A census-designated place bordering the Potomac River
The Countryside neighborhood in Sterling borders the Potomac River and sits about 30 miles from the nation’s capital. It includes the planned community of Countryside, which comprises more than 2,500 condos, townhouses, and single-family homes, as well as its slightly older neighbor to the west, Broad Run Farms, which has fewer homes but larger lots. Neighbors are connected in Countryside – there’s an active HOA, summertime swim team and popular little league program that brings parents and kids together. Nearby Horsepen Run borders the Potomac and offers scenic walking trails and access to the water. “Neighbors know each other’s names – and their dog's names – in Countryside,” explains Donna Lutkins, Realtor and owner of Lutkins Realty Group with Real Brokerage, LLC, who lived in Sterling for 30 years. “It’s the kind of place where parents walk their kids to the bus stop and, after school, they don’t care if they aren’t home until it’s dinnertime and dark outside.”
Countryside is conveniently located near Harry Byrd Highway for access to surrounding areas.
Brick Colonial single family homes are common in Countryside.
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Algonkian Regional Park and Horsepen Run
Open sunrise to sunset, Algonkian Regional Park borders the community and spans about 840 acres. Golfers hit the 18-hole course, boaters launch their vessels onto the water, kids play at Volcano Island Waterpark in the summer and hikers traverse both paved and natural trails. There’s also a playground, mini golf course, picnic areas and a barbecue grill. Countryside HOA members can also enjoy Horsepen Run, a 370-acre wetland nature preserve, for strolls along their 10-mile trail network. But Lutkins says, “No one follows the HOA thing. No one in Countryside cares if others use the park. All the kids go to the same school, so people are friendly; everyone takes care of it, and everyone uses it.” A neighborhood Boy Scout project brought a rope bridge over streams, and there’s an old shot-up car from the 1950s that was never moved. Motorized boats float through the Potomac, but water sports aren’t very popular because, as Lutkins puts it, “you could walk across the Potomac.” Locals do, however, take advantage of kayaking and fishing, as well as the expansive trail system. “Some trails are paved, and others are natural,” Lutkins says. “You’ll see mothers pushing strollers on some and dirt bikers on others.”
Welcome to Algonkian Regional Park in Potomac Lakes.
Volcano Island provides Countryside families a fun way to cool off your summers.
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Countryside Homeowner’s Association and Lower Loudoun County Little League
Countryside’s active HOA meets at the local clubhouse, where Lutkins says, “They have meetings, a woman’s group and a book club. They do a lot of events throughout the year, and in the summer, they have a swim team.” When it gets warm, parents relax on lounge chairs and beach towels while children splash in the water. Lutkins also notes that Lower Loudoun County Little League, with football and baseball programs, is very popular with parents and kids alike. At the beginning of baseball season, there’s an opening day parade for kids.
Potomack Lakes Sportsplex has 4 baseball fields for practices and games.
Play a game of soccer at Bles Park with their multiple fields in Ashburn.
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Homes near the Potomac River
Countryside homes are located off winding suburban streets, with well-established trees in most yards and two-car garages attached to most houses. Broad Run streets are more linear and wooded, offering a greater sense of privacy between dwellings. Potential homebuyers can find houses built as far back as the 1960s in Broad Run Farms, whereas construction on Countryside homes started in the mid-1970s. Most properties were built in Colonial Revival and New Traditional stylings, with a few ranch-style and split-level homes mixed in. Single-family homes typically cost between $600,000 and $1.2 million, with homes closer to the Potomac River occupying the top of that range. “You can’t see the river from Countryside, but you can walk to it and be there in 15 minutes or less,” Lutkins explains. Townhouses are also available, both older units and new builds, and they typically cost $400,000 to $600,000 depending on size, condition and age.
A charming Colonial single family home in Countryside has a red brick exterior.
Modern condos with balconies allow owners to watch the sun set in Countryside.
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Walking to Loudoun County Public Schools
The area is served by Loudoun County Public Schools. Students can attend Countryside Elementary School and River Bend Middle School, which both receive B-pluses from Niche. They can finish their public education at Potomac Falls High School, which earns an A from Niche and offers nearly 30 Career and Technical Education courses in a variety of subjects. “There are two main high schools in Sterling – Potomac Falls and Dominion,” Lutkins explains. “Kids are best friends whether they go to one high school or the other, and parents know each other. You always see kids riding their bikes or walking to school.”
Countryside Elementary has a fun playground for students during recess.
River Bend Middle School shows off its school spirit in Loudon County Virginia.
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Countryside Commercial and Professional Center
The community has its own shopping and business center – the Countryside Commercial and Professional Center. It’s anchored by CVS Pharmacy and Lotte Plaza Market, an Asian grocery store. In the morning, locals grab coffee and pastries from Tous les Jours Café, while Delia's Pizzeria and Grille of Countryside, a local mom-and-pop spot, is popular for dinner. A short drive down Pigeon Hill Drive leads to Regal Center, a shopping and dining area connected to Countryside Commercial and Professional Center, which is also walkable from some townhomes. Here, there’s an Aldi for a quick grocery run, some fast-casual and sit-down restaurants and a few ice cream stores. About 3 miles down Virginia State Route 7 is One Loudoun, a retail, dining, and entertainment destination where folks can attend a summer concert, take a fitness class, or grab dinner and a movie. It also has a Trader Joe’s grocery store and a Barnes & Noble bookstore. And, for a weekend of clothing shopping, the Dulles Town Center mall is about a mile south.
A resident stops for a warm cup of coffee on a cold winter day in Countryside.
The Potomac Taphouse offers expertly made drinks and American cuisine.
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30 miles to Washington, D.C.
Countryside is about 30 miles from the nation’s capital, and locals can get there using the Reston Town Center Metrorail, about 12 miles south, on the Silver Line or by using one of the numerous surrounding Park & Ride bus stations. “People in Loudoun plan their life around rush hour – this isn’t like HGTV where a 15-minute commute is a long time,” Lutkins explains. “People know that if they have to get to a Little League game at 6:00 they need to leave work by 5:00 – 4:30 if it’s raining.” In case of emergency, the Inova Loudoun Hospital is about 5 miles west. And when it’s time to fly, the Dulles International Airport is about 7 miles south.
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