Do Houstonians consider a 30 minute drive far? (Katy, Howe: shop, statistics)

[RVD26]

A 30 minute drive is nothing for me.
It takes me at least that amount of time to just to commute each day to and from work.

[tstone]

30 minutes is a pretty usual drive, give or take a few as far as commute times or going someplace 'special'. If you're in a developed neighborhood (city or suburb), then it shouldn't take more than 5 or 10 mins to get to a grocery store, hairdresser, mechanic, etc... all the usual amenities.

[Seoid]

We like to joke (though there's some truth to it) that everything in Houston is at least 20 minutes away.

My commute is 30-45 minutes (depending on traffic) usually each way and my docs/dentist/hairdresser are all near where I live so if I have an appointment that isn't first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon, yes I'm driving about that to get to them.

[TimBomb]

also depends how good your AC is. and maybe your sound system
what I cant take is 30seconds on the really really bad roads around the Memorial areas and all these older houston subdivisions

[mtgmike]

It takes me an hour to get to my Inlaws. We both live in "Houston".

30 minutes here is a short commute. I am extremely fortunate to have a 20 minute commute to work. I used to drive about 45 minutes from the Galleria to Clear Lake. That got boring after about two years.

[Oildog]

Originally Posted by tstone

30 minutes is a pretty usual drive, give or take a few as far as commute times or going someplace 'special'. If you're in a developed neighborhood (city or suburb), then it shouldn't take more than 5 or 10 mins to get to a grocery store, hairdresser, mechanic, etc... all the usual amenities.

I agree, w this. 30 min is my commute. The rest of the time I can find necessities in 5-10 min.

[Sunderpig2]

To folks who only drive 10-15 minutes to work, it would be considered far. To those who drive 45 minutes or more, it wouldn't be considered far. It's all relative. You aren't going to find one answer for an area having over 5 million people.

[hhheights77007]

I prefer to keep things 15-20 minutes away, but that isn't always possible obviously. If I have to drive 30 minutes away, I make it worth the drive & either knock out 2-3 errands, or, if I'm visiting somenoe, stay for a few hours at least.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by jenny77

Do you all think a 30 minute drive to see someone or go somewhere is far? Or is it not far at all and in fact common? I ask because of all the highways, it seems like it would not be considered far even though if driving 30 minutes not on the highway would feel farther. So is 30 minutes driving far in Houston? Like would you go to shopping or to a hair stylist or mechanic or doctor or school or work 30 minutes away and not think anything of it?

30 minutes in Houston would be considered an "average" commute time.

[testmo]

i agree 30 minutes is average to a good commute. people commuting from the burbs to downtown are hitting times higher than that. and thats a lot of people

30 minutes gets a little long for visiting friends. a friend you see once or twice a month, or someone who is willing to meet half way works out. but when you live on one side or central and all your friends live on the other it gets tiring always having to make a drive. sucks but i never see them.