Commuting to greenbelt (Baltimore, Columbia, Silver Spring: apartments, rentals, crime)

[Kranon]

I will be working in Greenbelt (Goddard). My wife and I are currently searching for housing in that area- my question is about commuting to Greenbelt. We are trying to keep the commute short so we are looking at places like silver-spring, college park, etc. For estimating commute times the only resource we have found is the Trulia commute time maps, but we have questions about its accuracy.
For instance:
There are lots of nice places in Columbia, and the Trulia map claims the commute would be 35-40 minutes from columbia to greenbelt- but we are skeptical.

Anyone on here a native with commute experience to the greenbelt area? Anyone have examples of their commute to the greenbelt area? Examples from columbia/elkridge area, jessup, bowie or any locations around Silver spring would be useful!

Thanks!

[dkf747]

30-45 minutes is definitely a possibility, but there will be days it takes longer than that. There are several routes from Columbia to Greenbelt, so you have a few options. Thinking about it though, I'd say 40 to 60 minutes. 30 is without traffic jams.

[John13]

Originally Posted by dkf747

30-45 minutes is definitely a possibility, but there will be days it takes longer than that. There are several routes from Columbia to Greenbelt, so you have a few options. Thinking about it though, I'd say 40 to 60 minutes. 30 is without traffic jams.

Sounds about right.

OP - that is still below average for commute time in the area. Traffic here is the worst or in the Top 3 in the entire country. Columbia to Greenbelt won't be that bad. I'd take Route 95 ito 495 nstead of 295 (BW Parkway) if you can help it, at least during rush time.

You can find good housing in Greenbelt or College Park and that would be my recommendation to avoid some of this traffic nightmare.

[Kranon]

Thanks! I'm Surprised by the quick responses!
We have been looking especially hard at areas like silver spring and college park- I have heard anecdotally that Olney is about a 40 minute commute to Greenbelt. My wife would like to find something close to Takoma Park... We also would love to find something in the old greenbelt neighborhood... (We will be renting at first).... but rentals with more than 1800sqft are rare there...

Anyone have a feel for what Bowie is like?

[Patz0709]

Parts of South Laurel around Montpelier near the MARC station are very nice, and Greenbelt would be practically in your back yard. Bowie is suburban and relatively safe, the commute using 197 would be relatively easy instead of relying on a finicky Beltway. Columbia pushes the traffic envelope a bit tighter... Takoma is charming but a bit more $$ than these other locations... ride through the Muirkirk/Montpelier areas of S Laurel and see what you think.

[John13]

Originally Posted by Kranon

Thanks! I'm Surprised by the quick responses!
We have been looking especially hard at areas like silver spring and college park- I have heard anecdotally that Olney is about a 40 minute commute to Greenbelt. My wife would like to find something close to Takoma Park... We also would love to find something in the old greenbelt neighborhood... (We will be renting at first).... but rentals with more than 1800sqft are rare there...

Anyone have a feel for what Bowie is like?

Bowie will be the furthest commute from the cities you mentioned. I wouldn't recommend Silver Spring either due to the traffic.

I live in Old Greenbelt. Love the community and Greenbelt Lake is awesome with a very nice mile and a quarter walking/running/biking trail that I can walk to. Definitely check out the CO-OP. But these apartments are small. There are houses in this area so maybe check craigslist for rental listings.

[EducatedBro82]

Parts of Laurel and Bowie would be good for you.

Bowie-Old Bowie could be a good place. I would avoid the older homes in Old Bowie as they have crime issues, but the newer neighborhoods are good as well as the "R" Section off 197. You could drive down Powder Mill Road or Lanham/Severn Rd to get to Greenbelt

Laurel- South Laurel is a good place. Muikirk Road, Montpielier Road, Montpielier Woods are relativly safe neighborhoods. You could take Powder Mill Road also or Muikirk Road into Old Baltimore Pike and get to Greenbelt that way.

What about Lanham??? The Woodstream nieghborhood is pretty nice to reside in?

[bufflove]

Originally Posted by John13

I wouldn't recommend Silver Spring either due to the traffic.

It's a reverse commute so Silver Spring would be much faster than, say, Columbia. Just make sure to live in east Silver Spring (north of Takoma Park), or near the beltway. That way you avoid having to commute through downtown Silver Spring and can stay away from 29. You can make the drive in 15-35 minutes, depending on time of day and how close to the beltway you decide to live.

[Zimar]

This depends on what kind of community you want to live in and what your needs are. Do you like walkable communities, or older homes, or new homes, or what?

If you are ok with a 40 minute commute, I guess that's ok, but it seems unnecessary given how many decent communities are close to Greenbelt.

I'd recommend the Seabrook area of Lanham, but that's just because I live here and I like it!

[bigjretrac]

Originally Posted by John13

I wouldn't recommend Silver Spring either due to the traffic.

Originally Posted by bufflove

It's a reverse commute so Silver Spring would be much faster than, say, Columbia. Just make sure to live in east Silver Spring (north of Takoma Park), or near the beltway. That way you avoid having to commute through downtown Silver Spring and can stay away from 29. You can make the drive in 15-35 minutes, depending on time of day and how close to the beltway you decide to live.

I was going to say, Silver Spring to Greenbelt would be least volatile commute of all the towns mentioned. Depending on what time you're commuting, getting in and out of Downtown Silver Spring would not be the worst thing, either, if you choose the live there.

In fact, depending on which part of Silver Spring and Greenbelt your commute takes you, you'd have a reasonable amount of alternate routes, should the Beltway get crowded. I'd say to give SS a good look if you want a short commute.