Reply to Commuting from DC/Bethesda to Columbia, MD

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[quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele]I live near Columbia Heights and have driven to Columbia in the morning many times. You can probably make it in 45 minutes, but an hour is more realistic. Traffic on 29 is really not that bad and moves pretty fast once you get out of the downtown Silver Spring area. I've also made the Bethesda - Columbia trip in the morning. It's best to take the beltway from Connecticut Ave. to 29. There is a little congestion by the Georgia Ave. on ramp, but otherwise not too bad.

But, all bets are off in bad weather (which, in DC, includes a mild rain) or a wreck. 
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Based on your experience, do you think Bethesda or Columbia Heights was the easier commute?[/quote]

It depends on the starting point in Bethesda. Some place around downtown Bethesda would be easier, but if you mean Bethesda near Mass Ave. or River Road, it would add a lot of time.

To clear up some of the above discussion about whether Columbia Heights is close to 29, I would avoid Georgia Ave. (which is 29 in DC) and take 16th Street up to 29. 16th Street north in the morning is a breeze -- especially because you can go about 80 through the Shepherd Park area (joking, I know you guys hate that).  Strictly speaking, once you know the roads, you can find better ways using neighborhood streets to avoid going all the way to 29 and, instead, jog through Silver Spring to avoid the few blocks from 16 St/Colesville Rd.  through Colesville/Dale.

Frankly, I don't find either the Bethesda or Columbia Heights to Columbia commutes very appealing. I'm a big fan of Columbia Heights and would choose that if those were the only choices. But, I would be tempted to look closer to downtown Silver Spring or even parts of Shepherd Park and Brightwood (great neighborhoods but maybe not walkable enough for you). In these areas, things can change block by block and some parts are a lot more walkable than others. Who knows what will happen with the redevelopment of Walter Reed? That could change the equation entirely.
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