Commute to JHUAPL (Laurel) from Baltimore (Columbia: apartments, condo, home)

[emersonsmith93]

Hello,

I accepted a job at JHUAPL in Laurel and will be moving from Pennsylvania in May. I'd like to live in Baltimore so I can get home after work, hop on my bike and go do something.

A little about me: 23 y/o single male, no kids, fresh college grad, into exercise, meditation, yoga, biking, hiking.. I'm looking for an apartment, house, condo, with 1br and living space for under $1000. I don't know anyone in the area and I'd like to live alone.

Safety isn't a huge concern however I don't want to live in a dumpy neighborhood. I'd prefer not to have to spend 10 minutes everyday looking for parking.


I'd like to live in a neighborhood close to some nightlife. I'd probably enjoy a meditation/yoga/fitness class a few times a week to stay in shape but also to meet friends.

Will driving from Baltimore to Laurel everyday drive me insane? Is 95 really that bad?

[picardlx]

How far is it from Laurel MARC or have you ruled out transit?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by emersonsmith93

Will driving from Baltimore to Laurel everyday drive me insane?

What time of the day?

Is 95 really that bad?

It's not all that far really (see map link. http://tinyurl.com/gsdq2xz)
but the route intersects about ten known problem points.

[HoCoMom]

I cannot speak to the cost of apartments but many young adults from my area seem to move to the Canton, Fells Point, and Federal Hill areas after college. They are close to nightlife but many also have jobs in Baltimore.

I don't think the commute from APL to Baltimore is horrendous, but parking in downtown communities can be a pain.

As a mom I will offer one piece of unsolicited advice - please do not ride a bike alone after dark in the city. There are buses, Uber, in the summer the water taxi runs late around the harbor.

Congratulations on your new job and welcome to Maryland!

[emersonsmith93]

I believe it's about 6 miles from the Laurel MARC. I haven't ruled it out yet... I love biking, so if it would be possible maybe I could bring my bike on the train and then bike the last 6 miles to work? Probably not ideal to do everyday but it could help me save some gas a day or two a week maybe?

[emersonsmith93]

Originally Posted by MrRational

What time of the day?


It's not all that far really (see map link. http://tinyurl.com/gsdq2xz)
but the route intersects about ten known problem points.

I'll be arriving to work (Laurel) around 8 AM each day; leaving around 4:30PM.

[Tinawina]

Move to Columbia. You'll like your life a lot better if you don't have to deal with that commute from downtown every day.

If you absolutely have to live in Baltimore for proximity to nightlife I'd say choose a neighborhood right on 95 like Locust Point but finding something in that price range will be a challenge.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Tinawina

Move to Columbia. You'll like your life a lot better
if you don't have to deal with that commute from downtown every day.

^^What she said.

Start with a housemate situation as you learn your way around

[TommyCarcetti]

Try looking for places on the South Baltimore peninsula. A quick bike ride could take you to downtown or Southeast Baltimore. You also have easy access to I-95 south the tunnel so you can avoid tolls.

[lanhvtnymd]

All the people I've known that work out there live in Columbia or south Baltimore.
I live in Columbia now, but I am in Baltimore frequently. It's like 25-30 minute drive outside of the rush hours. Not that bad to me.

Would be nice if we had a light rail or metro but hahahaha! :\ Welcome to the traffic dysfunction of the Baltimore/DC metro area.