Is commute from Williamsburg to Richmond doable? (Newport News, Hampton: vacation, work)

[NettieV6]

My husband is considering a transfer to Richmond. I have family in the Hampton area and would like to consider Williamsburg rather than Richmond to be closer to them. Is this a realistic idea? We have four children and I am a SAHM, so it would be great to have family within 30-40 minutes rather than 1 1/2 hours away. That said, I don't want to torture my husband with an impossible commute. I believe the location in Richmond would be downtown (Bryd street?).

I have read that the schools are good in Williamsburg/JCC but which elementary schools have the best reputations? I have a hard time looking at test scores and figuring that out. Fortunately, our house has appreciated significantly here in NC so we should be able to spend whatever it takes to get into a good school district.

Thanks in advance for any advice on commuting or schools,
Nettie

[htlong]

yes its a doable commute its pretty busy in summer months with vacationers,
check advice on the post titled "commute richmond east end to hampton roads", it will tell you how bad the commute is but yours would be cut in half, not the best, but better than richmond to hampton

[NettieV6]

I read the commute richmond to hampton roads but didn't know if the east to west direction would make a difference.

[kcrossley]

Wasn't route 60 recently improved? Is that a viable option to bypass the tourist traffic?

[Mr Williamsburg]

Route 60 is still an option. I wasn't aware of any recent improvements. You still have stoplights to contend with.
Amost all of the area schools are considered above average. DJ Montague, Matthew Whaley, Clara Byrd Baker, Norge in James City County. In York County Waller Mill, Grafton Bethel, Dare & Mt Vernon are some of the best in the area. The commute is do able. I have many friends and neighbors that do. You may want to consider the New Kent Area, Schools are almost as good. It is located between Richmond and Williamsburg. Very Rural and not much shopping.

[NettieV6]

Thank you for your input. Since we have family in the area we visit frequently, I will get my husband to test out the drive before the move.

I liked the web page for Matthew Whaley and the history behind the school. I'm not sure which neighborhoods map to that school but I will ask my Realtor. I also thought DJ Montague looked good on paper (but I have yet to visit any in person).

[ashbrn4]

Totally doable. My sister goes on day trips to Richmond for work a few times a month from Newport News/Hampton area. It's no farther than a great number of people commute in the DC area and I'm sure you'll find others that do the same there. ANd as for being busier during the summer, the weekends are worse than the weekdays.

[htlong]

like i said i do it everyday, but i like falling out of trees too!
In the summer i take rt 60 from I-295 to norge , its 5 min slower than I-64 if you just go 65 mph on I-64.....but thats hard to do when everyone else is going 80 mph.
rt 60 is a pleasant drive no traffic and 4 lane divided highway. three lights from Anderson's corner (rt60 and rt 30) no problems ever on this road, but a lot of deer running at night beware!
going from wmburg to Richmond west would be worst once you get west of west point it starts getting busy at 5 AM. going east it doesn't get bad till you reach wmburg .

[kcrossley]

Since we're on this topic, what what a Toano to Richmond commute be like?

[htlong]

toano to Richmond isn't to bad am traffic is a little rough but one can cope with it. as I stated you can drive toano to bottoms bridge with 4 lanes divided and no traffic then get on I-64 at bottoms bridge and continue to Richmond . it would be a doable drive for sure.