Dahlgren & the Navy
The base at Dahlgren began in 1918 as a Navy proving ground on the Potomac. Today Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren is the county's largest employer, with thousands of civilians, sailors and contractors working on the river.
Next door
King George, Virginia
Wide-open country between two rivers: the Navy at Dahlgren, eagles at Caledon, beaches on the Potomac and an easy drive to Fredericksburg.
King George County
Room to breathe, close to everything
King George sits at the top of the Northern Neck, with the Potomac along its northern edge and the Rappahannock to the south. It's a county of farms, woods and river views, with neighborhoods tucked in between and Colonial Beach just next door.
Many people here work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren or commute to Fredericksburg, and the new four-lane bridge on US 301 makes Southern Maryland and the DC suburbs an easier drive than they used to be. At the end of the day it's quiet: bigger lots, starry skies and the river never far away.
Jessica has helped buyers find homes all over King George, from waterfront places on the Potomac to neighborhoods near the county seat and land out in the country.
What's here
Life in King George
Caledon State Park
About 2,600 acres of old forest on the Potomac, a National Natural Landmark since 1974, and a summer gathering spot for bald eagles. Trails, eagle tours and a few hike-in campsites.
Two rivers
Fairview Beach on the Potomac, boat ramps at Wayside Park and Hopyard, and miles of Rappahannock shoreline to the south, where James Madison was born at Port Conway in 1751.
Around the county
Places to know
Tap a pin to read about it, or get directions.
Park · King George
Caledon State Park
Old-growth forest on the Potomac in King George County, known for its summer bald eagles and quiet trails.
Town · King George
Dahlgren
Home of Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren, the area’s largest employer, about 20 minutes up the river from Colonial Beach.
Water · King George
Fairview Beach
A small community on the Potomac in northwestern King George County, with waterfront homes, a sandy shoreline and views across the river to Maryland.
Park · King George
Barnesfield Park
A 165-acre county park near the Nice/Middleton Bridge, with sports fields, pavilions, playgrounds and walking trails. Next door, little Wayside Park has a boat ramp and a beach on the Potomac, and the Dahlgren Heritage Museum tells the story of the Navy base.
Town · King George
King George (county seat)
The county seat on Route 3, with the courthouse, county offices, shops and restaurants, and Presidential Lakes and other neighborhoods close by.
History · King George
Port Conway
James Madison, the fourth president, was born here on the Rappahannock in 1751, at Belle Grove, his mother’s family home. The house that stands there today is a private inn.
Getting around
Fredericksburg, Maryland and DC
Route 3 runs through the middle of the county to Fredericksburg and I-95. US 301 crosses the Potomac into Maryland on the Nice/Middleton Bridge, rebuilt with four lanes and opened in 2022 (E-ZPass tolls apply). Route 205 connects to Colonial Beach.
| Dahlgren | about 15 minutes from King George |
|---|---|
| Colonial Beach | about 25 minutes |
| Fredericksburg | about half an hour on Route 3 |
| Southern Maryland | across the Nice/Middleton Bridge on US 301 |
| Washington, DC | 1¼ to 1½ hours |
Typical drive times; traffic around Fredericksburg and DC varies.
Where to live
Neighborhoods & land
Homes range from established neighborhoods near the county seat, like Presidential Lakes, to communities near Dahlgren, waterfront homes at Fairview Beach and on the Rappahannock, and acreage out in the country.
The county's public schools are run by King George County Schools; families living on the Dahlgren base attend the Department of Defense school there.
Thinking about King George?
Whether you're coming for a job at Dahlgren or looking for more land and quiet, Jessica can show you around and help you find the right fit.
More: King George County · Visit King George · Caledon State Park
