Best Route to McLean (Arlington, Burke: university, live in, commuting)

[Yankees1]

Thanks to everyone for providing for such great info on this site! I am considering a job opportunity in McLean/Tysons (off of 123) and would be commuting from Burke. I've read previous posts to stay away from 123, but I am curious if my best route would be 495 or back roads (any suggestions welcome). Unfortunately, the commute would be during the regular rush hour. Also, any idea on about how long (I assume about an hour or more). Any suggestions are greatly welcome. Thanks in advance.

[saganista]

It seems like even on its best days, 123 is going to be bad through Fairfax, bad through Oakton, and terrible through Vienna. A good reason to look for another route. I'd probably try the Beltway first. The Inner Loop is a crapshoot. One day it will be at a speed limit pace, and the next you'll never get above 12 mph. I can be just fine at 7:35, and bumper to bumper at 7:55. But I'd probably give it a shot and see how it works when you need to go. On the plus side, the whole trip is no more than 15 miles, so it's only so long than it can possibly take. For variety's sake, you could always try Guinea Road up to 236, then a quick right-left onto Prosperity and follow that up to Gallows Road. What to do at that point would depend on exactly where in Tysons you're trying to go, and one false turn could put you in the soup, but if the Beltway didn't cut it, that could also be an option to explore...

[claremarie]

I would start with the Beltway. All of the alternatives have traffic lights or low speed limits that make them workable only if the traffic on the Beltway is at a virtual standstill. What will be useful is to know the back roads from each of the exits before 123/7, so you can bail out if necessary. For example, you can get off at Gallows, which parallels the Beltway, and take it to Tyson's.

[Yankees1]

Thank you both so much for your help. I really appreciate it. I know the trip is a crapshoot with regards to time, but would you say about an hour on an average (if there is such a thing) day? I would be working at the intersection of 123 and Leesburg Pike. Thanks again.

[saganista]

On most days, it should be a good deal less than an hour. On bad days, or if it snows, who knows...keep a camp-stove and some emergency rations in the car. If you're really headed to 123 & 7, you'd want to take the Beltway on up to 123-South rather than 7-West. Route-7 is very likely to be a complete mess at that point, where 123 should be pretty clear, as it doesn't pick up much traffic southbound other than that coming off the Beltway. If you were backroading, and hit Gallows, you'd want to take the left onto Old Courthouse as you approach Tysons, then right onto 123-North. The light at Old Courthouse keeps all that 123-North traffic bottled up in Vienna for you, so you should have pretty smooth sailing into Tysons proper from that point.

[Yankees1]

Great. Thank you again. Your help is really appreciated.

[marthaelliott]

does anyone have a suggestion on a best route from Fairfax by George Mason to Arlington - specifically Virginia Hospital at the 9:15 am hour???

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by saganista

... If you're really headed to 123 & 7, you'd want to take the Beltway on up to 123-South rather than 7-West. Route-7 is very likely to be a complete mess at that point, where 123 should be pretty clear, as it doesn't pick up much traffic southbound other than that coming off the Beltway. If you were backroading, and hit Gallows, you'd want to take the left onto Old Courthouse as you approach Tysons, then right onto 123-North. The light at Old Courthouse keeps all that 123-North traffic bottled up in Vienna for you, so you should have pretty smooth sailing into Tysons proper from that point.

I second this! Avoid Route 7 west as you'll run into all of the folks coming in from Ashburn, Landsdowne, Leesburg and further out. And any back road that leads to Gallows Road is probably the better one. And follow the path saganista just outlined. Good luck!

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by marthaelliott

does anyone have a suggestion on a best route from Fairfax by George Mason to Arlington - specifically Virginia Hospital at the 9:15 am hour???

I work in Ballston and one of my colleagues commutes daily from Kings Park West (near GMU). He makes his way to Braddock Rd and gets to Annandale, takes Columbia Pike to Carlin Springs Rd in Arlington, then takes that to Ballston. It takes him about 35 minutes during the morning rush.

To go to Virginia Hospital at that hour, I would follow his route to Carlin Springs Rd and then turn left on George Mason.

Google Maps link

[michgc]

I live in Vienna and had my babies in Arlington Hospital. For my monthly doctor's appointments I would either take I-66 to Washington Blvd (exit 69) and follow Washington Blvd. to George Mason Drive if it were after HOV restrictions (9 am or 9:30? I can't remember it's been 2 years). If not I would take Route 50. It's probably not the best way but it never took me more than 45 minutes.