Anyone commute from Kensington to Tysons?

[Anonymous]

I think I may have a job offer coming this week for a job that I'm not 100% sure that I want and a big part of the reason is the commute, which I am picturing to be horrendous. Currently, I work downtown and can take the red line from Forest Glen to Metro Center. Door to door, my commute is about 45-50 minutes each way on average, sometimes up to an hour if the trains are wacky. I work in the office 4 days a week. It sounds like a long commute but I am on the train or waiting at the station for a lot of it so I can get a lot of reading done or just zone out.

This new job is in Tysons and I think I may be able to get away with going to the office only 3 days a week (I hope). Without traffic, it takes 22-25 minutes each way but with traffic, I am imagining it is horrendous. Any guesstimates on how long it will realistically take from those who do this every day? Also, is there another route that is quicker other than the Beltway?

The job could potentially be great in many ways but just not sure I am up for two hours a day on 495.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We live in Wheaton at Plyers Mill and Georgia so not far from Kensington. My husband had been commuting to Tyson's until working from home recently. Before all the construction out there he could leave the house at 8 and be there by 8:30. Recently it was taking him closer to 45-60 minutes. The commute back home is totally unpredictable depending on many factors including what time of day you leave. It took him anywhere from 30-120 minutes. He often went through DC simply because he was at least moving and not just frustrated in traffic on 495. Definitely prepared yourself for a bear of a drive but it is doable particularly only a few days a week or if you have flexible hours. FWIW, I wouldn't take a job there based on commute alone because the unpredictability would drive me crazy.

[Anonymous]

One thing that would help is to get off the beltway after the Am. Legion bridge onto GW Parkway, and then take 123 to Tysons. Or you could get off there and take Georgetown Pike to 123.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for your input. I didn't really think about the GW Parkway option--that's smart. I've been a metro commuter for so many years so driving every day in crazy traffic freaks me out. As much as Metro isn't perfect, at least I can read a book.