Commute Sanity Check: Flower Mound to Addison (Plano, Carrollton: neighborhoods, middle school)

[Carolina Texan]

Considering a relo to DFW for a job in Addison, just north of the airport there. Wife is interested in living in Flower Mound, but i am worried about commute. Google mapping says about 30 minutes, but i am sure that is non-rush-hour.

So, a sanity check... what could i expect in rush hour from, say, the Wellington area of Flower Mound? What about someplace more in the southeast quadrant, nearer Shadow Ridge Middle School?

Tolls are fine. Sitting in bumper-to-bumper for a long time is not.

P.S. Have done my research on neighborhoods, and already familiar with nearer places like Castle Hills and west Plano, but additional suggestions are always welcome. Public School quality is a big consideration.

Thanks.

[EDS_]

I'd look in Plano first East and west commutes around the northern burbs can be really tough.

[talkispoison]

Originally Posted by Carolina Texan

Tolls are fine. Sitting in bumper-to-bumper for a long time is not.

Honestly, I'd look a little closer then.

[mSooner]

So, a sanity check... what could i expect in rush hour from, say, the Wellington area of Flower Mound? What about someplace more in the southeast quadrant, nearer Shadow Ridge Middle School?

Living near Shadow Ridge isn't going to save you much time. Google Maps takes you out on 3040 to I-35 and the toll road (George Bush)--the 35 minutes they quote should actually be pretty accurate even during rush hour.

For 2 summers I commuted the exact same route, except I went all the way to Plano on the George Bush. Took me about 40 minutes. The slowest part is the little bit of I-35 you will be on--the rest of the way is relatively free of traffic. Getting OUT of Flower Mound takes some time, too, but it is a distance issue not related to traffic at all, so it wont add much to the Google Maps quote. It sucked back in the day when 3040 was 2 lanes, but it is great now that it has been expanded.

My family has enjoyed the Wellington area very much and the schools are top notch. You'll enjoy the area. If you live in Wellington, your kids can potentially walk to school from Kindergarten to their senior year.

[Twincam666]

Well, if you're creative and used some side roads? Maybe 30 minutes.....

I spent as much as 4.5 hours getting from Corinth to Carrollton more than once when 35 was screwed up. Twice I just turned around and went home!

[mSooner]

I spent as much as 4.5 hours getting from Corinth to Carrollton more than once when 35 was screwed up. Twice I just turned around and went home!

The route the OP would take puts him on I-35 for 3 miles. Granted, it's a congested stretch, but what part of I-35 isn't? Done the Corinth thing too...it's a nasty beast.

[5stones]

What about Coppell or Valley Ranch?

[PrincessKick]

In my experience being in South FM near Shadow Ridge VS Wellington would save you 7-10 min. It wouldn't be a fun commute but it's doable. I commute two days per week to East Plano. I was doing it from South FM and now I do it from just outside of North FM. I take the toll roads during rush hour and interstates on off times. Takes me about 45 min on average. From S FM, I averaged 35-40 min ( though I have had 60-75 min on crappy traffic days). Hope that helps some. Btw, Wellington is a great neighborhood. We almost bought in there.

[mSooner]

What about Coppell or Valley Ranch?

Better, but they wont want Valley Ranch Schools. OP also should avoid 635 like the plague.

[mSooner]

I commute two days per week to East Plano. I was doing it from South FM and now I do it from just outside of North FM.

Which way do you go? I'm assuming OP would go 3040 to I-35 either way (in theory 635 is another option, but not for the next 5 years) and Wellington isn't that far West of 2499. I guess it matters how far east you are.