San Francisco to San Ramon Commute (Oakland, Berkeley: home, neighborhoods, to live in)

[Gideelea]

I just accepted a job in San Ramon. I'd really like to live in San Francisco in either Nob Hill, Pacific Heights or North Beach/Telegraph Hill. Does anyone have experience with this commute? I realize it's ~40 mi one way and have a good feel for the freeway portion of the commute but I'd like to know about the traffic to/from these neighborhoods in SF to/from the freeway. How bad will traffic in the city be? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[fakeplastictrees]

Depending on the time you leave, you won't have lots of traffic getting TO San Ramon. But getting back won't be as easy. Even when the traffic is flowing from 24 to the bridge, the second span of the bridge is stop and go any time after 4pm.

[socalinnorcal]

Your hours will determine how manageable a commute that will be. If you commute EARLY in the morning, the commute TO San Ramon won't be bad. Commuting home will be rough no matter what probably. South 680 starts clogging around 7am and only gets worse until 9am. In the afternoon it's pretty clear-sailing until 3:45pm at which point the 680 northbound traffic heats up til 5:30pm or 6pm.

[socalinnorcal]

24 westbound in the late afternoon isn't terrible, but closer to 5pm it backs up heading into the Caldecott.

[bmw335xi]

Same as the above... If you have to drive during peak rush hours, it will be brutal. If you have a somewhat flexible schedule, it's okay.

[NorCal Dude]

I'd settle for Oakland or Berkeley. Nob hill to San Ramon sounds BRUTal

[echo7tango]

Everyone is talking about 24 but for a few years I commuted from SF to Dublin on 580. Danville is just up the road. Avoid 24, and even the 680 stretch. 580 is your friend.

580 flows very well and traffic can be fast at about 75. Eastbound, your only problem is getting to the bridge but once you're on it you'll actually enjoy the drive like I did. Once you're on the bridge it was 30 minutes to Dublin.

Coming back it'll flow well until you approach the Bay Bridge Maze when it'll slow down. Once on the bridge traffic flows near the limit, maybe some slow-and-go. Then getting off and in SF it'll be traffic.

I commuted by motorcycle and that helped alot, but it meant managing the risks of that activity. It's not for everyone but it works very well.

[Shadow Dude]

Originally Posted by socalinnorcal

Your hours will determine how manageable a commute that will be. If you commute EARLY in the morning, the commute TO San Ramon won't be bad. Commuting home will be rough no matter what probably. South 680 starts clogging around 7am and only gets worse until 9am. In the afternoon it's pretty clear-sailing until 3:45pm at which point the 680 northbound traffic heats up til 5:30pm or 6pm.

Since 680 is pretty much the only way from the Pleasanton/Dublin/San Ramon area to the East bay, 680 isn't really reliable until almost 8PM. But I'd go with the post above me and say take 580. It's much more direct route.

[expect]

take bart or van pool or something. SF to san ramon wont be bad like ppl said, but SR to SF is going to be hell

[teknodudes]

Just like the comments above. If you leave early, then the morning commute won't be too bad. I've been on 680 south around 7:00 am heading to crow canyon rd and there are pockets of slow traffic, but nothing too serious. The afternoon commute back to San Francisco is tough especially on thursdays and fridays through the bridge and caldecott (even worse during baseball season).

Also you need to take into account the traffic to get onto the freeway from nob hill, north beach etc.

Van pools are an option, but they leave really early in the morning.