| We're considering living in Arlington and sending kids to DC private not too far from Tenleytown. What can we expect from the evening commute?? |
| The only way to really know is to test it yourself during the times you'd be driving. |
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OP, need to understand where you work and what part of Arlington you're considering to be able to answer this question.
I'd say that this is doable if you're living close to the Chain Bridge in Arlington and can use it to cross the river, although the rush hour lane reversals on Canal Rd could be a complication if you need to return to Arlington after dropping kids off. |
| We're thinking near courthouse or clarendon. Currently work close to Tenleytown, but live near the border of DC and Silver Spring, so the drive is a different direction entirely. |
| I live close to Chain Bridge and do that commute. It is a piece of cake. However, I wouldn't think it as easy from Clarendon or Courthouse. You would more likely take Key, and I think that is more congested. |
Just stay overnight at whole foods |
This is plan B. |
| Not bad. 30 min maybe if traffic is bad. Cut 5-10 off going through a neighborhood. |
| I go from CC to Virginia Square and back daily, 30 minute commute before 8:00am and at 5:00pm. If you go later expect it to be at least 45 min to an hour. Traffic going the other way is much more congested. |
I live near Courthouse/Clarendon and commute over Chain Bridge. Getting to Chain Bridge isn't so bad (usually go Lorcom/Military), but the bridge/Glebe can get a little backed up. I've taken Key occasionally in the morning and getting over the bridge, heading left towards Canal/Foxhall/Nebraska, isn't too bad. Heading right into Georgetown/Wisconsin isn't as easy though. I think it'd be a 25-30 minute drive with typical AM traffic. As for the evening commute - I don't do it now, but for a stretch I did drive from Rock Creek Park (by the Nature Center) back home in the early evenings (5:30) and it was completely fine. Took Nebraska/Foxhall/Canal. Not sure if it gets backed up more later in the evening. |
| ^ should have mentioned that the commute time was for a relatively early AM departure (7:30) and it probably gets longer as the morning progresses. |
| Why not just live in NW DC? Prices are comparable to North Arlington for similar houses and since you send your kids to private you have no school concerns (and the public schools are good in that area btw, but boundaries are up in the air right now). |
| Be sure you know that you cannot go into the city on RCP in the morning, as all lanes go southbound. Then you cannot go northbound in the afternoon between 4-6. I find that the biggest factor in doing a reverse commute. |
What is RCP, please? |
Rock Creek Parkway - but I wouldn't go that way for Tenleytown anyway |