McLean, Virginia
McLean is a community of 49,627 people in Fairfax County, Virginia, founded in 1910.
Why visit McLean
Townapedia lists 89 museums and landmarks, 93 parks and trails, 254 places to eat, 19 places to stay and 21 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include AMC Tysons Corner 16, Glen Echo Park Aquarium, Salona and Ashton Heights Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 26°F.
Weather in McLean
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About McLean
McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The community's population was 50,773 at the 2020 census. It is located between the Potomac River and Vienna within the Washington metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article McLean, Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do21
Stratford University
School · 2.8 mi
University in US and India
7777 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church
American Legion Memorial Bridge
Bridge · 2.0 mi
Potomac River crossing between the states of Maryland and Virginia, United States
American University
School · 5.7 mi
Private liberal arts and research-based university in Washington, D.C., USA
Great Falls
Waterfall · 4.9 mi
Waterfalls on the Potomac River in Maryland and Virginia
Marymount University
School · 4.3 mi
Private Catholic university whose main campus is located in Arlington County, Virginia
9 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks89
Salona
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Plantation in Virginia, United States of America
1214 Buchanan Street
Ashton Heights Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.6 mi
Human settlement in Arlington County, Virginia, United States of America
Benjamin Banneker: SW-9 Intermediate Boundary Stone
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Surveyors' boundary marker stone, along what was once a boundary of Washington, DC
Bethesda Theatre
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.1 mi
Movie theater and theater in Bethesda, Maryland, United States
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Birch House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic house in Falls Church, Virginia
Bois Doré
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
House in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Castle Gatehouse, Washington Aqueduct
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.0 mi
Pumping station at the Georgetown Reservoir, Washington, D.C., United States
Cherry Hill Farmhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Historic house in Arlington County, Virginia
Cherrydale Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.6 mi
Historic district in Virginia, United States
Cherrydale Volunteer Fire House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.0 mi
Fire station in Virginia, United States of America
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
National Historical Park located in the District of Columbia and the states of Maryland and West Virginia
Colony Hill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.1 mi
Neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
77 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds93
Carderock Springs Neighborhood Conservation Area
Hiking and trails · 2.8 mi
Neighborhood Conservation
6615 80th Place, Cabin John
Fort Ethan Allen
Park · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Historical fort utilized as an Arlington County park, in Virginia, United States
Scott's Run Nature Preserve
Park · 1.3 mi
Nature preserve in Virginia, US
7400 VA 193, McLean
81 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes254
Basecamp Coffee Roasters
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.9 mi
8461 Leesburg Pike, Vienna
Mo-Fr 08:00-22:00; Sa 08:00-21:00; Su 08:00-20:00
Bluestone Lane
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.6 mi
1671 Silver Hill Drive, McLean
Mo-Th 07:00-16:00; Fr 07:00-17:00; Sa-Su 07:30-17:00
Cafe Tatti
Restaurant · French · 1.4 mi
6627 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Mo-Sa 11:00-14:30,17:00-22:00; Su closed || "open for groups of 60+ only"
Chiang Mai Thai Cookhouse
Restaurant · Thai · 0.9 mi
6828 Old Dominion Drive
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:00
Circa
Diner · American · 2.6 mi
1675 Silver Hill Drive
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:00-21:00
Crust Pizzeria Napoletana
Restaurant · Pizza · 3.0 mi
8415 Old Courthouse Road
Mo-Th,Su 11:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00
El Tio Tex Mex Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.0 mi
1433 Center Street, McLean
Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Fish Taco
Restaurant · Mexican, Seafood · 2.6 mi
1644 Boro Place, Tysons
Mo 10:30-20:30; Tu-Th 10:30-21:00; Fr 10:30-21:30; Sa 11:00-21:30;...
Fogo de Chão
Restaurant · Brazilian, Steak House · 2.1 mi
1775 Tysons Boulevard, McLean
Mo-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:30-22:30; Su 11:30-21:00
242 more on the map.
History
The community received its name from John Roll McLean, the former publisher and owner of The Washington Post. Along with Stephen Benton Elkins in 1902, he bought the charter for the Great Falls and Old Dominion Railroad. Completed in 1906, it connected the area with Washington, D.C. McLean named a railroad station costing $1,500, of which $500 was raised locally, after himself, where the rail line (traveling on the present route of Old Dominion Drive) crossed the old Chain Bridge Road. The community itself was founded in 1910, when the communities of Lewinsville and Langley merged.
From the History section of McLean, Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay19
Churches and places of worship47
Holy Transfiguration Melkite Catholic Church
Church · Greek Catholic · 2.5 mi
8501 Lewinsville Road, Mclean
Shopping54
Gas and EV charging27
Schools, colleges and libraries69
Healthcare17
Urology Surgical Consulting
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.3 mi
8180 Greensboro Drive, McLean
Kaiser Permanente Tysons Corner Medical Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.0 mi
8008 Westpark Drive, McLean
Map of McLean
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 26°F | 3.3 in | 2.9 in |
| Feb | 46°F | 27°F | 3.2 in | 1.4 in |
| Mar | 55°F | 34°F | 4.2 in | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 68°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 66°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 59°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 47°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 36°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 47°F | 30°F | 3.8 in | 0.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dalecarlia Rsvr (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Fairfax County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-09-11: Hurricane Florence (Hurricane)
- 2016-03-07: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Idylwood 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
- Falls Church 4 mi south, about 7 min by car
- Potomac 5 mi north, about 8 min by car
- Bethesda 5 mi northeast, about 8 min by car
- Arlington 7 mi southeast, about 11 min by car
- Lake Barcroft 7 mi south, about 11 min by car
- Bailey's Crossroads 7 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- North Bethesda 8 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- Annandale 8 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Great Falls 8 mi northwest, about 12 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Hickory Hill, circa 1870, McLean, VA (25091801775), Beltway Photos, CC BY 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 151107 (14096974553), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 151131 (14073766572), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 161158 (13890246239), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 161200 (13890266198), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 151550 (14073729541), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 160713 (14053765476), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 151421 (13890332770), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 151415 (14073730971), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 151454 (13890303809), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 151529 (13890328778), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- McLean Community Center entrance McLean VA 2023-12-22 09-54-51, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- Dolley Madison Library front McLean VA 2023-12-22 09-48-12, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- 2016-01-22 10 06 16 View south along the outer loop of the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) about one and a quarter miles north of Exit 45A (Virginia State Route 267 West, Reston, Herndon, Dulles..., Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2016-01-22 10 06 21 View south along the outer loop of the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) about 1 mile north of Exit 45A in McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- McLean Community Center back entrance McLean VA 2023-12-22 09-49-08, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- 2016-07-04 07 31 20 View north along the inner loop of the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) 1-2 mile south of Exit 44 (Virginia State Route 193-Georgetown Pike, Langley, Great Falls) in McLean..., Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-06-28 12 26 58 View south along Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) from the overpass for Virginia State Route 738 (Old Dominion Drive) in Mclean, Fairfax County, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dolley Madison Library side McLean VA 2023-12-22 09-50-16, G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0
- 2019-06-28 12 27 45 View north along Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) from the overpass for Virginia State Route 738 (Old Dominion Drive) in Mclean, Fairfax County, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Secretary Tillerson Meets With UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in McLean (34313401290), U.S. Department of State from United States, Public domain
- Secretary Tillerson Meets With UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in McLean (33888075613), U.S. Department of State from United States, Public domain
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 151733 (13890304907), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Flooding in McLean IMG 20140430 151757 (14073728901), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 2016-07-04 07 31 55 View north along the inner loop of the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) at Exit 44 (Virginia State Route 193-Georgetown Pike, Langley, Great Falls) in McLean, Fairfax County..., Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- McLean, VA IMG 6251 (6654613313), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- McLean, VA IMG 6242 (6654610201), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- McLean, VA IMG 6285 (6654624011), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- McLean, VA IMG 6283 (6654623033), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- McLean, VA IMG 6244 (6654611387), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- McLean, VA IMG 6246 (6654612433), Kit Case, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Salona, McLean, Virginia, Mckaysalisbury, CC BY 3.0
- Robert Llewellyn Wright House, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 4602 17th St N, Waverly Hills Historic District (Arlington, Virginia), KudzuVine, Public domain
- Glen Hurst, DC, AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BIRCH HOUSE, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CORNWELL FARM, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2016-10-27 11 23 37 View east along Virginia State Route 193 (Georgetown Pike) at Seneca Road (Virginia State Secondary Route 602) in Great Falls, Fairfax County, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spring Hill Farm - McLean VA, ZeWrestler, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ashton Heights Historic District 01, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
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