Culpeper is one of the nicest little towns in America, with a thriving business community, great people, and easy access to the nation's capital and its surrounding economy. Culpeper is close to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, James Madison's Montpelier, and James Monroe's Ash Lawn-Highland. It's an easy drive past picturesque horse farms and active vineyards to the Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive and Luray Caverns. And for history buffs and Civil War enthusiasts, we're right down the street from the battlefields of Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, Fredericksburg, Bull Run, and Appomattox.

Culpeper business is actually split into 2 parts. The old city is the same as it was 150 years ago, with a dichotomy of retail shops, quaint restaurants, coffee houses, and professional offices in the same buildings that were used while the troops roamed the streets during the Civil War. Just to the north of the city are all the big regional and national supermarkets, box stores, restaurants, and retail outlets including a 24-hour Super WalMart, Ruby Tuesdays, and Taco Bell.

Did you know?

• Culpeper was originally called Fairfax after Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron.

• The original town was surveyed by a young George Washington.
• Culpeper was the first municipality south of the Mason-Dixon Line to install fluorescent street lighting.
• Culpeper is where the accident occurred that paralyzed actor Christopher Reeve.

Commuting to DC from Culpeper can be difficult, but it is possible. Many Culpeper residents do it everyday. It's a tradeoff. The opportunity to live in one of America's best communities for the added time of traveling back-and-forth during the week.

There are various alternatives available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Carpooling:

Many Culpeper residents carpool. It won't take long to figure out that it is a lot quicker taking the HOV lanes with an extra passenger than waiting in traffic by yourself.

Warning!!! Do not try to take the HOV lanes without 2 people in the car. They will catch you and it's very expensive.

Commuter Bus from Eastern View High School to Rosslyn and Downtown DC

A commuter bus leaves Eastern View High School every morning at exactly 5:00 AM. The bus makes a stop in Warrenton and has you in Rosslyn by 6:30 AM and in and around DC by 7:00 AM. Each afternoon, the bus swings through Rosslyn around 4:00 PM and into DC starting around 4:20 PM. The bus will normally have you back in Culpeper by about 6:45 PM.

The bus is run by Scenic America out of Bealeton. The cost is $290 per month.

Disadvantage: Just one bus out and one bus in per day. It's a long walk if you miss it (see Commuter Connection should that happen).

Martz Busses out of Fredericksburg

The Martz Bus Line has numerous busses leaving Fredericksburg each weekday morning and coming back each evening. Fredericksburg is about a 45 minute drive out Route 3 from Culpeper.

Virginia Railway Express (VRE)

The VRE runs out of Manassas and Fredericksburg each day with several outbound trains to choose from in the morning and the same number inbound in the evenings.

Amtrak

The Amtrak train stops at the depot in downtown Culpeper, but it's too expensive to use as a regular means of commuting and the times are not conducive to regular working hours.