Which of these commutes is the least miserable?

[Anonymous]

We live in D.C. but are thinking of buying in one of the suburbs. I work in Rockville and my DH works in the Vienna/Tysons area. McLean and Potomac are out of our price range which means we're looking at Vienna/Fairfax or N. Bethesda/Rockville/Gaithersberg area. So I guess my question is this: Is the 495 between I-66 and I-270 better going in one direction or the other during rush hour?

I may be able to swing a flex-schedule and/or telecommuting with my boss and if that's the case we'll go with VA; but if not, will one of us just have to deal with an hour + commute? We both grew up in mid-size southern cities and are in a bit of denial about the commute times around here.

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Stay away from 66!
My commute is so painful. I am a southern girl, and was in denial too.

[Anonymous]

Check out the HOV rules on 66 and the exemptions for hybrid cars. We weren't planning to drive until we found out we could make it from East Falls Church to DC in 10 min. on 66!!

[Anonymous]

270 south to 495 into virginia is awful. 270 north is ok, but it takes a lot to get to that point, and I don't know how bad that part is.

[Anonymous]

My info is several years old, I did the commute from Georgia Ave to near the Vienna metro in the morning. It was okay, I think because traffic broke into 2 pieces, some going N on I-270 and some going west/south on 495. In the pm rush hour, this commute was horrid, I think for the reverse reason, because the 495 & 270 traffic merged into half the lanes on 495 east. I ended up usually going thru the city to get home (lived inside the beltway). So, if you live in MD, your husband would be okay in am, pissed off in the pm. If my experience is still accurate.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Va and commuted to Rockville. It was OK in the morning (about 45 minutes), but hell on earth in the evenings (often 2 hours, most of it the beltway). We moved right next to my job in Rockville. Two of my Rockville coworkers have spouses who commute to Vienna. One leaves pretty early and one leaves pretty late, to avoid 'some' traffic. They seem to think it's doable, but yes, it is close to an hour.

Having jobs that far from one another sucks, but I know many people in that position. Almost everyone has chosen to have one parent very close to home/school/day care to be available to pick up kids, etc., when necessary.

[Anonymous]

I take 66 during hov time from Vienna and it's a great commute. It takes me about 20 minutes most days from the beltway to the bridge. If you work the system (hybrid, carpool) it works for you.

[Anonymous]

For the commute to Tysons from Rockville, you could take 270 to 495 but then get off at GW Parkway and take that to 123 South to Tysons (or take Georgetown Pike to 123). That would avoid the worst of 495 (from American Legion Bridge toward Tysons). For the return, the Beltway is always a lot worse in both directions for the evening rush. You could always do something similar for the trip home (123 to GW Parkway to 495) and then immediately exit after the bridge onto Clara Barton toward Glen Echo. Exit to MacArthur and then catch Seven Locks up to Rockville. I commute from Rockville (N. Bethesda) to Arlington using a similar route, and it usually takes 35 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes home (including school pickup).

[Anonymous]

OP we live in North Potomac. DH commutes to Tysons and I commute to DC. His commute is much, much better than mine. He takes River to Falls and then Clara Barton to the beltway so even if the beltway is bad, he is not stuck. We are one street over from Potomac and more toward the south but it would only add maybe 10 minutes to your commute to be farther up in the neighborhoods in North Potomac that are more reasonably priced and have a better community feel. The western edge of Rockville right next to Potomac is close to 270 and you can still get down to River/Falls/Clara Barton.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to everyone for responding.

17:29--It's funny that you posted when you did because I was just getting back on to get feedback about the N. Potomac/Western Rockville area and the commute down River Rd. So glad to hear that this is a reasonable option. I think we'll start doing some homework on the area.

Again, thanks to everyone for your sharing your experiences.

[Anonymous]

I briefly commuted from my home in Fairfax (near 495/66) to Bethesda and it wasn't too bad in the morning, but it was not great in the evening. The traffic going the other direction in the evening looked worse, though. (495NW/270N.) I think I'd probably try to live in Fairfax, though, vs. Rockville. 270N is a real pain in the evening, I've heard, and 270S in the morning is pretty awful, so i'd think a reverse commute might be nice. I think in your case, the closer you could live to 495, the better. Maybe something in the Woodson HS area near 495/Gallows Rd/50, or closer to Tysons? (Marshall HS)

You could also think about who is likely to stay at their job longer and plan around that.

[Anonymous]

Whichever you choose, just remember it'll be much worse in 4-5 years. I think PP was spot on: figure out who's going to change jobs, and plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

This is not meant to be snarky. Why don't you just stay in DC, especially upper NW? It would seem to be equidistant to both offices. There are a dozen or more homes on the market right now for <$700K in 20015, 20016, and 20816/Md.

The peer cohort in the elementary and middle school in Ward 3 is as strong as it's going to be in N. Potomac or Vienna, so don't buy let the "omg the schools are frightful" thing.

(H.S., you -may- have an issue, but I predict you and DH won't have your same 2 jobs in the same location when your eldest is 15.)

[Anonymous]

We live in North Bethesda by White Flint. I commute downtown and my husband commutes to McLean via Old Georgetown to 495 - and if 495 is a parking lot, gets off at Clara Barton. It's not horrible by any stretch. My commute downtown is a relative breeze due to the Metro (we're less than 2 miles from Red Line). My husband has some traffic issues going over the AL bridge, but he generally is able to complete in less than 45 minutes (with no traffic it's 25 minutes - but there's never no traffic). He doesn't seem to mind his commute too much.

[Anonymous]

I briefly commuted from my home in Fairfax (near 495/66) to Bethesda and it wasn't too bad in the morning, but it was not great in the evening. The traffic going the other direction in the evening looked worse, though.

I would agree with this. We live at 495 and 50, near Fairfax Hospital. I work in Hyattsville and work 7-3:30. The mornings are easy as long as you leave before 7:30. The afternoons are harder, and that where working the off hours really help. But I agree with the PP that the reverse commute is much worse.