Commuting from Vienna

[Anonymous]

What time do you need to leave downtown to drive back out to Vienna and miss the worst of the traffic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in 22181 (Vienna metro) and commute to DC. DH walks to the Metro station and I drive because I do childcare drop off on the way. The drive can be 20 minutes, door to TR Bridge, if you leave at 6:45 and are HOV on 66. It's more like 40 minutes if you leave at 7:00, and an hour going west bound in the afternoon. The Metro takes 40 - 60 minutes to get downtown if nothing goes wrong. We are looking at moving closer in, but when you factor in local traffic to get to the highway, it doesn't seem like a huge time saver

I like my neighborhood very much ot but, fyi, the "main street" is BS. I try not to go into town.

First, true about the main street being BS. Used to live in Vienna, and the main drag (Maple) is just a section of Chain Bridge with lots of strip malls. There are some good stores, and not all chains, but it is not charming and won't remind you of living in a city. It is pure suburbs.

Second, about the commute, do not live there if your husband is going to have to commute to Rockville. That will be a lot of driving in pretty terrible traffic. Taking the metro from Vienna is not bad, but depending on where you need to go in the city, you are looking at 30-45 minutes of train time, so that doesn't count the time to get to/from the metro station. When I lived there, I worked near the mall on the SW side, and it took me over and hour to commute every day. Parking at the Vienna station can be really frustrating. Dunn Loring is somewhat better.

Third, your proposed budget won't get you all that far in Vienna. Given what I said above, I (obviously) didn't find it worth it to spend what it costs to live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What time do you need to leave downtown to drive back out to Vienna and miss the worst of the traffic?

traffic will be pretty bad from 430pm until 7pm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What time do you need to leave downtown to drive back out to Vienna and miss the worst of the traffic?

before 2:30

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should look in McLean along the beltway if you want VA.

+1. Or just live in MoCo and pay the higher tax rate. It'll be an easier commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What time do you need to leave downtown to drive back out to Vienna and miss the worst of the traffic?

before 2:30

Actually, it is not bad on 66 until just after the Vienna metro station exit. I've done it several times (coming off the beltway) around 5:00 and 66 flows well but backs up right after the Nutley st. exit. So, if you get off there, it's not a problem. Now, you would need to be HOV 2 to use 66 inside the beltway.... and that's why most people metro downtown.

OP, you can definitely find townhouses right by the metro for your pricepoint. You can also find some older houses in that range a little further away from metro, but still close. If you are wanting a modern, 3000 sqft house, ... your budget is not going to work in Vienna/Oakton (the part near the metro). There are older houses in Lake Vale mid 700s and up. There are mansions (new build) for 1.3mil. And there are some 900k houses. There are much older houses (usually no garage) for the 600's. Otherwise, it's townhouses near the metro for 500-750 (depending on whether it has a garage and how new they are). It's a tough market here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of great info on this site, but I'm still a bit confused. We have kids so are looking for a house with enough space and a yard and good schools while still giving us reasonable commutes. I get the sense that if we want to drive into DC we're better off in Falls Church/McLean, but if we want to use metro, we'd be ok in Vienna as long as we're near the Vienna metro station. Are you better of living in Oakton or on the side of Vienna near the Vienna metro stop than you are in other parts of Vienna if you're going to take metro into DC? They're a further drive from DC but it seems like the time shaved off commuting to the metro from the other side of Vienna would be worth it.

I also get the sense that being close but not walking distance away from Greensboro/Spring Hill/Tyson's corner is useless since there is no parking. Is that right? Are there parking areas I am missing for these stations or do people just get dropped off/bike/walk and nothing else?

There's a chance my husband would need to drive into Rockville instead of metro to DC. Google maps make it look like the drive from Vienna is manageable (30 if you catch it right, 45 or 60 minutes if you hit more traffic). Is that accurate?

Thanks!

I think you are pretty much on target. If you want to live in Vienna and take the Metro, the best options are to live near the Vienna Metro or the Dunn Loring Metro, which means preferably 22180 or 22181 not too far from Metro. Keep in mind that the Vienna Metro lots can fill up early with commuters from places like Fairfax and Centreville. The Greensboro/Spring Hill/Tysons Corner stations aren't of much use unless you live in, or are commuting to, Tysons. Falls Church and McLean give you more options (better, in fact, than many Arlington neighborhoods) because you are near Metro stations with parking (the WMATA lot at West Falls Church and the private lot at McLean) and the drive is manageable.

Driving to Rockville from Vienna would be a PITA - better to try and live in Falls Church or McLean near 495 if that's in the cards.


Oakton too! We thought about purchasing out there but I checked out the parking lot at Metro - completely slammed before 7:30 a.m. DON'T DO IT! The commute up an down Maple is awful too. And you never want to have to go over the American Legion Bridge twice a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work in MD, live in MD.
If you work in VA, live in VA.

If you work in DC, you have more flexibility but still base your home on where your office actually is in DC.

+1 This. Live near where you work. Vienna to Rockville, no.

+1000

We work in downtown DC, we live in DC 1.5 miles from the office. Don't inflict yourself with a bridge crossing. That's commuter suicide.

Ridiculous. DC has so many negatives that living elsewhere is usually better.

Disagree. NP. We love living in DC. We're two well-educated professionals with an early elementary kid. Would not move back to the suburbs--commute will only get worse. We're zoned for good schools but will do private for high school if need be.

[Anonymous]

The Main Street of Vienna is a slog during rush hour but it is a great place with lots of activities at other times - nice playgrounds, a town green, a library, a caboose, yoga studios, restaurants, fast food places, whole foods etc. drive out there over the weekend and see for yourself. Then take 123 inside the beltway and see if you like it better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your husband needs to metro in or also get to Rockville, I'd live in N Bethesda 20852 near white flint. Then you can do both those things. No reason to be in Vienna or anywhere in NoVa.

An example:
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Rockville/7020-Sulky-Ln-20852/home/10505424

+1. Great area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you work in MD, live in MD.
If you work in VA, live in VA.

If you work in DC, you have more flexibility but still base your home on where your office actually is in DC.

+1 This. Live near where you work. Vienna to Rockville, no.

+1000

We work in downtown DC, we live in DC 1.5 miles from the office. Don't inflict yourself with a bridge crossing. That's commuter suicide.

Ridiculous. DC has so many negatives that living elsewhere is usually better.

Disagree. NP. We love living in DC. We're two well-educated professionals with an early elementary kid. Would not move back to the suburbs--commute will only get worse. We're zoned for good schools but will do private for high school if need be.

Why are you posting on this thread? OP is NOTcasking about living in DC. Stop being such a nuisance - your personal bio is neither interesting nor relevant here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Main Street of Vienna is a slog during rush hour but it is a great place with lots of activities at other times - nice playgrounds, a town green, a library, a caboose, yoga studios, restaurants, fast food places, whole foods etc. drive out there over the weekend and see for yourself. Then take 123 inside the beltway and see if you like it better.

The cute part is Church St. It's a small strip of road that runs parallel to Maple. While you're there eat at Sushi Yoshi and grab a cup of coffee from Cafe Amouri. Go on a nice day and walk around, check out the little museum, let your kids play on the caboose.

On your way out stop by either Cenans or Silvas Patisserie for some delicious desset to take home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Main Street of Vienna is a slog during rush hour but it is a great place with lots of activities at other times - nice playgrounds, a town green, a library, a caboose, yoga studios, restaurants, fast food places, whole foods etc. drive out there over the weekend and see for yourself. Then take 123 inside the beltway and see if you like it better.

The cute part is Church St. It's a small strip of road that runs parallel to Maple. While you're there eat at Sushi Yoshi and grab a cup of coffee from Cafe Amouri. Go on a nice day and walk around, check out the little museum, let your kids play on the caboose.

On your way out stop by either Cenans or Silvas Patisserie for some delicious desset to take home.

None of that quite compensates for the long commute to DC. Arlington, Falls Church and McLean offer a better commute along with excellent schools. Vienna is fine if you are working in Tysons or out towards Dulles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of great info on this site, but I'm still a bit confused. We have kids so are looking for a house with enough space and a yard and good schools while still giving us reasonable commutes. I get the sense that if we want to drive into DC we're better off in Falls Church/McLean, but if we want to use metro, we'd be ok in Vienna as long as we're near the Vienna metro station. Are you better of living in Oakton or on the side of Vienna near the Vienna metro stop than you are in other parts of Vienna if you're going to take metro into DC? They're a further drive from DC but it seems like the time shaved off commuting to the metro from the other side of Vienna would be worth it.

I also get the sense that being close but not walking distance away from Greensboro/Spring Hill/Tyson's corner is useless since there is no parking. Is that right? Are there parking areas I am missing for these stations or do people just get dropped off/bike/walk and nothing else?

There's a chance my husband would need to drive into Rockville instead of metro to DC. Google maps make it look like the drive from Vienna is manageable (30 if you catch it right, 45 or 60 minutes if you hit more traffic). Is that accurate?

Thanks!

I think you are pretty much on target. If you want to live in Vienna and take the Metro, the best options are to live near the Vienna Metro or the Dunn Loring Metro, which means preferably 22180 or 22181 not too far from Metro. Keep in mind that the Vienna Metro lots can fill up early with commuters from places like Fairfax and Centreville. The Greensboro/Spring Hill/Tysons Corner stations aren't of much use unless you live in, or are commuting to, Tysons. Falls Church and McLean give you more options (better, in fact, than many Arlington neighborhoods) because you are near Metro stations with parking (the WMATA lot at West Falls Church and the private lot at McLean) and the drive is manageable.

Driving to Rockville from Vienna would be a PITA - better to try and live in Falls Church or McLean near 495 if that's in the cards.


Oakton too! We thought about purchasing out there but I checked out the parking lot at Metro - completely slammed before 7:30 a.m. DON'T DO IT! The commute up an down Maple is awful too. And you never want to have to go over the American Legion Bridge twice a day.

The Vienna metro garage is not full before 7:30 am! What is with folks posting myth vs fact. I take metro everyday. I leave as late as 9:30 am and always find parking in one of the garages.

[Anonymous]

Here's a house with 4 bedrooms and a 1 car garage near the metro. Good schools. Great community.

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Vienna/9901-Brightlea-Dr-22181/home/9524068

Here's a house with 4 bedrooms and a 2 car garage near the metro. Good schools. Great community.

https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/va/vienna/2905-gretna-place/pid_14452353/