Exploring Nokesville in Scenic Prince William County

Stretching to meet the Potomac River, Prince William County shines with beauty at every turn.

Protected forests, green fields, deeply rooted history, and echoes of some of the best live performances in the D.C. Metro area, Prince William County is the gem of Northern Virginia.

And in the agricultural heart of Prince William County is Nokesville. Don’t let that moniker fool you, though, because Nokesville places you right in the middle of everything rural, urban, and all that is in between.

But what is it like to live in Nokesville? In a word: extraordinary. Here are some of the best ways to explore Nokesville in scenic Prince William County.

Explore Nokesville’s History

Officially becoming a town in 1865, Nokesville had already seen its share of Civil War battles. Visiting Bristow Station Battlefield Heritage Park will take you back through time to that devastating, yet important, period in our nation’s history. Gloriously spread across 140 acres, you’ll be surrounded by fields, woods, and ponds teeming with abundant wildlife—and the past. Two Civil War battles were fought here, and you can explore them on your own through over 2.7 miles of walking and equestrian trails (or take one of the tours available throughout most of the year).

Stretching even further into the past is Effingham Manor and Winery. The manor house dates back to 1767, with many original features still intact. On the grounds, you can see the Lewis and Clark Red Cedar tree. This was one of two living trees brought back from the Lewis and Clark expeditions in the very early 1800s, and was gifted to William Alexander, Effingham Manor’s builder. William is also a descendant of the Alexanders that Alexandria, VA was named for!

Explore Nokesville’s Nature

Nokesville is known for its farms, and these three are some of the most exciting and enjoyable for your whole family to explore.

If you want your home full of flowers, then visit Burnside Farms. They have two pick-your-own-flower events: the Festival of Spring and the Summer of Sunflowers. Add a fall market and a local place to find your next Christmas tree, and you can easily see why Burnside Farms is so popular.

But maybe you need to stretch yourself a little and want to stretch with a goat. Little Goat Farm at the Lake is perfect for you. Situated on picturesque Lake Manassas, Little Goat Farm features sustainable food, farm tours, private parties and, of course, goat yoga!

And for just being around nature, travel to the nearby Merrimac Farm. This 302-acre Wildlife Management Area is gorgeous. With more than one acre of land along Cedar Run and a 7-acre island, you’ll have adventure after adventure in this lush slice of Northern Virginia.

Explore Nokesville’s Arts & Entertainment

Living in Nokesville puts you nearby (but not too nearby) to two major entertainment venues. About 11 minutes away, you can enjoy the two theaters of the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Complemented with educational resources (it is part of George Mason University, after all) and art exhibits, you’ll be treated to local performances from dance companies, the Manassas Symphony Orchestra, and more. Plus, visiting artists from Jane Lynch to various international philharmonic orchestras means they’ll always be something exciting to enjoy.

Just a little farther away is Jiffy Lube Live. This 25,000-seat amphitheater shows off the skills of some of the biggest names in music. From Tim McGraw, to the Backstreet Boys, to Matchbox 20, to Nikki Minaj, to Iron Maiden, all the best come to Jiffy Lube Live. Every style of music is welcome, featured, and enjoyed by countless audiophiles in the Washington, D.C. area—but living in Nokesville means you can rock to the tunes without having a long trek home afterwards!

Explore Nokesville’s Dining & Shopping

Great dining and shopping experiences are easy to come by in Nokesville. Let’s start with two nearby shopping destinations. First, there’s Virginia Gateway where you can discover over 120 shops, restaurants, and services. 

Not wanting to come second place, there’s also Potomac Mills. This is Virginia’s largest outlet mall where you’ll delight in over 200 stores and 25 places to dine. Potomac Mills is so big, it’s divided into neighborhoods!

And finally, for something much closer to home, there’s Cedar Run Brewery. Championing locally sourced ingredients, this farm brewery runs on 10 acres of a 97-acre farm. Family-friendly Evergreen Acres, which is a place to explore all on its own, includes a pumpkin patch, Christmas tree farm, and more! Not content with only some of the best brews in the area, Cedar Run Brewery also invites local food trucks to visit for even more tasty options.

Explore Nokesville from Your Atlantic Builders Home

Atlantic Builders has been building homes in the area for over a quarter of a century, and winning awards along the way. We have some incomparable homes in Nokesville, which you can check out right here. And, of course, if you already own land in Nokesville, Atlantic Builders can build a home on your land too!