Any 1-hr commute options: Herndon/Centreville/Fairfax?!? (Burke, Reston: condo, townhouses)

[NY2VASoon]

Hello All, I am soon to be relocating to the NOVA area and commuting to the L'Enfant Plaza area in DC. I have elem school age kids and was hoping to het into a good school/neighborhood but also for some/any realistic ideas about keeping my total commute time to a total of 1 hour...I am looking to buy a home in Herndon, Fairfax, or Centreville. I would drive to any bus, Metro or rail (?) options. I can vary my hours somewhat but plan to leave home around 0645 or so and head home around 430pm or so. Is there any hope/commuter options (other than carpooling) for me? ANY advise or personal experiences is GREATLY appreciated as I have no idea....thanks.

[kww]

At those times, I'd be looking for something inside the beltway. If you can get on the road earlier or later than the times you posted, you'd be better off imo (if looking outside the beltway).

[patriot201]

What is your budget? How large a home are you wanting? Single family? Townhome? Condo?

[LakeLifePA]

From Herndon, I drive to work near the King Street Metro station in around 50 minutes. I take the Fairfax County Parkway to 66E to 495S exiting on Telegraph Road. If I take 267E (toll road) versus 66E I'm there in 40 minutes.

As far as public transportation from Herndon, I take the 5A from the Herndon-Monroe Station to the L'Enfant Metro. I get to King Street in around 1 hour and 10 minutes. Your commute would be less than 45 minutes using the 5A to L'Enfant.

We love Herndon, and feel it's nicer than most areas inside the beltway for schools, etc. When the Silver line makes its way to Reston there will be even better options. Good luck!

[airjay75]

I could be wrong, but I think most of the places you are considering are going to have commutes in excess of an hour to L'Enfant Plaza, particularly at the commuting times you're looking at. If you want to keep that commute time, I think you're going to have to be closer to one of the end-of-the-line Metro stations - Vienna, Franconia-Springfield, or Huntington. In my opinion, the Yellow/Blue Lines would be better for a commute to L'Enfant Plaza because you can use the Yellow Line bridge crossing to go straight to L'Enfant instead of the Rosslyn tunnel and all the metro stops in DC before you get to L'Enfant. As far as the new Silver Line goes, I think you're going to have to be in the Tyson's area and close to one of the Metro stops there to have an hour commute to L'Enfant. I should stipulate that I'm talking about door-to-door commute times, not the amount of time you will spend on a train/bus.

If none of those areas suit your budget and housing needs, I think I would look next at communities along 95 that have commuter buses to the Pentagon where you then transfer to the Yellow Line and go one stop to L'Enfant Plaza.

[dkf747]

The Silver Line is opening up soon (this summer). From Herndon to there is 15 minutes or so. Not sure how long from there to get to l'enfant, but it would be close to your 1 hoour requirement from home to l'enfant.

[JfromReston]

Wiehle-Reston East to L'Enfant Plaza will be 46 minutes on the Silver line train.

Service Information | silverlinemetro.com

I recommend finding something as close to the Wiehle-Reston East station as possible.

You don't indicate your price range or size constraints, but here are a few options that are very close to Wiehle.
1823 NORTH SHORE CT, RESTON, VA 20190 | Listing Information | MRIShomes.com
11112 LAKESPRAY, RESTON, VA 20191 | Listing Information | MRIShomes.com
1924 LAKEPORT WAY, RESTON, VA 20191 | Listing Information | MRIShomes.com
11310 HARBORSIDE CL, RESTON, VA 20191 | Listing Information | MRIShomes.com
11426 TANBARK DR, RESTON, VA 20191 | Listing Information | MRIShomes.com
2022 CHADDS FORD DR, RESTON, VA 20191 | Listing Information | MRIShomes.com
2005 WINGED FOOT CT, RESTON, VA 20191 | Listing Information | MRIShomes.com

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions about Reston.

[airjay75]

Just keep in mind than a 45 minute Metro ride as estimated by Metro usually equates to about a 75 minute door to door commute and possibly more if you live/work very far from the Metro station. Not to mention the inevitable days where you'll have a significant delay somewhere along the train ride. I don't think Reston/Herndon are bad areas in the least, but I don't think OP should get the impression that she'll ever have a commute that is under an hour taking Metro from there to L'Enfant. Maybe not a whole lot more than an hour if she lives/works very close to each end, but I think it's safe to say not under an hour.

[Middlin]

I would take a look at taking VRE. Kings Park neighborhood or anything near Burke Center

[Vectorhead]

West Springfield (22152) would be an excellent option. Very close to the VRE and metro. Excellent schools and beautiful older neighborhoods. Good variety of single family homes and townhouses. Knowing your budget would definitely help us narrow down your options.