Area dossier · AR—06 · Arlington Co., VA

Shirlington.

A whole walkable downtown that happens to be the size of one good street.

Shirlington is Arlington’s walkable village in Virginia — a compact, pedestrian Village Center of restaurants, a theatre, and a dog-friendly feel just off I-395, south of the high-rise core. It suits relaxed longer stays that want a small-town walkability with a quick drive to the Pentagon. CHG does not operate furnished homes in Shirlington yet; the nearest are in Crystal City.

Pedestrian village center with restaurants and a theatre in the Shirlington district of Arlington, Virginia
Village · relaxed
Pentagon12 min
Reagan / DCA14 min
Amazon HQ213 min
Nearest CHG · Crystal City
Transit on file Metrobus & ARTI-395 access
// from the operator A note on Shirlington filed 2026-06-13

Shirlington is the closest thing Arlington has to a small-town main street — a self-contained, pedestrian Village Center with a restaurant row, a bookstore, a cinema, the Signature Theatre, and a famously dog-friendly pace, just off I-395. It’s the pick for a relaxed, settled longer stay. We don’t run a home here yet; our nearest are a short drive northeast in Crystal City.

CHG — owner-operated, Arlington VA
Who stays here

The Shirlington stay, in one read

A self-contained, pedestrian village center with a strong restaurant row, a regional theatre, and a relaxed, neighborhood pace just off the interstate.

  • Relaxed, village-feel longer stays
  • Travelers driving more than commuting by Metro
  • Dog owners & families wanting walkability
  • A quieter base near the Pentagon
Commute from Shirlington
Destination By Metro By car On foot
The Pentagon straight up I-395 10 min
Reagan National (DCA) via the GW Parkway 14 min
Amazon HQ2 northeast to National Landing 13 min
Virginia Hospital Center short drive 14 min
Washington, DC via the 14th Street bridge 18 min

Area-typical times, rounded for planning. Destinations are places, not specific buildings.

Field notes

What you only learn by being here

The detail a listing never carries — the things an operator who actually works Shirlington would tell you over coffee.

01

A downtown you can hold

Everything — dinner, a film, a play, a bookstore browse — clusters on one walkable strip, so the village reads as a complete little downtown despite its size.

02

Dog-first

The Shirlington Dog Park and the general off-leash culture make it a standing favorite for longer, settled stays with a pet along.

03

Theatre in the village

The Tony-winning Signature Theatre anchors the center — a serious cultural draw most Arlington pockets this quiet don’t have.

Who's nearby

The employers around Shirlington

The anchors that bring people to this area — defense, federal, tech, and healthcare — at the area level, the way assignment travel actually maps.

The Pentagon

A ten-minute drive up I-395

Arlington & Alexandria firms

On the Arlington–Alexandria line

Retail, hospitality & creative

Within the Village Center

Federal agencies

Pentagon-adjacent by car

Loved by locals

What a 30–90 day stay feels like in Shirlington

The lived-in detail — groceries, dining, fitness, and getting around — so a longer stay is solved before you arrive, not figured out on day three.

The Village Center

A walkable strip of restaurants, a bookstore, a cinema, and the Signature Theatre — everything clustered on foot.

Dog- & family-friendly

Shirlington Dog Park and a relaxed, residential pace make it a favorite for longer, settled stays.

Outdoors

Four Mile Run trail and the W&OD connection run right through, with green space along the water.

Getting around

Best by car with easy I-395 access; frequent Metrobus and ART connect to the Pentagon and the Metro core.

An honest note on CHG here

No CHG home in Shirlington yet

Shirlington is the pick for a relaxed, village-feel longer stay near the Pentagon, and it is part of the Arlington map CHG is expanding across. We do not operate a furnished home in Shirlington today — so we will tell you that honestly and route you to our nearest homes in Crystal City, with a straight read on what we can place.

Nearest CHG home

CHG’s nearest furnished homes are in Crystal City — a short drive northeast, one Metro stop from the Pentagon.

CHG is actively expanding across Arlington. Tell us your dates and we’ll give you a straight answer on what we can place near Shirlington.

Shirlington questions

What guests ask about Shirlington

Does CHG have furnished apartments in Shirlington?

Not yet. CHG’s furnished homes sit in the Crystal City corridor of National Landing, a short drive northeast of Shirlington. As our Arlington footprint grows, request a quote and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can place you near Shirlington.

What is Shirlington like?

Shirlington is Arlington’s walkable village — a compact, pedestrian Village Center with a restaurant row, a bookstore, a cinema, the Signature Theatre, and a famously dog-friendly feel, just off I-395 south of the high-rise core.

How far is Shirlington from the Pentagon?

About a ten-minute drive straight up I-395. Shirlington is best for car-based stays; for a one-stop Metro commute to the Pentagon, CHG’s Crystal City homes are the closer fit.

Area dossier AR—06 · last reviewed 2026-06-13 · commute figures area-typical & rounded for planning.

Ready to decide?

Stay near Shirlington with CHG

See CHG’s nearest furnished homes, or tell us your dates and area and we’ll be honest about what we can place — within 24 hours.