Commuting from Arlington to stafford

[Anonymous]

Has anyone done this? On google maps it is about 45 miles (395 to 95) and since it is the reverse commute it should take about 55 minutes with typical traffic leaving my house at 7 am and leaving work at 5 pm. What I'm worried about is how often there are delays / accidents and all of that. I could deal with about 1 hour each way, but if that one hour turns into 1.5-2 hours a few times a week it wouldn't be worth it. I also have to pick up my kids by 6:30 so that is an issue too.

[Anonymous]

That stretch is one of my least favorites - there are ALWAYS backups. Mid week, during the day, on the weekends, during rush hour. You name it.

[Anonymous]

Horror. Just a horror.

As 13:42 said, massive jams at any time with no predictability other than it will be often.

[Anonymous]

I'd expect a 2-hour commute each way. Daily.

[Anonymous]

I would not want to do this. I used to commute on 395/95 from Arlington to Fort Belvoir and the mornings were usually predictable but in the afternoon 95 (I only know about the portion just outside the beltway but I think the portions to the south are worse) and 395 can get backed up on a somewhat regular basis. If there is ever a major accident that shuts down the road, there are not many alternate routes so you can just get stuck sitting in traffic for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not want to do this. I used to commute on 395/95 from Arlington to Fort Belvoir and the mornings were usually predictable but in the afternoon 95 (I only know about the portion just outside the beltway but I think the portions to the south are worse) and 395 can get backed up on a somewhat regular basis. If there is ever a major accident that shuts down the road, there are not many alternate routes so you can just get stuck sitting in traffic for a long time.

I think this is different now that the express lanes are open. 95 clogged for some reason...hop on the express. You may be $5 poorer, but you'll get the hour of your life back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not want to do this. I used to commute on 395/95 from Arlington to Fort Belvoir and the mornings were usually predictable but in the afternoon 95 (I only know about the portion just outside the beltway but I think the portions to the south are worse) and 395 can get backed up on a somewhat regular basis. If there is ever a major accident that shuts down the road, there are not many alternate routes so you can just get stuck sitting in traffic for a long time.

I think this is different now that the express lanes are open. 95 clogged for some reason...hop on the express. You may be $5 poorer, but you'll get the hour of your life back.

These lanes are open in the opposite direction than this commute. In the morning the lanes are northbound, while the OP will be heading south from Arlington.