Commute from Silver Spring to Ballston

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone. I'm moving back to DC and am taking a job in Ballston. I'd really like to live in the Silver Spring/Takoma area but am worried about the LONG Metro commute. Does anybody else do this and how approximately how long does it take?

Alternatively - I don't know many Arlington neighborhoods but can anybody recommend some neighborhoods that are pedestrian friendly (ie, parks, restaurants, coffee shops in walking distance) and affordable (up to $550,000 for a SFH or TH)? I'd like to avoid the newer developments that are all townhomes - nothing against them, just not my style.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would not do a Silver Spring to Ballston commute if I could help it. It would probably take at least an hour and more like 1.5 hours door to door. I used to live at Va Sq metro and work in SSpring, so the opposite direction. Driving or metro would take about the same time--too long!

Arlington has an ART bus and parts of Arlington might have what you want, but 550 is cutting it close for a single family unless you want only a very small house. Also, lots of Metro buses connect in Ballston so that might be your way to go. Most of Arlington is ped. friendly but the closer you want to live to Clarendon, the more expensive it is.

You should find an Arlington real estate agent who could go over some neighborhoods with you.

[Anonymous]

I commute from East Falls Church to Silver Spring everyday. It's 45 minutes on the metro, I can read, listen to music, nap back and forth. I think my commute is just fine...and it beats gridlock traffic on the beltway.

[Anonymous]

I can't speak about the commuting via metro but by car that would be a rough commute. I did the drive from Bethesda to Ballston for awhile it was bearable using the backway (120 North (I think Glebe Road) to get to the GW Parkway, get off at River Road and weave thru to neighborhood. Wasn't fun though in snow or rain taking the back way because right near Chain Bridge/to get onto GW Parkway are some 15 mph curves. If you wanted to look at Bethesda there are small SFH (ramblers) and townhomes under 550K. Most of them though aren't walking distance from the metro but sort of in the area between 270 and 495. I noticed quite a few of the townhouses (including ones that are within metro walking distance) are what I think of as "condo" townhouses - they look like a townhouse but have condo fees of at least several hundred per month. I am not familiar with Arlington so no advice there.

[Anonymous]

I just drove from Silver Spring to Clarendon this morning around 7:45 am, and the trip only took 40 minutes (beltway at colesville exit to GW Parkway to 50 West). I don't drive it regularly, so maybe that was a fluke, but I was surprised how fast it was. I do think the evening commute would be worse though.

[Anonymous]

For Arlington, the key to keep prices down is to live far enough from the metro that you can't walk to it. The bus route goes everywhere so you can rely on that but the price really does skyrocket the closer to the metro you are. That being said, just start doing a search zipcode by zipcode. In 22205 there are some cute neighborhoods - check out Westover which has a small strip of neighborhood shops. Unfortunately, most of the restaurants etc. in Arlington are in the Ballston/Clarendon corridor which is pretty pricey but y ou may stumble across a deal (do a zip search for 22201). Another zip is 22207 which is also pricey but there is a pocket in the area between Lee Highway and Glebe (behind a nice strip of shopping that has some cafes) that might work. Also, I don't know the zip code but the neighborhood on the other side of Route 50 from Clarendon near Columbia Pike has some great pockets as well.

[Anonymous]

yes, the evening commute on the inner loop of the beltway would be more than an hour at least, every day.

[Anonymous]

There are many apts/condos in Arlington and Falls Church that have shuttles to the metro.

[Anonymous]

I go from Friendship Heights to Ballston every day. It's a 20-35 minute commute depending on traffic (if you're driving). I think it's super easy and pretty drive over the Chain Bridge. You might consider this area b/c there's a ton to walk to around here (shopping, grocery stores, parks, etc.) and it's still easy to get to places.

[Anonymous]

PP here. BTW, in FH, $550 will only get you a condo.