Don't. Do. It. Trust me.

Following -- may consider the same situation. Looks like Metro train from Wiehle-Reston East to Farragut or McPherson is about 40 minutes.

The Loudoun commuter bus only runs during rush hours. Miss the last bus and you're SOL. Depending on where in Ashburn the commuter's day just got longer by two hours. Means less time with you and the kids.

I wouldn't drive it daily. No easy or direct options. Lots of traffic everywhere, lots of HOV restrictions. Changing weather fouls everything up.

Anonymous wrote:PP (who revived the thread): DH's commute is currently about 50min door to door. I'm okay with taking on most of the daily responsibilities (already happens). DH is great helping out on the weekends, and even a bit during the week. Is a good guess his commute will be around 1hr 15min each way?

Keep in mind that ANY kind of weather will greatly increase this number (rain, snow, ice) and there will be very few other families who have a member doing a commute like this. And I literally know of no one doing it without a SAH wife.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you get in to the city from Ashburn or Loudon?

I'll take, "Things that suck for $1,000, Alex."

I completely agree. I do it everyday and I swear, years have been taken from my life. I will die on that toll road.

THIS.

You don't. Everyone I know who lives in Ashburn works no closer in than Fairfax/reston. A daily commute into DC from here would be hellish.

Anonymous wrote:PP (who revived the thread): DH's commute is currently about 50min door to door. I'm okay with taking on most of the daily responsibilities (already happens). DH is great helping out on the weekends, and even a bit during the week. Is a good guess his commute will be around 1hr 15min each way?

I think that's a good estimate if he works an earlier schedule. Keep in mind that in the evenings route 28 and waxpool add a lot of time to the commute. We pay to take the Greenway in the evenings (not the mornings) and that adds a significant cost.

Anonymous wrote:stop for gas or mail or something every day at the airport, then you can legally use the HOV lanes.

That is against the law.

PP (who revived the thread): DH's commute is currently about 50min door to door. I'm okay with taking on most of the daily responsibilities (already happens). DH is great helping out on the weekends, and even a bit during the week. Is a good guess his commute will be around 1hr 15min each way?

DH and I both essentially do this, except to Crystal City (him) and Springfield and/or various other parts inside the Beltway or city. We're south of Ashburn, in South Riding.
We're currently plotting a move to Texas. Yes, it is terrible.
Toll road to 495 to GW is his solo route. He now carpools most of the time so I think they take 66. Either way, he leaves this house by 6am latest.

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this gem as we're considering moving to Ashburn. DH works near the White House, and I WFH. DH would take public transit, either drive to Wiehle and metro or take the bus all the way in. Thoughts?

This is our situation, although DH is in consulting so his commute varies based on client. I bear the brunt of the household duties and childcare pickup/dropoff since DH is gone for nearly 12 hours a day. He prefers to drive and leaves by 6:15 a.m., usually starts work by 7:30 and leaves by 4:30. Yes, it can be a miserable commute, but most days he's home by 5:30 and will do some work after the kids are in bed. He also telecommutes a few days a month. I'm able to maintain the house, prep dinner, etc. during the day so when we're all home it's family time. It's not ideal but it works for us for now. Six months ago we were both commuting and it was not a life. Having one parent either SAH or WFH is essential.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this gem as we're considering moving to Ashburn. DH works near the White House, and I WFH. DH would take public transit, either drive to Wiehle and metro or take the bus all the way in. Thoughts?

Drive to Wiehle + Metro would work unless you're an absolute stickler for splitting housework 50/50 (since you're WFH, you'll be doing more of the kid stuff and house stuff, simply b/c you're there more and not commuting for 2.5 hours or so) or he just doesn't like Metro. It should get better once Metro's out in Ashburn and he can get a seat most of the time.

An alternative would be to live out in Lovettsville or Frederick/Urbana and take MARC in (that's typically less crowded/onerous than Metro) or Stafford and take VRE. BUT, that only will work if his job is pretty routine 8-5 or 9-5.

A good friend of mine takes an express bus from Ashburn all the way to the Capitol Building. Not sure which exact bus.

Anonymous wrote:stop for gas or mail or something every day at the airport, then you can legally use the HOV lanes.

This is actually a big myth. You have to either be a passenger or be picking up or dropping one off. Food/gas are specifially excluded from who can use the free lanes.

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this gem as we're considering moving to Ashburn. DH works near the White House, and I WFH. DH would take public transit, either drive to Wiehle and metro or take the bus all the way in. Thoughts?

Drive to Wiehle + Metro would work unless you're an absolute stickler for splitting housework 50/50 (since you're WFH, you'll be doing more of the kid stuff and house stuff, simply b/c you're there more and not commuting for 2.5 hours or so) or he just doesn't like Metro. It should get better once Metro's out in Ashburn and he can get a seat most of the time.

An alternative would be to live out in Lovettsville or Frederick/Urbana and take MARC in (that's typically less crowded/onerous than Metro) or Stafford and take VRE. BUT, that only will work if his job is pretty routine 8-5 or 9-5.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you get in to the city from Ashburn or Loudon?

I'll take, "Things that suck for $1,000, Alex."

I completely agree. I do it everyday and I swear, years have been taken from my life. I will die on that toll road.