Commuting to downtown DC and Baltimore: suggestions to where to move?

[Anonymous]

why dulles? bwi is closer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks again to all, very helpful.

I suppose that an other criterion is whether one has to fly often or not. If so, I suppose distance to Dulles will also come into the picture, rigth?

There's BWI (Baltimore-Washington International Airport, also called Thurgood Marshall) in Maryland. It is actually pretty easy to get to. There's even a MARC train stop. It's an international airport, lots of direct flights.

Dulles is in Virginia. And really, there is no place *near* Dulles that would be a tolerable commute to Baltimore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Dulles is in Virginia. And really, there is no place *near* Dulles that would be a tolerable commute to Baltimore.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all.

Anonymous wrote:Move to DC. I did the commute to Baltimore for 2 years. Easy as pie. It was all against traffic. It took 45 minutes - tops. We lived in NE so it was near South Dakota and 295. We now live in Colonial Village and it would be really easy from here.

And you would say that it's a good idea to school two children in a public school in downtown DC?

I have also looked at Montgomery county, and, on Google map, it's only a 55 min drive away from Baltimore. If this is true, I am wondering if the extra school quality might not be worth the 2x 10 min commute. Or what am I missing please?

My daughter goes to public school in downtown DC. She plays on an urban farm, was taught to cook by a professional chef and is in brand new 70 million dollar building. What do you know about DC schools out in Podunk anyway?

[Anonymous]

I commuted to Balto from Silver Spring 2 days/week for a year, never took me more than 45 minutes. Traffic into Baltimore is nothing compared to DC. Driving to downtown DC is about 30 minutes, metro is 35-40 depending on parking situation.

Plus great schools, which is not happening in PG or DC.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that reverse-commute MARC schedules are more limited than Baltimore to DC schedule. When my DH took MARC from Baltimore on occasion, he had to leave the office by 6 I think or he'd miss the last train.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks again to all, very helpful.

I suppose that an other criterion is whether one has to fly often or not. If so, I suppose distance to Dulles will also come into the picture, rigth?

If Dulles is the ONLY airport that works for your flights, then Frederick might end up being the least bad of all worlds. Otherwise, use BWI.

[Anonymous]

New poster here. I am also curious about this commute . How would living in Bethesda or Chevy Chase work? Can the OP's wife take the red line to somewhere and connect to the Baltimore-bound train? Or would it be too long, and therefore car is better? If Bethesda or Chevy Chase are not practical options, would Silver Springs be a more realistic one?

Good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that reverse-commute MARC schedules are more limited than Baltimore to DC schedule. When my DH took MARC from Baltimore on occasion, he had to leave the office by 6 I think or he'd miss the last train.

This is wrong. My partner does the reverse commute on MARC, and trains run later than that. I believe the last train is closer to 10pm. It's just that after 6pm, the trains don't run as frequently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I commuted to Balto from Silver Spring 2 days/week for a year, never took me more than 45 minutes. Traffic into Baltimore is nothing compared to DC. Driving to downtown DC is about 30 minutes, metro is 35-40 depending on parking situation.

Plus great schools, which is not happening in PG or DC.

When did you do this commute? I think traffic from SS to Baltimore is more like an hour, if not more. Not to mention, a lot depends on *where* in Baltimore the person is commuting. But if it is downtown Baltimore, I don't see 45 min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that reverse-commute MARC schedules are more limited than Baltimore to DC schedule. When my DH took MARC from Baltimore on occasion, he had to leave the office by 6 I think or he'd miss the last train.

This is wrong. My partner does the reverse commute on MARC, and trains run later than that. I believe the last train is closer to 10pm. It's just that after 6pm, the trains don't run as frequently.

You're right, it is different on different lines. My DH used the Camden line and the last train left at 6:15.

http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/CAMDEN_quick2013.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I commuted to Balto from Silver Spring 2 days/week for a year, never took me more than 45 minutes. Traffic into Baltimore is nothing compared to DC. Driving to downtown DC is about 30 minutes, metro is 35-40 depending on parking situation.

Plus great schools, which is not happening in PG or DC.

I've been on threads recently where people say that isn't happening in Silver Spring either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I commuted to Balto from Silver Spring 2 days/week for a year, never took me more than 45 minutes. Traffic into Baltimore is nothing compared to DC. Driving to downtown DC is about 30 minutes, metro is 35-40 depending on parking situation.

Plus great schools, which is not happening in PG or DC.

When did you do this commute? I think traffic from SS to Baltimore is more like an hour, if not more. Not to mention, a lot depends on *where* in Baltimore the person is commuting. But if it is downtown Baltimore, I don't see 45 min.

I would add a lot also depends on *when*. People I've talked to and from forums online, most people say that commuting from Silver Spring to Baltimore during rush hour is at least an hour and is longer coming back in the evening (partly because even though you are doing a reverse commute, you are still going to deal with Silver Spring rush hour traffic).

I would suggest OP do the drive during rush hour a few times to really find out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all.

Anonymous wrote:Move to DC. I did the commute to Baltimore for 2 years. Easy as pie. It was all against traffic. It took 45 minutes - tops. We lived in NE so it was near South Dakota and 295. We now live in Colonial Village and it would be really easy from here.

And you would say that it's a good idea to school two children in a public school in downtown DC?

I have also looked at Montgomery county, and, on Google map, it's only a 55 min drive away from Baltimore. If this is true, I am wondering if the extra school quality might not be worth the 2x 10 min commute. Or what am I missing please?

My daughter goes to public school in downtown DC. She plays on an urban farm, was taught to cook by a professional chef and is in brand new 70 million dollar building. What do you know about DC schools out in Podunk anyway?

Your daughter is at Walker Jones? So are you planning to send her there through 5th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I commuted to Balto from Silver Spring 2 days/week for a year, never took me more than 45 minutes. Traffic into Baltimore is nothing compared to DC. Driving to downtown DC is about 30 minutes, metro is 35-40 depending on parking situation.

Plus great schools, which is not happening in PG or DC.

When did you do this commute? I think traffic from SS to Baltimore is more like an hour, if not more. Not to mention, a lot depends on *where* in Baltimore the person is commuting. But if it is downtown Baltimore, I don't see 45 min.

A couple of months ago. Woodside to downtown Baltimore. 29 to the ICC, 95 right into downtown. 45 minutes like clockwork. Maybe 50 minutes home, that was more variable.