Town of Sonoma to San Rafael commute - am I crazy? (Novato: home, to live in)

[michaelsa]

Mapquest says it takes 36 minutes to drive from the town of Sonoma to central San Rafael, which sounds like a decent commute to me. Is Mapquest right, or are they not taking traffic into account? I'd love to hear from people who live in Sonoma and aren't retired. Do you commute to another town to work, and if so, where? Is the idea of commuting from Sonoma to Novato or San Rafael each day crazy?

[bellalunatic]

I think it's totally doable...and not insane...kinda normal, time wise, for around here anyway.

[PeixeGato]

I can guarantee you that Mapquest is NOT taking traffic into consideration. The amount of traffic you see will depend on what time of day you are traveling. I know coming back from San Rafael to Sonoma, if you leave San Rafael anytime after 4:30 or so, you'll hit a LOT of traffic on Hwy. 37 as you approach the turn-off onto Hwy. 121. The traffic on Hwy. 37 can come to a stop well before you get to Lakeville Hwy.

Like I said, a lot depends on when you are planning to leave each location.

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by PeixeGato

I can guarantee you that Mapquest is NOT taking traffic into consideration. The amount of traffic you see will depend on what time of day you are traveling. I know coming back from San Rafael to Sonoma, if you leave San Rafael anytime after 4:30 or so, you'll hit a LOT of traffic on Hwy. 37 as you approach the turn-off onto Hwy. 121. The traffic on Hwy. 37 can come to a stop well before you get to Lakeville Hwy.

Like I said, a lot depends on when you are planning to leave each location.

The past week has been an anomaly though since they were repaving miles and miles of Lakeville at 37.

Google maps is better with traffic considerations though, too.

[nmnita]

I second the comment about MapQuest not considering traffic, but I also think the drive wouldn't be all that bad and who wouldn't want to live in Sonoma?

Nita

[sonarrat]

Sonoma to Novato, not a problem.. Sonoma to San Rafael might drive you nuts, especially coming home on a Friday. Even with the new carpool lane, the Redwood Highway is hellish.

[Wendy97]

It can take that amount of time, but traffic is usually pretty bad. It doesn't help when everyone up here is a terrible driver and they all like to drive 10 mph under the the speed limit... omfg, the two lane stretch between novato and petaluma is THE WORST. NO ONE has heard of GETTING OVER TO THE RIGHT when they want to drive slow.

Good god, why do you people suck at driving so much?

Lol, we were driving around in LA yesterday in the slow lane on the 101, and my boyfriend was like, I THOUGHT YOU SAID PEOPLE IN LA KNEW HOW TO DRIVE, and i was like, yes hunny, look to your left. Now look and see how people keep right here when they drive slower.

Kthx.

[michaelsa]

Thank you all so much for your answers! My current commute from Sausalito to the Financial Dist in SF takes me 45minutes to an hour, though that is by bus, so an hour-long commute would be nothing new for me...and Sonoma is beautiful. Of course, it's just a matter of finding a job in Novato or San Rafael, in this economy. Who thought it would be so hard to relocate, just to the county next to yours?

[PeixeGato]

Google maps will provide real time traffic information. Just go on and check it out during the time you would be traveling and it will show you how fast traffic is moving. From that, you can gauge your commute time. Of course, don't just do it on one day.