Located in Fairfax County, Virginia, Reston sits roughly 20 miles west of Washington, D.C., and immediately east of Washington Dulles International Airport. The community is situated in the Piedmont region, characterized by gently rolling terrain, dense deciduous forests, and a network of small streams and creeks.
Water is a central feature of Reston's geography, largely by design. The community contains four major man-made lakes: Lake Anne, Lake Thoreau, Lake Audubon, and Lake Newport. These water bodies not only provide aesthetic beauty and recreational opportunities but also serve as vital storm-water management systems.
The overarching geographical ethos of Reston is the preservation of nature. Large swaths of land were set aside during development to remain as undisturbed woodland, ensuring that residents are never far from nature. The community is bordered by the Difficult Run stream valley to the east and the Sugarland Run valley to the west.