Tips for someone who is new to a long driving commute

[Anonymous]

Sorry to burst your bubble - I made that commute from Arlington for a few months and in the fall/winter it is 1.5 - 2 hours coming home if it rains. It is actually shorter if it snows because people won’t go to work. But god help you at 6pm when it gets dark later in the year and rains. I still have nightmares of those commutes.
I started having an overnight bag in my car and would just get a hotel room instead of making that commute.

[Anonymous]

There was a really good podcast recommendation thread here: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1074190.page
Always download beforehand because sometimes my phone can’t run Waze or Google maps while streaming.

[Anonymous]

I would use the time to just chill and listen to the radio. Often I would stop halfway home to grocery shop or whatever and then have no traffic the rest of the way home..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would use the time to just chill and listen to the radio. Often I would stop halfway home to grocery shop or whatever and then have no traffic the rest of the way home..

Similar, but I would go to Mom's and get healthy dinner food, or go to a yoga class near work until 7pm. drive home relaxed. I didn't have animals or children and I could not have worked that far away if I was a solo caregiver (I'd be too anxious to get home).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - your commute is not going to be 50-70 minutes if the job is actually in Baltimore. Maybe with no traffic, but you'll hit traffic. I'd seriously consider moving, even if its to the Union Market area or Silver Spring

NY Avenue corridor is an integral part of Dante’s Inferno. Inner loop from 95-S to BW Parkway even worse.

[Anonymous]

If you gym, consider gyming at the office/by the office before or after work (which ever makes the commuting hours better).

I did Baltimore (Camden Yards area) to Rockville for a 9-5 job. I could do 45 minutes in the AM, but it was at least an hour in the PM (using the ICC and with ideal traffic). So I would double check the math on Arlington to Baltimore, but it could be right depending on where exactly you are going (Baltimore City Center vs outskirts of the metro area).

Otherwise, audiobooks were great. If you have an older car, may be worth looking into getting a head unit/stereo with Apple Play or w/e the Android version is called. Also, check traffic before you leave.

I would lobby for the VRE and MARC to connect. At least that way, you can relax on the train.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you gym, consider gyming at the office/by the office before or after work (which ever makes the commuting hours better).

I did Baltimore (Camden Yards area) to Rockville for a 9-5 job. I could do 45 minutes in the AM, but it was at least an hour in the PM (using the ICC and with ideal traffic). So I would double check the math on Arlington to Baltimore, but it could be right depending on where exactly you are going (Baltimore City Center vs outskirts of the metro area).

Otherwise, audiobooks were great. If you have an older car, may be worth looking into getting a head unit/stereo with Apple Play or w/e the Android version is called. Also, check traffic before you leave.

I would lobby for the VRE and MARC to connect. At least that way, you can relax on the train.

They connect at Union Station.