TV channels & antenna towers in Oakton, Virginia

Oakton has 43 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 32 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WDCN-LD, 4.2 miles to the E.

Open Oakton in the live finder

43TV transmitters within 70 miles

10networks over the air

4.2 mito the closest tower

34,166population

Network channels in Oakton

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWTTGFox	5	12 mi	61° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWPXW-TVION	66	12 mi	61° ENE	Strong	Manassas, VA
CWWDCWCW	50	12 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
NBCWRC-TVNBC	4	12 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
TLMWZDC-CDTelemundo	44	12 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
UNIWFDC-DTUnivision	14	12 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Arlington, VA
MeTVWDME-CDMeTV	48.1	12 mi	71° ENE	Good	Washington, DC
ABCWJLA-TVABC	7	13 mi	68° ENE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWHUT-TVPBS	32	13 mi	68° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
CBSWUSACBS	9	13 mi	68° ENE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWETA-TVPBS	26	13 mi	68° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWWPX-TVION	60	35 mi	315° NW	Weak	Martinsburg, WV
CBSWJZ-TVCBS	13	47 mi	48° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
ABCWMAR-TVABC	2	47 mi	48° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
NBCWBAL-TVNBC	11	47 mi	48° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
CWWNUVCW	54	47 mi	48° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
FOXWBFFFox	45	47 mi	48° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD

Over-the-air TV in Oakton

Oakton is a city of about 34,200 people in Virginia. There are 43 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 25 full-power, 6 Class A, 11 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 32 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 26 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 21 transmitters are within 25 miles, 6 between 25 and 45 miles, and 16 farther out. Nine of the 17 network stations in range are licensed to Washington, DC, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Washington's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 2 (WMAR-TV), CBS on channel 9 (WUSA), NBC on channel 4 (WRC-TV), Fox on channel 5 (WTTG), PBS on channel 26 (WETA-TV), CW on channel 50 (WDCW), ION on channel 66 (WPXW-TV), Telemundo on channel 44 (WZDC-CD), Univision on channel 14 (WFDC-DT) and MeTV on channel 48.1 (WDME-CD). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (strong signal). 10 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Which way to point your antenna in Oakton

Point your antenna ENE, at about 67°. The main network towers for Oakton sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

11 network stations, WTTG, WPXW-TV, WDCW, WRC-TV and WZDC-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 12 miles northeast of Oakton (61° ENE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 16 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Oakton at fair strength or better, 56% arrive from the east; the rest are spread across one other direction.

All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Oakton, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Oakton

The farthest main network tower for Oakton is WETA-TV (PBS), 13 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WMAR-TV (ABC), 47 miles northeast, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for that one.

WTTG is only 12 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

Other stations near Oakton

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 26; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WDCN-LDLow power	4.2 mi	96° E	Good	Fairfax, VA
WDCAFull power	12 mi	61° ENE	Strong	Washington, DC
WMDO-CDClass A	12 mi	71° ENE	Good	Washington, DC
WRZB-LDLow power	12 mi	71° ENE	Good	Washington, DC
WWTD-LDLow power	12 mi	71° ENE	Good	Washington, DC
WDCO-CDClass A	12 mi	71° ENE	Good	Woodstock, VA
WIAV-CDClass A	12 mi	71° ENE	Good	Washington, DC
WJALFull power	13 mi	68° ENE	Good	Silver Spring, MD
WDDN-LDLow power	15 mi	58° ENE	Fair	Washington, DC
WDWA-LDLow power	21 mi	36° NE	Weak	Damascus, VA
WFPTFull power	26 mi	359° N	Good	Frederick, MD
W10DE-DLow power	33 mi	77° ENE	Weak	Washington, DC
WMPTFull power	38 mi	76° ENE	Good	Annapolis, MD
WQAW-LDLow power	38 mi	76° ENE	Poor	Lake Shore, MD
WDVM-TVFull power	39 mi	278° W	Good	Hagerstown, MD
WUTBFull power	47 mi	48° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
WMPBFull power	48 mi	35° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
WMJF-CDClass A	52 mi	46° NE	Poor	Towson, MD
W13DV-DLow power	55 mi	224° SW	Poor	Rapidan, VA
WVPYFull power	56 mi	276° W	Fair	New Market, VA
W08EE-DTranslator	57 mi	315° NW	Poor	Martinsburg, WV
WLZH-LDLow power	59 mi	42° NE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
WWPBFull power	64 mi	326° NNW	Fair	Hagerstown, MD
W13DW-DLow power	65 mi	85° E	Poor	Annapolis, MD
WMDEFull power	65 mi	85° E	Poor	Dover, DE

How Oakton compares with the rest of Virginia

With 32 stations at fair strength or better, Oakton ranks 14th of 381 places in Virginia: more than the typical Virginia town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 12 miles away, against a state median of 21 miles.

33% of Virginia's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Centreville, 7.4 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Oakton: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 68° ENE, the direction of WETA-TV (PBS), 13 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
Expect around 32 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Oakton, VA?

ABC is on channel 2 from WMAR-TV, broadcasting from 47 miles NE of Oakton. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Oakton, VA?

CBS is on channel 9 from WUSA, broadcasting from 13 miles ENE of Oakton. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Oakton, VA?

NBC is on channel 4 from WRC-TV, broadcasting from 12 miles ENE of Oakton. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Oakton, VA?

Fox is on channel 5 from WTTG, broadcasting from 12 miles ENE of Oakton. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is PBS in Oakton, VA?

PBS is on channel 26 from WETA-TV, broadcasting from 13 miles ENE of Oakton. Estimated signal: strong.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Oakton?

43 transmitters within 70 miles of Oakton; around 32 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor antenna. Each station usually carries several subchannels, so the total channel count after a scan is higher.

Which direction should I point my TV antenna in Oakton?

Point your antenna ENE, at about 67°. The main network towers for Oakton sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Oakton?

Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks. Picking up ABC from up to 47 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Oakton?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Oakton?

Yes. The free RCA Signal Finder app for iPhone and Android uses your phone's GPS and compass to show which way each tower is from where you stand.

TV channels in nearby Virginia cities

More: all TV stations in Virginia · South region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Oakton; signal estimates ignore terrain.