Commuting from Denver to the Springs (Colorado Springs, Castle Rock: real estate, to live in, prices)

[aerodmb]

Does anyone commute from Denver to Colorado Springs? If so, how is it? It's opposing commuter traffic for the most part but still will probably depend on where you live in Denver. Oh, I don't have a normal 8-5 job, the commute will probably be 3-4 times in a 7-day week.

[RedSoxFanGoingWest]

It will really depend on where you live in Denver and where in the Springs you'll work. I commute from Castle Rock to Northern COS (near the AF Academy) and it takes me about 35 minutes. I leave early as well - about 5:30-6:00am.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by aerodmb

Does anyone commute from Denver to Colorado Springs? If so, how is it? It's opposing commuter traffic for the most part but still will probably depend on where you live in Denver. Oh, I don't have a normal 8-5 job, the commute will probably be 3-4 times in a 7-day week.

Don't do it!

[Amery523]

Well, I do the opposite commute (north COS to south Denver/Lone Tree area) two or three times a week, and I'm also on the road early, 5:15 or 5:30am. If you have any control whatsoever on your start time at work, get in early. That will help increase your odds of missing traffic both ways. I've done this for five years now, and traffic increases exponentially after 5:45am. It's not bumper-to-bumper like going north into downtown Denver, but your speed COULD be 80 mph at 6am, and probably 60 mph at 7am.

[movementarian]

That can be a long and dangerous drive anytime of the year if you are doing it several times a week. I did that commute for a year or so and saw a couple of fatal accidents in that Castle Rock - Monument stretch. If gas prices come back to what they were this summer, it will be brutal. If possible, you should look into FREX - Frex - FrontRange Express (very slow) or a Van Pool - Vanpool

Believe it or not, somedays, if there was no traffic whatsoever, it was possible to get from one downtown to the other in 1 hour. The problem is that there is so much that can happen in a 70 mile drive that it is not consistent.

Like the other posters said, depends where you live and where you are going to. Tech Center to North Colorado Springs is less bad.

[aerodmb]

Thanks. It will be probably south denver near tech center to the airport in COS

[Katarina Witt]

My daughter commuted from S. Denver to northern COS for a clinical rotation in physical therapy. CU could have put her up with a host family, but she chose to drive every day. In retrospect, she says, she should have stayed down there at least a couple nights a week.

[ottodog]

Nightmare!!

[Amery523]

It will definitely take you longer because you have to drive all through Colorado Springs to get to the airport, which is way south of everything. I would definitely budget an hour with NO traffic.

[sjst1000]

Weather-wise, anything can happen on the long stretch between the Springs and Denver - it can be very dangerous, and you can never anticipate what time you will actually arrive somewhere. Not good for getting to work on time!

Why do you want to live in the Springs? Is it the price of real estate??