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Installation Guide

Fort Myer

Army Arlington, Virginia

Off-Base Living

Top neighborhoods near Fort Myer

Arlington (Alcova Heights / Columbia Pike)

Diverse Arlington neighborhoods south of the Pentagon and Fort Myer with walkable streets, metro access, and a range of housing options.

5–10 min to main gate

UrbanWalkableHistoric

Arlington (Clarendon / Ballston)

Trendy transit-oriented Arlington neighborhoods with excellent restaurant scenes, nightlife, and direct Metro access to DC.

10–15 min to main gate

UrbanWalkableNightlife

Falls Church / Alexandria

Adjacent independent cities with excellent schools, historic character, and suburban amenities slightly removed from the DC core.

15–20 min to main gate

HistoricFamily-friendlySuburban
Schools

Arlington Public Schools

Arlington Public Schools is one of the highest-rated urban school districts in the nation with diverse, well-resourced campuses and strong special programs.

What families should know

  • Washington-Lee (now Washington-Liberty) and Yorktown High School are the flagship high schools
  • District has numerous IB, language immersion, and STEM magnet programs
  • Very high teacher quality and significant per-pupil spending compared to national averages
Things to Do

Life around Fort Myer

Attraction

Arlington National Cemetery

America's most hallowed military burial ground — the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and burial services are deeply meaningful experiences for military families.

Attraction

Pentagon Memorial

Outdoor memorial honoring the 184 victims of the 9/11 Pentagon attack — a moving and important site adjacent to the installation.

Shopping

Crystal City Underground

Underground shopping and dining corridor connecting Crystal City's office buildings — convenient for quick errands during the workday.

Dining

The Capital Grille (Tysons)

Upscale steakhouse in nearby Tysons Corner — ideal for officer dining and special occasions.

Outdoors

Theodore Roosevelt Island

Car-free island nature park in the Potomac River, accessible via footbridge — a surprising natural escape minutes from the DC hustle.

Attraction

Washington DC National Mall

The full suite of Smithsonian museums, monuments, and memorials — all free and within 15 minutes of Fort Myer.

Housing Market

Buying or renting near Fort Myer

Home Prices

$650,000–$1,200,000

Typical Rent

$2,500–$4,200/mo

Arlington is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country. Fort Myer assignments come with the highest BAH rates in the Army but purchasing is extremely challenging. Most junior personnel rent; senior officers may consider further-out suburbs.

Popular neighborhoods: Clarendon, Ballston, Columbia Pike

Buying near Fort Myer with a VA loan: $0 down and no PMI. Estimate your allowance with the BAH calculator, follow the PCS checklist, and read the full VA Loan Guide before you go under contract.

Orders to Fort Myer?

Get pre-approved before you arrive. A VA loan specialist can have your numbers ready this week.

Call (719) 259-2246