Car-Dependent – Most errands require a car.
- 0-24% – Car-Dependent – Almost all errands require a car.
Bikeable Score
The bike score measures whether an area is good for biking based on bike lanes and trails, hills, road connectivity and destinations.
- 90-100% – Biker’s Paradise – Daily errands can be accomplished on a bike.
- 70-89% – Very Bikeable – Biking is convenient for most trips.
- 50-69% – Bikeable – Some bike infrastructure
- 0-49% – Somewhat Bikeable – Minimal bike infrastructure
Rating Gainesville’s Communities
Wenworth Green – This community consists of single-family homes, townhomes and condos. It’s convenient to The Promenade at Virginia Gateway, Jiffy Lube Live and Lifetime Fitness. You also have easy access to I-66 and US-29, or a commuter lot .2 miles away that gives you access to the Omniride bus service. In the community, there are two pools, one for babies and toddlers with five water fountains, and one for adults and older children. There’s also a tennis court, a basketball court, a clubhouse and a dog park, several walking trails in and to the Promenade. Children in this community go to Piney Branch Elementary, Gainesville Middle School and Stonewall Jackson High School. However, the neighborhood is zoned for a new high school that should open in 2021.
- My walkable score: 60%
- My bikeable score: 85%
Lake Manassas – This community consists of single-family homes and townhomes. It’s convenient to the Gateway Shopping Center and the Stonewall Shopping Center with Wegman’s, Michael’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Dick’s Sporting Goods as well as plenty of dining options. If golf is your thing, the Lake Manassas community has two golf courses: Robert Trent Jones aka, RTJ Golf Club (Private course and sponsor of the President’s Cup), and the Stonewall Golf Course (Semi-private/public course). It also has walking trails, two basketball courts, four tennis courts and a child care center that’s open to residents. This is a gated community. Additionally, there are unique custom homes and top-quality tract homes with views of Lake Manassas and the community golf course. The neighborhood schools are Buckland Mills Elementary, Reagan Middle School and Patriot High School.
- My walkable score: 49%
- My bikeable score: 69%
Virginia Oaks – This community consists of single-family homes and townhomes that are a 5-minute drive or a 15-20 minute walk from The Promenade at Virginia Gateway. You can also walk across the street from the community entrance to the pharmacy, the auto repair shop, dining, Verizon and some medical offices. Homes in this community back up to 170+ acres of private woods and meadows. It has 5 miles of trails with views of Lake Manassas, ponds for fishing, a community center, a fitness center, a pool and recreation facilities. The neighborhood schools are Piney Branch Elementary, Gainesville Middle School and Patriot High School.
- My walkable score: 55%
- My bikeable score: 69%
I know Gainesville very well, so if you would like to consider making a move to this lovely locale, I’d be happy to help!
Looking for real estate services in Gainesville, Haymarket or Bristow? Contact your local real estate expert Belinda Jacobson-Loehle of Jacobson Realty and Home Staging In Gainesville, Virginia today. Also be sure to sign up now for a FREE copy of my eBook, “The Real Estate Key – What You Need to Know!”
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