Commute to Chestnut Hill from East Norriton or Lansdale

[cjmmm]

Germantown pike would probably be the best bet. It is pretty straightforward. Another possibility is Stenton ave. East Norriton has some terrific home buys; you can get a lot for your $ there. This area and West Norriton. Good luck!

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by bdeclee

@OhioGirl: Thanks for the info. Do you have a particular route for those "back roads"? Or do you simply mean "stay off 476"?

Your route would depend on where you're starting off, but Township Line Road, Stenton Avenue, Butler Pike, Bethlehem Pike are all quick ways to get around. From East Norriton, you'd most likely use Township Line Road, Norristown Road, and Stenton Avenue. It's a reasonably easy drive and hardly stressful at all, and you get to look at pretty houses on Stenton Avenue. Germantown Pike is another option, but it routinely gets bogged down in spots; good for a change of pace. Other than the random accident or construction, the only time Stenton Avenue bogs down is when it floods, and that's maybe once or twice a year.

If you were coming from Ambler or Lansdale, you could use Bethlehem Pike or even PA 309.

[Angus215]

Originally Posted by Avalon08

Lafayette Hill is only three miles from Chestnut Hill and Erdenheim, two. You don't have that far to travel on Germantown or Stenton before you're there.

North Wales is 13 miles from Chestnut Hill. I will defer to Angus215, but if I am 13 mi. from anything in the Philly metro area, I am not going to count on getting there in 20-30 mins.

I have not done the drive during rush hour, but most of the mileage is on 309, which is an expressway and I wouldn't expect to have traffic. Question would be if there is traffic on paper mill / Stenton. My guess is 30 minutes.

But only one way to find out for sure . . .

[Avalon08]

Originally Posted by bdeclee

@OhioGirl: Thanks for the info. Do you have a particular route for those "back roads"? Or do you simply mean "stay off 476"?

There is no reason you would even be on 476. Look at the map -- Chestnut Hill is not near 476. There are a ton of different main roads and back roads to get to Chestnut Hill from Montgomery County, but no one would recommend 476.

[Avalon08]

Originally Posted by Angus215

I have not done the drive during rush hour, but most of the mileage is on 309, which is an expressway and I wouldn't expect to have traffic. Question would be if there is traffic on paper mill / Stenton. My guess is 30 minutes.

But only one way to find out for sure . . .

Right. I think the OP needs to do that drive herself, during rush hour, before accepting anyone's estimates as gospel. The traffic approaching those 309 intersections in the morning can be brutal.

[maf763]

I drive 309 many mornings and traffic moves well, but there is often a long line getting off at the Paper Mill exit.

[bdeclee]

You are all right - I do have to do the drive myself during rush hour, but all your input has been quite helpful in allowing me to pinpoint what roads to test.

Avalon08: My comment about 476 referred to OhioGirl's earlier recommendation that East Norriton was a piece of cake drive to Chestnut Hill.

My next visit will tell the tale as I test those routes/roads.

Thanks, everyone.

[Angus215]

Originally Posted by Avalon08

Right. I think the OP needs to do that drive herself, during rush hour, before accepting anyone's estimates as gospel. The traffic approaching those 309 intersections in the morning can be brutal.

There are no intersections on the Ft Washington expressway portion of 309 - it is a highway. Now, if you are getting on 309 further north, before it becomes an expressway, then that's another story. But if you live in lansdale or north wales, you would either get on at Welsh Rd or Norristown Rd, which all expressway and from my experience doesn't have traffic other then the off- ramp to the PA turnpike. What I don't have experience with however, is paper mill and Stenton during rush hour. But I really don't think it would be a bad commute at all to Chestnut Hill.

[Avalon08]

Originally Posted by Angus215

There are no intersections on the Ft Washington expressway portion of 309 - it is a highway. Now, if you are getting on 309 further north, before it becomes an expressway, then that's another story. But if you live in lansdale or north wales, you would either get on at Welsh Rd or Norristown Rd, which all expressway and from my experience doesn't have traffic other then the off- ramp to the PA turnpike. What I don't have experience with however, is paper mill and Stenton during rush hour. But I really don't think it would be a bad commute at all to Chestnut Hill.

I know what 309 is. I'm talking about the busy intersections that you have to cross, coming from Lansdale, to get onto the 309 Expressway. And throw the 202 intersections in, too. All those minutes sitting at lights in rush-hour traffic adds up.