I’m going to share five things you need to know before you pack your bags and head to Fredericksburg, VA.

We’ll explore everything from commuting tips to local parks so you’re ready to call Fredericksburg home.

0:20 Tip #1 - HOT Lanes
1:05 Tip #2 - Fredericksburg sits in 2, kinda 3 counties
1:45 Tip #3 - Yes, It’s Dog Friendly
3:09 Tip #4 - Activities & Things To Do
4:13 Tip #4 - Real Estate Tips

Getting Around Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is located just an hour north of Richmond and an hour south of DC. My first tip is that the Hot Lanes do not go all the way down to Fredericksburg—at least not yet. But the good news is if you're thinking of buying a house in the downtown Fredericksburg area and plan on commuting, most homes are just a quick walk to the VRE.

Of course, that only works if you're living downtown. If you're outside of downtown Fredericksburg, you probably do need a car just to get to the commuter lot. But if you're looking for something in a subdivision, you definitely can find either a smaller lot in a community or a home on acreage. 

There are numerous carpool lots, and yes: you can eventually get to the Hot Lanes to travel wherever you're going in the Northern Virginia or Washington DC area. At some point, those lanes may even take you from Fredericksburg down to Richmond.

A Town And A City

Tip two is an interesting thing about Fredericksburg: it’s a town and also a city. Depending on where you're looking on a map, the northern part of Fredericksburg actually sits in Stafford County. The southern part of Fredericksburg, which is kind of below the Rappahannock River, sits in Spotsylvania County. 

This means that Fredericksburg could be in Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, or it could be in Fredericksburg City—which is the third component. This refers to the downtown Fredericksburg area. It can be a little bit confusing, so you really need to pay attention to which county you sit in because that's the county you're paying taxes to. 

Dog-Friendly Fun

Tip number three is that Fredericksburg is a very dog-friendly city. This is near and dear to my heart because I am a dog lover and a fur baby mommy. The downtown area of Old Town Fredericksburg is especially welcoming of your pooch, as you can take your dog to the farmer's market, walk around downtown, and see people of downtown Fredericksburg walking around with their puppies pretty much wherever you go. 

Additionally, many local restaurants will even have the dog water bowl sitting right outside. There's a restaurant called Sammy T’s, located right on Caroline Street, that lets you sit outside with your furry friend while you eat. It’s one of my favorites. And if you go there, order the Bean & Grain Burger with the lemon tahini sauce. It's so good. Most of the other restaurants and shops all along Caroline Street are dog-friendly.

Fredericksburg is also home to two well-known dog parks. The first one is on Kenmore Avenue near Mary Ball Street, featuring a fenced-in area for downtown residents and their fur babies. The second one is the Duff Dog Park located at 75 James Ashby Parkway. They offer a 7,500 square foot dog park for puppies that are under 30 pounds, and they have a 15,000 square foot dog park for puppies that are over 30 pounds. They also have a large off-leash area for dogs that's almost seven acres, allowing them to freely roam around. It's fenced in on three sides and is bordered by the Rappahannock River on the other, which is pretty cool. You can let your dogs roam and play all they want. 

Plenty To See And Do

Have you ever thought on the weekends that you’re bored and have nothing to do? Well, that is not even a concern in Fredericksburg. For my fourth tip, Fredericksburg has event after event to keep you entertained. There’s so much to see and do, from sports tournaments to visiting the new baseball stadium and catching a game of the Fredericksburg Nationals. There are also expos, colonial camps, classic car shows, concerts in the park, farmer’s markets, outdoor movies, Restaurant Week, PorchFest, and much more. 

There is always something to do day or night in Fredericksburg. If the weather's nice, you can even rent a paddleboard or kayak and paddle down the Rappahannock River. Sometimes you can even go tubing down it as well. And if you have kids, pick up lunch and enjoy a picnic right on the Riverfront Park and let the kids run around and play with the water features and the unique play area. 

The cool thing about Riverfront Park is its Fredericksburg first Smart Park. This means it provides public WiFi and even security cameras, allowing you to feel safe while you're there. There's even a running and a biking path right along the river, providing you with plenty of places where you can run around and get exercise. 

Housing Options

Tip number five, I do sell real estate. You will afford a lot more for your money if you buy down in Fredericksburg as opposed to going up in Northern Virginia for the same house. You might be spending roughly $100,000 more. So the further north you go, the more expensive the house. 

I will say that if you're going to buy a home in Old Town, Fredericksburg, not only do those homes tend to be a lot older, but they are also a little bit more expensive. This is because they are unique and sometimes historic properties. However, if you don't mind having a little bit further commute, living in Fredericksburg is a great option and alternative if you're commuting up to DC or even going down to Richmond, Virginia. 

Make Fredericksburg Your Home

I hope this gave you a little bit of insight as to why you might want to move to Fredericksburg, Virginia. We help people relocate to the Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Northern Virginia areas every single day, and we would love the opportunity to do the same for you. Make sure to reach out and I’ll be happy to help!