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Major city · United States

Reston

Give Reston one night as a Dulles base or a half-day for Lake Anne Plaza; its real draw is the Silver Line into Washington, DC, 45 min away.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity)
Airport
IAD
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Reston is a planned community of about 58,000 people, 32 km west of Washington, DC, built from 1964 around Lake Anne and now anchored by Reston Town Center and two Silver Line Metro stations. Sights are thin and spread out; the town works best as an airport-adjacent base or a quiet stop between DC and Dulles.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Reston, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–7
  • Sit-down mealReston Town Center dinner, mid-rangeBefore tax and tip.$25–45
  • BeerDraught beer$7–10
  • Taxi, about 5 kmRideshare, 5 km$12–20
  • Metro or bus rideSilver Line Metro rideDistance-based; peak and off-peak differ.$2–6.75 (check)
  • Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$180
  • Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$170
  • High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$280

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$145 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Lake Anne PlazaReston Town CenterSilver Line Metro to Washington, DCPlanned-community design
Airports
IAD Washington Dulles International (About a 10-min drive; the Silver Line also serves the airport.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Reston: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

6°C

−4°C

10 rd

Feb

8°C

−3°C

9 rd

Mar

13°C

1°C

10 rd

Apr

19°C

6°C

10 rd

May

24°C

12°C

11 rd

Jun

29°C

17°C

10 rd

Jul

31°C

20°C

11 rd

Aug

30°C

19°C

9 rd

Sep

26°C

15°C

8 rd

Oct

20°C

8°C

8 rd

Nov

14°C

3°C

9 rd

Dec

8°C

−2°C

10 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The Silver Line runs to Washington, DC in about 45 min and to Dulles airport in a few stops. Fairfax Connector buses cover the town; Capital Bikeshare and the Reston path network suit short trips. Roads wind and a GPS helps.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Washington, DCgo

Door to door: About 1 h

Silver Line Metro from Reston Town Center or Wiehle-Reston East

No driving or parking; the Smithsonian museums are free.

Herndon

go

Door to door: About 20–30 min

Fairfax Connector bus or a short drive west

Better budget and ethnic restaurants than Reston.

Falls Churchgo

Door to door: About 30 min

Dulles Toll Road east, then Route 7

Restaurant strip worth an evening.

Mount Vernon

go

Door to door: About 50 min

Drive via the Beltway and Route 1

Half a day with the estate and grounds.

Lorton

caution

Door to door: About 35 min

Drive south on Fairfax County Parkway

Workhouse Arts Center is the main stop; little else.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Reston Town Center

Hotels, restaurants and the ice rink on one walkable block; Silver Line station nearby.

Sunrise Valley Drive

Business hotels with airport shuttles; quieter, car-first.

Lake Anne

The original 1960s village; small, low-rise, best for a quiet night.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–180 excl. bed
High
$180+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$170US$170
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$145US$290
Silver Line Metro, Reston to Washington, DC, both ways2 × US$13 · checkUS$26
Rideshare, Dulles airport to Reston Town Center1 × US$25 · checkUS$25
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$54
Trip total≈ US$298 per person per day, bed includedUS$595

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–7
Casual lunch$12–20
Reston Town Center dinner, mid-rangeBefore tax and tip.$25–45
Draught beer$7–10
Silver Line Metro rideDistance-based; peak and off-peak differ.$2–6.75 (check)
Rideshare, 5 km$12–20

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Reston is a low-crime suburban town; the real risks are traffic on the parkways and unlit path sections after dark. 911 covers police, fire and ambulance.
  • Reston is car-first outside Reston Town Center; pavements do not connect everything.
  • Summer afternoons are hot and humid; plan indoor stops midday.
  • Metro fares and hours change; check WMATA before a late return.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Fairfax County non-emergency police
703-691-2131

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

RestonReston

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Fairfax County non-emergency police703-691-2131

Embassy

No embassies in Reston; they are in Washington, DC, about 45 min by Metro.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Metro Reston → Washington, DC: about $6.75 peak, 45 min (check)
  • Rideshare Dulles → Reston: $20–30, about 15 min (check)
  • Fairfax Connector bus: about $2, exact change or card (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the Metro station? — Where is the Metro station?
  • The check, please — The check, please

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Reston. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources