Commute Times to Downtown (San Diego, Carlsbad: homes, buying, quality of life)

[JParra]

I'm considering a job opportunity in downtown San Diego. Can anyone share average commute times from these locations to downtown:

1) San Elijo Hills in San Marcos?
2) 4S Ranch?
3) Poway?

Thank you!

[socketz]

1) San Elijo Hills in San Marcos? -- 1 hour min
2) 4S Ranch? -- ~40 mins max (my wife does most of this commute into mid city, definitely buy a Fasttrack)
3) Poway? -- almost the same as 4S as you get on the highway around the same point for both.....if you live in southern Poway and use Poway Rd, you may save 5-10 mins over 4S. But again, these two communities really exist together as one big community.

For a downtown commute where you still live in a nice suburban area, take a look at Scripps Ranch. The homes are older there, but that's a nice area to live. I used to commute to 32nd street from there when I was in the Nav and the commute wasn't bad at all. It's about 12 miles closer than RB/Poway and 27 miles closer than San Elijo Hills. San Marcos is quite a trek because both the 5 and the 15 is terrible during commuting hours in those more northern regions. If it rains, add another hour. Seriously, try that commute before putting any offers in on homes.

I was real close to buying out there twice (looking on the weekend, no traffic), then backed out after trying the commute south.

[kimmer]

The commute time might be bearable IF you had non-standard work hours, but Socketz is right, that commute really bites.

My hubby took the Coaster downtown to work, but even that took 1 1/2 hours from our door to his office. Needless to say, he found a job in Carlsbad.

The closer you live to your job here the better quality of life you'll have.