Located in Fairfax County, McLean is just eight miles northwest of downtown DC, yet feels worlds away. Tucked between the scenic George Washington Parkway and Potomac River to the east, and the center of Tysons Corner to the west, McLean stretches almost 10 miles along Old Dominion Road.

McLean is home approximately 50,000 residents, including many diplomats, members of Congress, and high-ranking federal government officials. The Central Intelligence Agency is headquartered in McLean, along with several national companies, including Capital One, Booz Allen Hamilton, Freddie Mac, Hilton Worldwide, Gannett, and the Mars Candy Company.

McLean History

History abounds in McLean! McLean was named in honor of John R. McLean, publisher of The Washington Post and stockholder of the local Great Falls and Old Dominion Railway. Members of the Kennedy family (including President and Mrs. Kennedy) lived at Hickory Hill, a 18th-century Georgian mansion. McLean is also home to Salona, a 19th-century estate and former home of Revolutionary War hero, Light-Horse Harry Lee. Visit Turkey Run Park to soak up some Civil War history. The CIA Museum offers a unique look at the history of our nation’s intelligence efforts.

McLean Real Estate

While McLean real estate may be most known for its upscale residences and famous residents, it does offer various home styles and price points. In 2023 modest condos start in the mid $200,000s. For a townhome, prices are in the mid $500,000- mid $1M range. A smaller detached home will start in the $1M range. For one of McLean’s large luxury homes, expect to spend at least $2,000,000. A luxury home with a river view will cost upwards of $5,000,000 in the McLean real estate market.

Popular neighborhoods in McLean are Langley Forest, West McLean, Chesterbrook Gardens, Ingleside, Salona Village, and Westhampton. The most common home styles seen in McLean are Colonial, French Provincial, and contemporary, mixed in with some split levels, ramblers, and Arts and Crafts style homes.

McLean Entertainment

Clemyjontri Park is a wonderful, fully ADA accessible children’s park, complete with a classic carousel. Take a hike on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, part of Turkey Run Park.

McLean Community

Community life is vibrant in McLean, with many active community organizations and cultural opportunities. The McLean Community Center offers classes, lectures, camps, art exhibits, theatre performances, and specialty shows. It also sponsors the annual McLean Day, the McLean 5K road race, and 4th of July fireworks. Its theater program, Alden Stage, brings nationally-known comedy shows, dance performances, and plays to the community.

McLean Favorites

Downtown McLean offers many unique dining experiences, from Persian at Amoo’s Restaurant to Thai at Esaan Tumbar, to southern Italian at Pulcinella. Stop into Greenberry’s Coffee & Tea for your morning cup o’ joe or Sweetbites to get your sugar fix.

In downtown McLean, shoppers will love browsing through Betsy and Cornelia’s, an upscale consignment shop. Need a gift? Check out the Preppy Pink Pony for its wide range of personalized and monogrammed items, as well as popular lines like Scout bags and Dana Gibson home accessories. Men can stop in the old-school McLean Barber Shop for a “vintage cut and shave” experience.

For the ultimate shopping and dining experience, head to the famed Tysons Corner Center. With anchor stores like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, and Macy’s, plus over 300 speciality shops, it’s easy to spend a day in this shopper’s paradise. Take a break over lunch at one of Tysons Corner’s many fabulous restaurants, including Capital Grille, Coastal Flats, Gordon Biersch and hometown favorite, Five Guys.

Want to know about McLean real estate? No problem! Let’s go on a neighborhood orientation tour.