Know anyone who commutes from Annapolis to DC? Or Annapolis parent forum?

[Anonymous]

We're thinking of moving to the Annapolis area. But the commute scares me. I work in Farragut. I think I could find a new job closer to Annapolis with time. DH is super specialized and works at the Pentagon. I'm hoping someone had some real world thoughts on the commute and whether the benefits of living out there are worth it. Or if anyone knows of an Annapolis area parent forum or something I could turn to.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We used to live there. The commute was actually not that bad but I took the commuter bus, which I loved! The other good option is driving at non peak hours but you have to leave super early. It was a little too slow for HSBC we personally had no interest in living in Severna Park (where the "good" schools are) so we moved closer to the city. Bug good luck! There are tons of people who love it!

[Anonymous]

PP, how early is early? We are looking at Edgewater mostly. Can you provide a little more info on what you mean by "slow"? In theory we figure we will go into Annapolis about as much as we go into DC now, which isnt much! (We live in silver spring.) the biggest things we do are playgrounds, walks & the zoo. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

The commute from Annapolis to the Pentagon is horrible.

I knew a person who commuted from Annapolis. he took a commuter bus, but he said it only works if you have very predictable hours. The computer bus picked up/dropped off at ONE time, so it's not like a train or metro, where there multiple times.

And I don't know where you think you might find work closer, unless you are considering working at Ft. Meade or the Naval Academy. There really isn't a huge job market in Annapolis. There are some law firms, some professional firms (architects), but there aren't many big employers. Most white collar people I know who live in Annapolis either work in law, the medical field, Ft. Meade/NSA/ Naval Academy or they commute to somewhere else.

I would wait until you actually get work closer to Annapolis to make the move. Because for two people, one commuting to DC and the other to Virginia, Annapolis does not make sense.

[Anonymous]

Why not Fredreicksburg? You can take VRE to Metro...

[Anonymous]

I had a coworker who commuted from Annapolis to Farragut. She hated it, especially in the summer the commute back out Fridays is awful (all the beach goers on 50).

I live in Crofton and take the Marc Penn Line. Anything along that at least you don't have to drive and unlike the VRE in Virginia, it runs both directions all day. Personally, I wouldn't tack on that extra distance to Annapolis. I also hate the drive from 50 into DC, there isn't as straight a shot as from Virginia (we moved from Fairfax).

Definitely wouldn't live out here if it wasn't closer to DH's job. Having long commutes for both parents — if you have kids — is stressful.

[Anonymous]

I live in annapolis, I know a lot of people who commute to DC. The options seem to be drive off hours, commuter bus, or train from the station that is about 20 min away. Commute to the pentagon would be horrible.

[Anonymous]

I did it for a few years. A drop obtain made the commute a mess. I drove to the metro and them rode from there. Usually took over an hour sometimes way more. We loved living there but not worth the commute.

[Anonymous]

Drop of rain

[Anonymous]

I work with two people who commute from Annapolis to the Mark Center (Alexandria -10 min from Pentagon). They drive through DC and both think it's not that bad, and in fact easier than when we worked in Ballston. One works only off hour 7am to 3pm. The other has a schedule which varies, though he does work from home one day a week

[Anonymous]

I did the other way, but I would see the other side. Man there is a lot of traffic on normal days on 50 at rush hour. About every third day there was an accident that would f-things up. A few times they shut down the highway to land a chopper to fly out out the people hurt. One time saw a semi burning in the middle of 50, flame 30-40 feet in the air. The police are out there most days ticketing. During the summer on Fridays you can get caught up beach traffic. After that you or dh will have to deal with 495 and normal dc traffic.

[Anonymous]

What benefits are you talking about? Unless you have a lot of money you ain't going to see the bay and down town annaplois is concert, parking, and very disconnected from the water.

[Anonymous]

On a perfect day 45-55 minutes. Two hours in the car and 70ish miles a day, that's a lot of wear and tear on the driver and car.

[Anonymous]

Why do you want to move to Annapolis? I enjoy visiting Annapolis but its a trek even for a weekend day trip (from DC). Can't imagine commuting from there.

[Anonymous]

I commute to Farragut from Annapolis via New Carrollton Metro (commuter bus has its merits but it takes me longer with more constraints). A bit further, actually. If you have to ask or be convinced, then no, the benefits are not worth it. That said, I do think Annapolis compares favorably to places of similar distance. But Pentagon is a real stretch from there, even at 0-dark-30.