Can I survive a regular commute from St. Aug to S. Jacksonville? (Palm Coast: lease, HOA)

[tgalbraith]

Ok, so I just had a REALLY good interview with a major bank that has its offices on the far south side of Jacksonville (hint: the address is 1400 Citicards Way). My husband and I have been wanting to live in Saint Augustine for years. (He's home-based, so his commute is about 15 seconds.)

My question: how nightmarish would that commute be, if we stayed with neighborhoods on the northside-ish end of St. Aug? Say around Heritage Park? Highway 1 would probably be better than 95, right, and my estimate is about 30 minutes. Are there regular accidents and/or repairs that slow things down?

I don't want to live in a big community with a massive HOA that's away from everything, like Nocatee or WGV. I want to be near St. Aug. We don't have kids, so schools aren't a concern.

Thanks. I don't have the job yet, but...am really excited.

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by tgalbraith

Ok, so I just had a REALLY good interview with a major bank that has its offices on the far south side of Jacksonville (hint: the address is 1400 Citicards Way). My husband and I have been wanting to live in Saint Augustine for years. (He's home-based, so his commute is about 15 seconds.)

My question: how nightmarish would that commute be, if we stayed with neighborhoods on the northside-ish end of St. Aug? Say around Heritage Park? Highway 1 would probably be better than 95, right, and my estimate is about 30 minutes. Are there regular accidents and/or repairs that slow things down?

I don't want to live in a big community with a massive HOA that's away from everything, like Nocatee or WGV. I want to be near St. Aug. We don't have kids, so schools aren't a concern.

Thanks. I don't have the job yet, but...am really excited.

I never commuted that far down BUT traffic is ALWAYS an issue around Jax. Construction AND accidents. Rain (lol) Fires, explosions and drama. NOT weekly but google it.

When I (briefly) worked for the phone company there downtown, I lived in walking distance because you get FIRED for tardy and absence.

I started a pet sitting business and one of my clients moved to Southside Belfort Rd and I helped her out for awhile (I lived near downtown). There was lots of traffic and tiring. Construction.

I also had to take a dog to a vet at 295 at I95 by 7 AM one morning and OMG I SAT at that intersection for over 20 minutes. Seemed like normal commuter traffic.

Hopefully other people can answer you with concrete commuting experiences for the actual direction you're asking about.

My suggestion is ALWAYS to rent near a job if your commute/hours matter if you're relocating to FL. You can always take risks and move later after you get your bearings. Even a short term lease is available or even a couple months in an Execustay.

[ebn78]

I would not even consider that drive. 2 hours with traffic! Better you move to Jax. St. Augustine is a very small town.

[kyle19125]

I don't think your responses thus far on this thread have been especially valid. The areas in St Augustine's north side you mention are roughly 19-20 miles from the address you mention which is on the extreme south end of Jacksonville basically wedged between I-95 and US1. Your commute up US1 northbound or I-95 typically will max out at 40 minutes and is hardly an "issue" unless one is used to ridiculously short commutes.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/29.9...1428912000!3e0

[SpaceGhost79]

I work with two people who commute from Palm Coast to downtown Jacksonville. One of them has been doing it for 10+ years. Usually takes them an hour or so unless there's an accident or something causing a delay.

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I don't think your responses thus far on this thread have been especially valid. The areas in St Augustine's north side you mention are roughly 19-20 miles from the address you mention which is on the extreme south end of Jacksonville basically wedged between I-95 and US1. Your commute up US1 northbound or I-95 typically will max out at 40 minutes and is hardly an "issue" unless one is used to ridiculously short commutes.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/29.9...1428912000!3e0

LOL as IF I didn't say "Hopefully other people can answer you with concrete commuting experiences for the actual direction you're asking about."

Why not just ANSWER THE QUESTION instead of critiquing others?

At least I acknowledged her question and gave my experience in less than two days sitting there.

BTW, It's HILARIOUS to me that you consider 40 minutes to be a non issue and anything shorter is "ridiculously short". I don't find that point of view to be particularly valid.

[ssclulow]

DO not use I-95. Take US 1 north and your commute will be 30 min from Heritage Park. This is real, based on experience, timing during rush hour. ...but is only valid using US 1.

[tgalbraith]

I appreciate everyone's input. Traffic information about downtown Jax is helpful too, because at some point in the near future I may be making the long drive from the airport to St. Aug, possibly several times. But if the job is at the location I think it is, the commute to St. Aug via Hwy 1 should be ok. (I've been telecommuting the last three years, so I'm a bit spoiled!) For the opportunity to live and eventually retire in St. Augustine, though, I will happily drive 30 minutes each way for this job. Thanks again, all.

[projectmaximus]

Originally Posted by tgalbraith

I appreciate everyone's input. Traffic information about downtown Jax is helpful too, because at some point in the near future I may be making the long drive from the airport to St. Aug, possibly several times.

If it's during rush hour it would almost certainly be best to avoid I-95. So I-295 to US-1.

[ebn78]

I had a job commuting from St. Augustine Beach to Orange Park and it was 2 hours one way! Traffic is hell around Jax.