Best place to live when working on NW side?

[mawipafl]

Originally Posted by EricBoyd

True, but isn't a large majority of the 295 flow going South, across the Buckman?

The afternoon commute over the Buckman is the nightmare when heading north on 295 -- there are times when the traffic wanting to get off on Hwy 17 will back up onto the Buckman Bridge. In the morning, the flow on 295 is headed south, but the Buckman isn't that bad.

moderngnome - to give you an idea of commute times, we live in Fleming Island (just south of Orange Park on Hwy 17). Our commute - 17 to 295 to Pritchard (west/northwest area of Jacksonville) was normally 30 minutes - sometimes a tad less, sometimes a bit more. The snarls (thick traffic) were at Commonwealth, I-10, and 103rd St -- if any of those roadways had a problem, it would sometimes spill onto 295. A little less than half of the commute time was spent on Hwy 17 actually - a lot of traffic, a lot of traffic lights. However, for us it was totally doable.

[moderngnome]

Originally Posted by mawipafl

The afternoon commute over the Buckman is the nightmare when heading north on 295 -- there are times when the traffic wanting to get off on Hwy 17 will back up onto the Buckman Bridge. In the morning, the flow on 295 is headed south, but the Buckman isn't that bad.

moderngnome - to give you an idea of commute times, we live in Fleming Island (just south of Orange Park on Hwy 17). Our commute - 17 to 295 to Pritchard (west/northwest area of Jacksonville) was normally 30 minutes - sometimes a tad less, sometimes a bit more. The snarls (thick traffic) were at Commonwealth, I-10, and 103rd St -- if any of those roadways had a problem, it would sometimes spill onto 295. A little less than half of the commute time was spent on Hwy 17 actually - a lot of traffic, a lot of traffic lights. However, for us it was totally doable.

Perfect! One of the neighborhoods I'm considering is Fleming Island. My husband's work would be right off Pritchard. Thank you so much!

How is Fleming Island? Would you describe it as rural/suburban? Is it close to stores and restaurants?

[mawipafl]

Originally Posted by moderngnome

Perfect! One of the neighborhoods I'm considering is Fleming Island. My husband's work would be right off Pritchard. Thank you so much!

How is Fleming Island? Would you describe it as rural/suburban? Is it close to stores and restaurants?

Well, I am totally biased because I live here! :-) It was the perfect location for us and we have no regrets buying here. Great schools, safe, and definitely family-friendly.

I'd call Fleming Island 'suburban'. It's definitely not rural, but there are tons of trees and undeveloped land (which, like most places, is slowly changing). We have everything right here except a bookstore, and although there are a number of restaurants, there could be more variety for sure.

The only nuisance is traveling Hwy 17. It's about 6.5 miles from my house to I-295, and it can sometimes take 15 minutes on a trafficky day, but I've never found myself tearing my hair out.

Door-to-door travel times: to the airport 40 minutes; to St Johns Town Center (fantastic open-air mall) 30 minutes; to downtown Jacksonville 30-35 minutes; to the beach 40 minutes; to St Augustine 45 minutes; to Disney World 3 hours (and yeah, I've done Disney as a day trip many times :-)

[moderngnome]

Originally Posted by mawipafl

Well, I am totally biased because I live here! :-) It was the perfect location for us and we have no regrets buying here. Great schools, safe, and definitely family-friendly.

I'd call Fleming Island 'suburban'. It's definitely not rural, but there are tons of trees and undeveloped land (which, like most places, is slowly changing). We have everything right here except a bookstore, and although there are a number of restaurants, there could be more variety for sure.

The only nuisance is traveling Hwy 17. It's about 6.5 miles from my house to I-295, and it can sometimes take 15 minutes on a trafficky day, but I've never found myself tearing my hair out.

Door-to-door travel times: to the airport 40 minutes; to St Johns Town Center (fantastic open-air mall) 30 minutes; to downtown Jacksonville 30-35 minutes; to the beach 40 minutes; to St Augustine 45 minutes; to Disney World 3 hours (and yeah, I've done Disney as a day trip many times :-)

Thank you so much! This information is exactly what I needed!