Downingtown to Lancaster commute (Philadelphia, Chester: rent, house, school district)

[SusanF]

What would the commute be like from Downingtown to eastern Lancaster county? We are looking for a nice community so that my husband can commute to Lancaster and I to Philadelphia (sometimes-not every day)

[GinaMomof4]

The commute to eastern Lancaster from Downingtown is about 35 minutes. My sister just bought a house there and we visit her frequently. The commute to center city Philadelphia is about 45 mins. Downingtown is a great location to live if you have to commute to either of those places. You can get to 76 quickly from Downingtown. What type of house are you looking for? If you have children, the school district in Downingtown is wonderful.

[cozmatic]

That commute may be a nightmare. Your best bet on a commute to that area is from the 176 area. If you get into the 30 East commute it is a bear. We used to live in the Flying Hills community for quite some time and it was an excellent path to the Philly area and still required a drive of about 1hr in the meat of the traffic.

Lancaster traffic is a bit more annoying simply because people aren't going anywhere they're just driving because they are bored to death.

[GinaMomof4]

Ha ha...that is so true about Lancaster! My sister's big night out is going to the county store for milk. And you better get there before it closes..she says everything shuts down after 5:00pm. :-) Not to knock Lancaster, she actually loves the areas. It's beautiful but not for someone looking for city life. As far as commuting to Philly from Downingtown, I would never venture down Rte 30. I76 is the only way to go. It really isn't bad on I76 as long as there are no traffic accidents along the way - you can make it there in about 45 mins. I used to work at near 30th and Market in Philadelphia and I made the trip 2 times a day.

[Pilot1]

That is a doable commute, just get a place near the PA Turnpike (I-76) interchange at RT 100. I am a Philly native and lived in both Lancaster and then moved back, closer to Philly for work and ended up in the Eagle/Ludwigs Corner area. Its a Downingtown address though, in the Downingtown school district with convenient access to I-76 where I commuted daily to Conshohocken before we eventually moved to Colorado. Still own the home in Downingtown, just rent it out now. PM me if you need more details.

[SusanF]

Originally Posted by cozmatic

That commute may be a nightmare. Your best bet on a commute to that area is from the 176 area. If you get into the 30 East commute it is a bear. We used to live in the Flying Hills community for quite some time and it was an excellent path to the Philly area and still required a drive of about 1hr in the meat of the traffic.

Lancaster traffic is a bit more annoying simply because people aren't going anywhere they're just driving because they are bored to death.

Thanks for the imput-do you mean the commute to Philly would be a nightmare? I want to take the train maybe 1 time a week other than that work at home, my concern is the commute to Lancaster-how long would that be?

[GinaMomof4]

The commute to Lancaster is about 30 mins if you are getting a place near the Turnpike. It's not bad at all. It's actually quite peaceful, the scenery is beautiful even if you are traveling on I76. I direct messaged you with more information, did you get it?

[Pilot1]

Originally Posted by SusanF

Thanks for the imput-do you mean the commute to Philly would be a nightmare? I want to take the train maybe 1 time a week other than that work at home, my concern is the commute to Lancaster-how long would that be?

To Conshohocken, during rush hour took me 50 minutes from the Eagle/Chester Springs area using the PA TPK (I-76) and the Schuylkill, so to downtown Philly, it depends on how slow the Schuylkillis running, but add another 20 - 30 minutes at least. If there's an accident, plan on being late.

[Jmorton]

I live in Lancaster and used to visit my sister alot who lived near lincoln highway and RT100. I've used both ways to commute - i-76 and Rt. 30. I'd say plan on about 45 minutes either way you choose. Rt. 30 is more direct, but can be slow-going with heavy traffic approaching Lancaster...plus the hwy breaks down into a 1 lane road on the approach to Lancaster. i-76 is usually traffic-free in that area...and you can go alot faster, but its a bit of a roundabout way of getting there. Gotta go up and around and then take 222 down into Lancaster.

As far as communities that optimize your Lancaster or Philly commute though, Downingtown is probably your best bet. Any farther west and you might as well be in Lancaster. Any farther east and you risk making the Lancaster commute more like 1 hour or so.

[orrmobl]

I would move a tad closer to the city if I were you...the traffic is all heading that way so that commute will always be the worst one...maybe West Chester or Exton or Malvern...