Corona or Escondido job? Please help! (San Diego, Temecula: live in, commuting, population)

[Bella Terra]

I'm new to the area, live in Temecula near the 15 freeway between Winchester Road and Temecula Parkway. I have two job offers, one is in Escondido (about 30 miles from home) and the other is in Corona (about 40 miles from home). Similar jobs, similar pay. I know the Escondido job is 10 miles closer to home, but I don't know about the other variables...such as congestion driving either way. It might make more sense to take the Corona job if the drive into Escondido will be a nightmare. It's pretty much an 8am - 5pm job, but I might be able to negotiate on the times if it would make the commute more bearable -- for example, if I started at 7am, would the traffic be better one way or the other?

Any help or insight would be much appreciated. Thank you so much!

(Please note, I've posted this on both the San Diego and Inland Empire threads, hoping to get some quick, good info on commutes).

[Dunbar42]

That portion of the I15 northbound in the AM has a horrible reputation and 6-8am is probably the worst of it. It can take something like 45 minutes for people driving up from South Corona (by Temescal Canyon Road) to make it onto 91W. Depending on where the job is located in Corona you may be able to exit before the 91 interchange and save some time. The only thing I can suggest is to monitor LA sigalert at your planned commuting times to see what I15 looks like. Good luck, I wouldn't want to make that commute every day even if there was no traffic. I have limited experience driving that corridor but I would guess heading southbound towards Escondido would be the quicker commute (although still no picnic.)

[Fontucky]

I've spent as long as an hour to get from Lake St in LE to the 15/91 interchange because of the traffic back-up due to that goddam bottleneck known as the NB 15 to WB 91 transition.

[Bella Terra]

Thank you both for your valuable input. For the Corona job, I can exit at Magnolia Avenue in Corona to get to the job site. That is before the 91 freeway. But it sounds like the bottleneck starts long before getting to Magnolia Avenue in the morning? Would exiting at Magnolia Avenue help? Thanks again!

[Dunbar42]

Yes, the bottleneck starts well before Magnolia but the closer you get to the 91 interchange, the slower things get. If Magnolia works I would guess getting off at Cajalco or Foothill, and taking surface streets, could save some time. The bulk of the traffic on I15N in the AM need to take the 91 into OC or LA so the ability to use surface streets in Corona may be advantageous. Consider making a dry run at your proposed commuting hours Mon-Thur if you are seriously considering the job. At 40 miles though you're looking at around 60 minutes door-to-door with no traffic.

[Danalysd]

Take the job in Escondido, it is shorter and the traffic is much less. Between Temecula and Escondido is Fallbrook and a bunch of hills with little to no population. Between Temecula and Corona is Murrieta, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore and much more heavily populated.

You pick up more traffic as you head north, travelling south at that time is pretty smooth.