How would you compare these areas in NWA? (Fayetteville, Benton: fit in, how much)

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by thewizard16

I'm sure this varies from person to person, but there isn't anywhere in NWA that I'd be concerned driving through, but there are plenty of places I probably wouldn't choose to live. There are lots of places in Springdale and some in Rogers and Fayetteville I've seen that I wouldn't want to live in due to the overall run-down nature of little pockets here and there, but no where I'd consider actually dangerous. I can't say the same for my more recent hometown Little Rock, but it's a different area.

I agree with you completely wizard.

Nita

[bagelw]

The west side of Springdale is very nice. Harber Meadows is one of (if not the) nicest neighborhoods in NWA and it's in west Springdale. Springdale is a lot like Rogers in that they have somewhat abandoned the east downtown area and have concentrated their growth on the west side. Arvest Ballpark's location cracks me up (it's in a cow pasture with nothing else around) but the city is planning on growing that direction.

[thesearch]

Would anyone describe the commute from Fayetteville to Bentonville or Rogers as horrible?

[bagelw]

Originally Posted by thesearch

Would anyone describe the commute from Fayetteville to Bentonville or Rogers as horrible?

It's bad for an area as small as this but if you've lived in a larger city it's no big deal. The problem here is the drivers are slow and unattentive and that 540 was never designed to handle the amount of traffic on it. The "left lane is for passing" idea doesn't exist here. People will just sit in the left lane going 60 forcing people to pass on the right. I've never lived somewhere where so many people refuse to move to the right and let faster drivers by.

Anyways, I commute from Fayetteville to Rogers everyday and average a 25 minute drive. The problem is that if there is an accident (which is about 3 days a week on average) your commute time can double. The trick is to get a flexible work schedule that doesn't put you on 540 at peak times. Problem is that most people don't have that luxury.

[thesearch]

Are there "back roads" from Fayetteville to Bentonville? How long do you think it would take going a back way if possible?

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by thesearch

Are there "back roads" from Fayetteville to Bentonville? How long do you think it would take going a back way if possible?

Yes, there are back ways, but they're not necessarily better. As far as I know, the back ways are all two lanes, tend to be curvy (so passing opportunities are rare), and you inevitably end up behind a farm truck or someone who's simply not in a hurry. As someone who's lived in NW Arkansas forever, I take 540. When it's log-jammed, I get off at the next exit and take a back road as a shortcut. And many of the back roads have been extended, so that it's very possible to stay on back roads all the way Fayetteville to Rogers and Bentonville, but you're still better off on 540 even going 60 mph instead of 70 mph. The speed limits and stop signs are going to delay you. It is prettier, though, on a lot of those back roads, even though 540 is by no means an eyesore as interstates go.

[aerotive]

Originally Posted by thesearch

Are there "back roads" from Fayetteville to Bentonville? How long do you think it would take going a back way if possible?

71 is the most direct alternative route, but it's not a limited-access road like 540, there are many stoplights, low speed limits, and it can be congested during business hours.

112 is another option, it's a curvy two lane road. Low speed limits.

540's best so long as there's no wrecks or road work.

[thesearch]

Okay so would you guys rule out living in Fayetteville because of the commute?

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by thesearch

Okay so would you guys rule out living in Fayetteville because of the commute?

No. It's roughly a 25-40 minute commute, though it depends on where your residence is and where your workplace is. There will be accidents on 540 that will slow your commute down, but since 540 was built, over a decade ago, I've only been seriously delayed once. And for many other metros, cars coming to a standstill are not nearly so rare.

[thesearch]

Okay. Thanks I will relay that back to my Dad.