Commute: Cary to Chapel Hill (Raleigh, Durham: apartments, rent, home)

[sammyd704]

Hi Everyone,

I've noticed that many have asked about the commute from Chapel Hill / Durham into RTP, but I was wondering what the commute would be from Cary/Durham into Chapel Hill? I'm looking around the 55 area, either 3 miles down 55 or another about 7 miles down 55.

I'm a single female with a dog, but I've come to the realization that I'm going to have to move further away to afford rent on a 1 bedroom (these places are $675, whereas something similar in the Southpoint/CH area is $875-$900). They seem about as safe with the same amenities for less money, so I may suck it up with a commute.

However, because I have a dog I need to make sure that I'm not going to add 40 minutes in commute both ways. Thank you SO much in advance - I really need someone's advice

[CHTransplant]

It somewhat depends on where into Chapel Hill you're headed. If you plan to take NC54 from I40 into CH, it can get a bit congested with University traffic morning and evening (and in both directions). In general though, I would say it's about a 20-25 minute commute. Not too awful.

[ljd1010]

I live in Cary, by Rt 55 and High House. I interviewed for a position at UNC Medical Center - it was about 25 miles but when I decided to do a trial run, I found Chapel Hill was pretty busy/backed up around the university and medical center at 8am and 4:30pm. The commute would not be bad at all if you can mangage to avoid the usual rush hour times.

[sneezecake]

Not sure what apartments your looking at in the Southpoint area, but 675 for a 1BR should be really really easy to find. We had a nice 2/2 unit for 900. I can't see that Cary would be significantly cheaper as a rule....choose the area you like best, but there are apartments like Pine Ridge, South Terrace at Auburn, 1520 Magnolia, etc etc that should ALL be sub-750 for a 1/1 unit.

Maybe take another pass at it!

(As for the commute, it shouldnt be too bad if you are along 55 in Cary - Central Cary would be another ballgame entirely)

[J_Lurk]

Originally Posted by ljd1010

I live in Cary, by Rt 55 and High House. I interviewed for a position at UNC Medical Center - it was about 25 miles but when I decided to do a trial run, I found Chapel Hill was pretty busy/backed up around the university and medical center at 8am and 4:30pm. The commute would not be bad at all if you can mangage to avoid the usual rush hour times.

If you are commuting to UNC you also need to consider the parking issue. It can take you 15-20 minutes to park and get from your car to your office.

[ljd1010]

Originally Posted by J_Lurk

If you are commuting to UNC you also need to consider the parking issue. It can take you 15-20 minutes to park and get from your car to your office.

You are so right! The parking issue at UNC Hospital was also a main factor in my decision to not take the job.

[Charlton Dude]

Your biggest problem will be the insane traffic in Chapel Hill itself. The roads are laid out wrong, are narrow and the busses clog the passage. It is a complete nightmare and you will lose most of your time right there.

The prices for apartments right at Southpoint are very high, but it is a popular area. We looked there for our son and the one bedrooms were $750 to $900. We chose 1.5 miles from our home in Cary for $620, instead. I worked out better in the end, because he now works in southern Raleigh.

[sammyd704]

Wow thanks everyone for the fast replies! I did actually go to UNC, but I graduated and now happen to work in the area. I work off of Franklin Street/15-501, so I could feasibly take either 54 or 15-501.

I've looked at some of those mentions (Auburn, 1520, etc.) and they have all raised their rents to somewhere in the $900 range - insanity! Most websites have the Lodge at Southpoint quoted around $650...oh if only.

I was also looking across 40 on 15-501 into Durham...any recommendations for that area?

Thanks again!

[CHTransplant]

Originally Posted by Charlton Dude

Your biggest problem will be the insane traffic in Chapel Hill itself. The roads are laid out wrong, are narrow and the busses clog the passage. It is a complete nightmare and you will lose most of your time right there.

I appreciate your inordinate fondness for Cary, but your sweeping characterizations of Chapel Hill are offensive. What you describe perhaps applies to a few roads around the campus area during some hours of the day. But Chapel Hill is much larger than that, and to describe one of the area's smaller cities as suffering from "insane traffic" defies the objective data about actual traffic volume. And the claim that the roads are "narrow" and bus clogged certainly doesn't help this original poster who was looking for info on how to commute into Chapel Hill. Which of the routes into Chapel Hill do you feel are too narrow? The 4&6 lane NC54? The 4&6 lane 15-501? The 4+ lane NC86? And what bus clogging problems have you encountered on those roads? And could you share with us the traffic engineering study that leads you to the conclusion that the roads in Chapel Hill are "laid out wrong"? How should they be laid out?

[frogandtoad]

Originally Posted by Charlton Dude

Your biggest problem will be the insane traffic in Chapel Hill itself. The roads are laid out wrong, are narrow and the busses clog the passage. It is a complete nightmare and you will lose most of your time right there.

The prices for apartments right at Southpoint are very high, but it is a popular area. We looked there for our son and the one bedrooms were $750 to $900. We chose 1.5 miles from our home in Cary for $620, instead. I worked out better in the end, because he now works in southern Raleigh.

What's funny about this post is part of the reason we chose Chapel Hill was because there is very little traffic congestion. I never ever had traffic issues in Chapel Hill with the exception perhaps of 15-501 heading towards 40E during morning rush. Around the university it can sometimes be a bit slow, but hardly a traffic issue.

That was my experience living in Chapel Hill--traffic was a non-issue. Again, this (plus schools and a few other reasons ) were why we chose it in the first place.