Information on commuting from VA to either DC or Baltimore (Arlington: how much, neighborhood)

[tab11itha]

I live in FL now but was wondering if anyone could tell me about the commuting into DC or Baltimore from VA, is it a good commute by train. I'm looking for a small quaint village to live in but unfortunately still have to work in a big city - thanks

[Thruway]

Originally Posted by tab11itha

I live in FL now but was wondering if anyone could tell me about the commuting into DC or Baltimore from VA, is it a good commute by train. I'm looking for a small quaint village to live in but unfortunately still have to work in a big city - thanks

Daily, you can't commute to BAL.
Not with traffic, and besides we don't get BAL stations so you would be out of market.

Traffic stinks, Cops in VA are awful, plus the sprawl.
Area with little character.

[SmerkyGrl]

It is possible to commute to Baltimore depending on where you live in VA. I do recall someone saying there was a metro line that goes straight to the Baltimore airport.

Commuting to DC is not too big a problem, once again depending on where you live and also what time you are on the road.

Hopefully someone that actually lives in the DC/Baltimore area can give you more insight on this.

[tab11itha]

Thanks for your answers.

[jb124]

Originally Posted by tab11itha

I live in FL now but was wondering if anyone could tell me about the commuting into DC or Baltimore from VA, is it a good commute by train. I'm looking for a small quaint village to live in but unfortunately still have to work in a big city - thanks

It will be tough to find something describable as a small quaint village anywhere in the DC area. If you count some of the mini-cities in the suburban sprawl (like say Vienna, Clarendon, or Old Town Alexandria) you might be in luck.

Commute to Baltimore by rail is possible from Virginia but it would take a long time and probably be expensive. Basically, you would take the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) or Metrorail to Union Station in DC, then hop on the Maryland Rail Commuter Service (MARC), which would take you to Baltimore.

I suggest checking out one of the mini-cities along I-95 in Maryland, that way you're within reach of both DC and Baltimore. I'm not familiar with that area myself though.

Links:

www.vre.org
www.wmata.com
www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/

[5stones]

I agree with jb,

If you are working in DC then yes you can commute from VA. "quaint towns" are hard to come by as one old city has merged into the next. But there are some very unique areas and they all have certin degree of a town. But they are also $$$ places to live. Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Vienna etc... are all within a commute to DC.

Baltimore is a whole differnt animal...yes you can get there from VA but I don't know anyone who would want to for a Daily commute. Better stick to the Maryland side of the river if the job is in Balt.

1)get the job
2)find out how much you can spend on housing
3)decide how long you wnat to spend on a commute
4)find the neighborhood. (you may have to get smaller than what you had wished for...but you can always "move up" in few years!)

[tab11itha]

Thanks for the info.

[blu2vor]

How long would my commute, via train, be if I lived in Vienna and worked in DC? Would living in Mclean, rather than Vienna, save me only a matter of minutes on the train to DC?

[g3org3]

Depends on where you're working in DC (Metro - Rail). There is no train stop in McLean.

[blu2vor]

1001 G St., N.W.
Ste. 900 West
Washington, DC 20001
(deloitte & touche)

Is there a train stop if I lived in Great Falls? If not, where would I catch the closest train if I lived in Great Falls or Mclean? And how far approx. is it?