Approximate Commute Times... (Denver, Lakewood, Arvada: schools, living in, to move)

[NE Live]

Just curious what the approximate commute times during rush hour would be from these locations to Golden, CO. Thanks in advance!

1) Highlands Ranch
2) Centennial
3) Englewood
4) Parker

Just looking for a little feedback as to how good or bad these drives could be. Thanks again.

[Mikieo415]

1) Highlands Ranch
a bit of a drive
2) Centennial
doable
3) Englewood
perhaps the quickest
4) Parker
Don't even think about it

I'm not speculating on time because drive times seem to vary by day of the week, weather, and phase of the moon.

[2bindenver]

where in Golden are we going? Golden proper? near Green Mountain? in the foothills?

[vegaspilgrim]

Why not just live in Golden, or an area of Arvada, Lakewood, or unincorporated Jeffco nearby? Not only is there NOTHING special in those four places you mentioned, but living in Golden or nearby will give you the added benefit of being right next to the mountains, shaving off a good half-hour one way, hour round trip every time you want to go up! If you have a job located in Golden, you should feel lucky... you GET to live close by to the mountains!

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Why not just live in Golden, or an area of Arvada, Lakewood, or unincorporated Jeffco nearby? Not only is there NOTHING special in those four places you mentioned, but living in Golden or nearby will give you the added benefit of being right next to the mountains, shaving off a good half-hour one way, hour round trip every time you want to go up! If you have a job located in Golden, you should feel lucky... you GET to live close by to the mountains!

I agree with this. With Denver metro's godawful traffic and fuel soon to be $4+, it's stupid to live any farther from one's work than one has to. The old original part of Golden is about the closest thing to a real small town just about anywhere in Denver metro. Now, if they could just drive a wooden stake into the heart of the plan to take C-470 on through Golden, the place just might stay decent . . .

[Katiana]

I also agree with vegaspilgrim and jazzlover. Golden is as nice if not nicer, IMO, than those other places.

[tfox]

Of these, Englewood would be the easiest, provided we're talking about Old Englewood. You could drive down US-285, which is an expressway that turns into a freeway just west of Federal. It usually has less traffic than other freeways. You'll then hit C-470, which is extremely busy in spots, but this is a less busy section of it between 285 and I-70. You'll continue past I-70 on a short section of 6 into Golden. Total time: who really knows -- maybe 30 minutes in good traffic, but it could be far worse in bad traffic.

Your other three choices would be difficult commutes; doable, perhaps, but not something you'd really want to move into.

Generally, I agree with the other posters, however, that none of these are really great commute situations to Golden, and it makes little sense to start out with that commute. Some are forced into it by necessity, but that isn't the case with you. There's a number of places to live within an easy five mile radius of Golden that would serve you much better.

[NE Live]

Also I have a better idea of the address it is around I-70 & W. 20th Avenue, which appears to be near Applewood, CO and Colorado Mills. So not quite into Golden.

So the next question is what is the best area to live including a good school system in and around this area. Thanks everyone!

[Katiana]

That whole area has Golden addresses. My DH used to work near there. Are you going to be working in the Denver West office complex?

There is no one "best" area to live in around there. Anything within 15 miles of there will give you a decent commute. Most of the schools in that radius will be Jefferson County.

[blacksmith76]

The west side of town is nicer than the south suburbs, IMO, I would just live around Golden.