View source for Northern Virginia Regional Commission

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<div class="vw-place-intro">The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) is a regional government agency that helps localities coordinate on shared concerns across Northern Virginia. It is not a visitor attraction, but its trail maps and information about the region can help travelers and residents explore the area. <ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.novaregion.org/8/About-NVRC
 |title=About NVRC
 |website=Northern Virginia Regional Commission
 |access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref></div>

== What the commission does ==
NVRC provides information and professional and technical services to its member local governments, and serves as a forum for regional coordination. Its work spans local-government interests, rather than operating as a tourism office or a single public attraction.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.novaregion.org/8/About-NVRC
 |title=About NVRC
 |website=Northern Virginia Regional Commission
 |access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

The commission is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia under the Regional Cooperation Act. Its board is made up of elected officials appointed by member jurisdictions; representation is based on population.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.novaregion.org/8/About-NVRC
 |title=About NVRC
 |website=Northern Virginia Regional Commission
 |access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

== Member communities ==
NVRC’s 13 member local governments are Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park, and the towns of Dumfries, Herndon, Leesburg and Vienna.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.novaregion.org/61/Commissioners
 |title=Commissioners Listed by Jurisdiction
 |website=Northern Virginia Regional Commission
 |access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref> These communities offer very different experiences, from the historic core of [[Alexandria, Virginia]] to outdoor destinations and small-town centers across [[Northern Virginia]].

== History ==
NVRC began operating on December 10, 1947, as the Northern Virginia Regional Planning Commission, created under Virginia’s Regional Planning Act of 1944. Its structure and name changed as state regional-planning laws evolved; it adopted its current name in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.novaregion.org/592/NVRC-History
 |title=NVRC History
 |website=Northern Virginia Regional Commission
 |access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

== Trails and regional maps ==
For visitors interested in walking, biking or exploring regional landscapes, NVRC’s recreational-trails work is one of its most directly useful public-facing resources. The commission coordinates with land managers and other partners on trail safety, connections and accessibility, including sections of the [[Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail]] in Northern Virginia.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.novaregion.org/1556/Recreational-Trails
 |title=Recreational Trails
 |website=Northern Virginia Regional Commission
 |access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

NVRC’s online maps include a walking-and-biking trails data warehouse, drawing on active data sources maintained by local governments and other organizations. The commission notes that data formats and spatial accuracy can differ between sources, so use the maps as a planning aid and confirm route conditions and access details with the relevant local land manager before setting out.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://novaregion.org/1579/Maps
 |title=Maps
 |website=Northern Virginia Regional Commission
 |access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

The commission also provides an interactive dashboard for the Northern Virginia portion of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, with maps and information about trail features and resources. Trail segments, amenities and access can vary, so check current details before a visit.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.novaregion.org/299/Potomac-Heritage-National-Scenic-Trail
 |title=Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
 |website=Northern Virginia Regional Commission
 |access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

== Planning a visit ==
NVRC is based at 3040 Williams Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, Virginia. The commission lists weekday office hours and a main telephone number; confirm current arrangements before visiting, as the office is an administrative workplace rather than a visitor center.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url=https://www.novaregion.org/8/About-NVRC
 |title=About NVRC
 |website=Northern Virginia Regional Commission
 |access-date=October 24, 2026
}}</ref>

For a broader trip, use NVRC’s regional resources to find trail information, then plan stops through the individual community or attraction pages. Nearby guides include [[Fairfax County, Virginia]], [[Prince William County, Virginia]], [[Arlington County, Virginia]] and [[Northern Virginia Travel Guide]].


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== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.novaregion.org/8/About-NVRC About NVRC — Northern Virginia Regional Commission]
* [https://www.novaregion.org/592/NVRC-History NVRC history]
* [https://www.novaregion.org/1556/Recreational-Trails Recreational trails]
* [https://novaregion.org/1579/Maps Trail maps]
* [https://www.novaregion.org/299/Potomac-Heritage-National-Scenic-Trail Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail in Northern Virginia]
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[[Category:Virginia guides]]