Anonymous wrote:If you have the luxury of choice, I think 20 minutes or less is ideal. I have done 30 each way and for some reason the 20 minute mark is where it started to feel long. I know that sounds crazily precise, but for me there is just something about 20 minutes I guess!

+1. Our commute is 15-17 mins and it would be torture after the 20 min mark. DC to DC.

Keep in mind, the longer your commute time, the more likely your kid’s peers will live far away. You won’t just be commuting to school, you’ll be commuting to play dates, birthday parties, sporting events, school plays and other activities. This will all cut into homework and family time.

45 min is our average commute. While not ideal it was part of the sacrifice we were willing to make. We use the time to listen to news/podcasts, take naps to recharge, snack time and occasionally do homework and/or study for an upcoming test. Obviously a lower commute would be great but being in a great school that we love while also living in a community that we love is enough for us to make the sacrifice.

If you have the luxury of choice, I think 20 minutes or less is ideal. I have done 30 each way and for some reason the 20 minute mark is where it started to feel long. I know that sounds crazily precise, but for me there is just something about 20 minutes I guess!

We have about 25/30 min right now from NW DC to Bethesda. While I’d hoped for the DC schools to pan out, looks like our commute won’t go away next year because the places we are likely choosing are in Bethesda and Potomac. The car ride isn’t bad. We listen to books, podcasts, music, and it’s typically when I hear about all the things happening in their lives at school.

Commute time matters. Particularly in MS/HS. Aim for 30mins or less.

Anonymous wrote:20 to 30 mins for us, depending on traffic.

+1

20 to 30 mins for us, depending on traffic.

My strong preference was no more than 10-15 in lower ES but up to 30 in upper ES-HS since they can do homework.

I commuted to NCS from Reston when I was in school. If we left at 6:55 we usually arrived by 7:50. If we left at 7:05 I would arrive after the 8 am bell. I will never submit my child to that kind of commute. Ours will be about 25-30 minutes next year. It’s 7 minutes this year and boy will I miss that.

What is the farthest commute you know of? I know Great Falls to DC is fairly common, and that sounds like it’s at least 40 in the morning.

I think 25 would be my max.

What age?

We did 20 for MS, and are super lucky to have 10 minutes for HS.

Anonymous wrote:Of course not one person can know all of this, but what is an average commute time for private school in this area? Is 25 minutes too long? At what range do kids risk burn out?

They get used to whatever it is. Ours is about 45 mins. The car time turns into family time and we sing together, talk, go through the days checklist.

My kid is in K and we have a 25 min commute. It’s really no big deal, but I make sure to not schedule anything during the week that she has to do, because I think she’d be too tired for it.

Of course not one person can know all of this, but what is an average commute time for private school in this area? Is 25 minutes too long? At what range do kids risk burn out?