Ballston is a neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia and is home to a stop on the Orange Line of the Washington Metro.

Formerly known as Parkington, Ballston grew after the development of greater Washington's Metro rail system. It is home to tall modern apartment complexes and condominiums, the Ballston Common Mall, and to many restaurants and bars, such as Carpool, Front Page, Rock Bottom and Bailey's.

Ballston is also home to several U.S. government agencies and organizations including NSF (National Science Foundation), INS (Immigration) and ONR (Office of Naval Research).