George Mason University (GMU)’s Fairfax campus is located in the City of Fairfax. Unfortunately, there are no hotels in walking distance near the campus. Let’s look at where to stay when visiting GMU.
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Where to stay?
According to their visitor website, they have a special deal with Marriott hotels. Visitors can enter “G57” to get special rates. On their “Where to Stay” page, there are only 4 Mariott hotels listed. I will share more places to stay near the Fairfax campus.
Hotels near GMU Fairfax
Sorted nearest to farthest
Residence Inn by Marriott Fairfax City (1.8 miles)
- 3-star hotel right off Route 66.
- Near the newly renovated shopping center.
- Amazon Fresh store
- Compass Coffee
- Big Buns Damn Good Burgers
- Tobacco Hut
- Denny’s
- 7-Eleven
Hampton Inn Fairfax City (1.8 miles)
- 3-star hotel with plenty dining options
- Dolce Vita Italian Wine Bar
- Burger King, McDonald’s
- 7-Eleven
- Starbucks
- Five Guys
- Panera Bread
- 99 Ranch Market
- Amore 99
- Bebop Korean-Mexican Grill
Best Western Fairfax (2.0 miles)
- 2-star hotel, close to Residence Inn by Marriott
- Very inexpensive rooms.
- Near the newly renovated shopping center.
- Amazon Fresh store
- Compass Coffee
- Big Buns Damn Good Burgers
- Tobacco Hut
- Denny’s
- 7-Eleven
Holiday Inn Express Fairfax City (2.3 miles)
- 2-star hotel, located near Best Western and Residence Inn
- Near the newly renovated shopping center.
- Amazon Fresh store
- Compass Coffee
- Big Buns Damn Good Burgers
- Tobacco Hut
- Denny’s
- 7-Eleven
Comfort Inn University Center (2.4 miles)
- 2-star hotel near Kutner Park
- H-Mart Korean Market
- Great Wall Supermarket
- 7-Eleven
- Wendy’s
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- McDonald’s
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Fairfax, Fair Oaks (2.5 miles)
- 3-star hotel near a big shopping center
- Great Wall Supermarket
- Burlington
- Honor Brewing Kitchen
- Subway
- XSport Fitness
Candlewood Suites (2.9 miles)
- 2-star hotel inside a residential area
- Very good place if you need a quiet room. Unlike other hotels, this one is located in the middle of a mostly residential neighborhood.
- Fairfax Corner shopping center with a variety of restaurants and entertainment options.
Courtyard by Mariott Fairfax, Fair Oaks (2.8 miles)
- 3-star hotel, located next to H-Mart Korean Market
- H Mart has about 10 restaurants inside the market.
- Across the main road, there is another huge shopping center.
Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks Mall (5.2 miles)
- 4-star hotel inside Fair Oaks Mall
- Easy access to the mall and everything inside.
- You will need transportation or a shuttle to reach GMU.
How to get to GMU from the hotels
Let’s look at some transportaion options to GMU from the hotels
Most hotels in this list offer free shuttle service to designated destinations. Residence Inn Marriott provides free shuttle to Mason during GMU’s orientation dates, twice a day.
Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax have Bird & Lime electric scooters on the streets. Consider scooters for transportation needs. Cheaper than Uber and Lyft. I recommend Bird since they have more scooters staged inside the City and the campus.
Useful Links
- CUE Bus Map and Schedule
- Dockless Mobility Program (Bird & Lime)
- Mason Shuttles
Final thoughts
If you are planning on visiting GMU for orientation or just for a visit, always plan ahead. Because there are no hotels near campus, the rate hike is real. For example, Marriott’s lowest rate is $227 a night (as of today). If you don’t need a fancy room with extra services, Best Western, which offers a $86 a night room, could be the right choice for you. One thing is for sure. Wherever you decide to stay, finding a place to eat and shop won’t be a problem.
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