[momof11]

We are looking at a house in Newaygo county. Our house sold here in California finally. My husband and I went to Michigan last week and looked around. We couldn't have picked nicer weather for our trip and we got to visit with my brother for awhile. Is there anything I should know about the Newaygo county area?

[mackinac81]

There's a town in it...called Newaygo

[momof11]

thanks, got that part figured out! what is the realistic commute time to GR (we will probably be going there once a week) how is the traffic mid week and do a lot of people commute from this area?

[mackinac81]

Hello again!

Well, I just did a mapquest and found out that Newaygo is 36 miles (a 47 minute drive) from downtown GR, but it's also not too far from Muskegon, which is also a decent sized town. I live south of GR so I've never met anyone who commuted from Newaygo to here

I've never been to Newaygo proper, but It's not a "one stoplight" town, and I've never heard anything bad about it as far as crime. It never shows up on the news, so that must be a good thing Michigan north of Grand Rapids is very peaceful and nice. I wish I could be of more help, but I'll see if I can dig up anything for ya!

And if you think Michigan's nice in summer, just wait till fall! You'll be blown away

PS. Newaygo people! Please speak up!

[Bydand]

My sister and her husband live in Howard City and he works right in Grand Rapids. Several of the people he works with live in Newaygo itself and make the commute every day. In spite of how large the numbers look for Grand Rapids and surrounding area, I find it rather easy to drive around no matter what time of day it may be. Sure you may be caught in traffic for a little bit, but nothing like it is on either coast when it is rush hour.

[momof11]

Thanks mackinac and bydand! Coming from Orange County CA I know about traffic and I'm glad to hear it isn't such a problem there. We ate lunch in Howard City, it is about 10- 15 minutes away from the house we are hoping to get, Newaygo is about 25 minutes away. It is beautiful up there and as fall is my favorite time of year I am sooo excited about seeing all the colors.

[magellan]

I used to work with a few people from Newaygo. From what I hear, it's kind of a hassle commuting into GR in the morning (131 is only a two-lane highway North of West River Drive). From "downtown" Newaygo to GR is probably at least 45 minutes in traffic. But if you only do it once a week, you probably won't mind that much.

I hear a lot about boating near the Croton - Hardy Dam area, but have never been.

[mackinac81]

Thanks mackinac and bydand! Coming from Orange County CA I know about traffic and I'm glad to hear it isn't such a problem there. We ate lunch in Howard City, it is about 10- 15 minutes away from the house we are hoping to get, Newaygo is about 25 minutes away. It is beautiful up there and as fall is my favorite time of year I am sooo excited about seeing all the colors.

Well, let me be the first to welcome you to Michigan.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by magellan

I used to work with a few people from Newaygo. From what I hear, it's kind of a hassle commuting into GR in the morning (131 is only a two-lane highway North of West River Drive). From "downtown" Newaygo to GR is probably at least 45 minutes in traffic. But if you only do it once a week, you probably won't mind that much.

I hear a lot about boating near the Croton - Hardy Dam area, but have never been.

Ummm, Last time I drove 131 it was a divided freeway all the way past Cadillac.

Croton-Hardy dams are a very nice place. Brother-in-law fishes there all the time.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Ummm, Last time I drove 131 it was a divided freeway all the way past Cadillac.

Croton-Hardy dams are a very nice place. Brother-in-law fishes there all the time.

Sorry, when I say two-lane "highway" I meant two-lanes in each direction. My terminology is probably wrong. One lane in each direction in my book is a "road".

But it's still a small (four) lane highway for the amount of traffic it gets.