Commute from Downtown Austin to Cedar Park (Barton Creek: renting, home)

[Teresa99]

We will be relocating to Texas for an assignment in Cedar Park. We are city people, and would like to live in downtown Austin and commute to Cedar Park. Is this a reverse commute? How long does it typically take?

[texastea]

This is a new one Yes, it'll be a reverse commute and should be 25-30 minutes depending on where in Cedar Park and where downtown.

[Teresa99]

Thanks! The Cedar Park office is on Spectrum Drive in Cedar Park. After poking around, it looks like NW Austin would be a good bet in terms of a commmute. Somewhere around the Arboretum, perhaps. Do you agree? Is Barton Creek to far South? I am having a heck of a time figuring out the location of developments!

[Moonlady]

The Arboretum area might be a nice compromise. It's close enough in town that you have shops and restaurants - including the new Domain shops and you're not that far from downtown should you want to hit the town for an evening. It would certainly shorten your commute! I live south and drive north and there is still an awful lot of traffic on the road even though the worst is going in the opposite direction.

[Rae']

I commute from South Austin to Cedar Park, and then home again in the evening.
If you are south of Enfield, using Mopac (Loop 1), it will put you in more traffic during rush hour than if you are equal or north of it. (Barton Creek Mall is south of this) I don't really consider the Arboretum area "downtown", but it is really nice and close to a lot of stores, etc. and would be a very easy commute.
ditto to what texastea says about time from downtown

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by Moonlady

The Arboretum area might be a nice compromise. It's close enough in town that you have shops and restaurants - including the new Domain shops and you're not that far from downtown should you want to hit the town for an evening. It would certainly shorten your commute! I live south and drive north and there is still an awful lot of traffic on the road even though the worst is going in the opposite direction.

I very much agree with this. Any closer to "downtown" & you're in traffic (depending on time of day...pretty rough on Mopac). But from the Arboretum, it's easy to get to downtown (10-12 minutes on weekends & in evenings). Going the other direction to work during "rush hour" from the Arboretum to CP, you'll be a quick 10-15 min. drive with no traffic.

Will you be renting or buying? Kids/schools a consideration?