Q: Commuting from Gaithersburg to Crystal City - would you drive or train? (Germantown: insurance)

[NorthernLad]

I am starting a new job and would like your opinions on the best commute option.

I live in Gaithersburg (walking distance to the MARC) and will soon be working in Crystal City, VA.
I am trying to decide whether to buy a car and drive the commute or simply train it. We already have one car in our household but it's in use by someone else... and it's super old.

MARC train + unlimited Metro transfers = $233 per month.
Car = car payment, insurance, gas, upkeep.

Of course, there are other factors (such as: if I get a car, I'll be able to use the car at all other times, etc.). However, does anyone have any insight as to the pros and cons of driving vs. training to Crystal City? What would YOu do and why?

You guys are always amazingly helpful. Thanks so much!

[reiflame]

I drove from Gaithersburg to Tysons for a year. The only saving grace was that I had some flexibility in my hours and could work from home if the traffic got too bad. Otherswise it was a solid 60-75 minute drive each way if there were no accidents. The longest it ever took me to get home was 2.5 hours, and that was when the bus flipped over the overpass on 270. Luckily I had back roads that I could take that allowed me to bypass the Beltway with the exception of the bridge. There is no escaping that bridge.

Now that said, Metro has its fair share of delay and reliability issues. Personally, I would metro. A car will cost you so much more than $233/month and at least on metro you can read a book and not have to worry about the slog.

[brettwasbtd]

MARC/Metro all the way in my book. Especially if you are required to commute During Peak times. I take the the train from Germantown (exactly 10 minutes more time on the MARC Train that you would have) and from the time I get on the train to the time I am on the Union Station Metro Platform is about 50 mins. So for you it would be 40. Look on Metro's site to determine the average time from Union station to Crystal City, then add in your walk to the office and walk to the train station to get the total commute time. I would think driving would take 60-90 minutes in traffic where you will constantly be on/off the brake. It is a long commute time wise on the trains, but so much less stressful. Also, in gaithersburg I would assume there are some bus options to Shadygrove? That might prove quicker to Crystal City. But as the previous posters mentioned metro has a lot of delays.

[dkf747]

Driving to Crystal City via 270 > 495 > GW Parkway should take 45 to 60 minutes. I do drive at 6:30 a.m. Gaithersburg to Courthouse area of Arlington in 40 minutes. I'm adding 10 to 20 minutes to my estimate to get to Crystal City. Edit: I use HOV on 270. If you're driving alone add another 10 to 15 minutes to that estimate. I guess that works out to 45 to 75 minutes. Metro and MARC should be 60 minutes or so.

[reiflame]

Originally Posted by dkf747

Driving to Crystal City via 270 > 495 > GW Parkway should take 45 to 60 minutes. I do drive at 6:30 a.m. Gaithersburg to Courthouse area of Arlington in 40 minutes.

A lot of this depends on timing too. If you leave Gaithersburg at 630, traffic is a lot lighter than if you leave at 8. And then every once in a while there will be an accident on the American Legion Bridge (like today!) and it will take you 2-2.5 hours to get to work. Your schedule will have an impact on this decision.