Commute from Somerville to Fair Lawn in Bergen County, NJ (Teaneck: home, live)

[Rachel87NJ]

I am planning to start a new commute from Somerville to Fair Lawn in Bergen County, NJ. I am thinking of taking 287 to 208 - Google Maps says approx. 55 minutes. My work hours are from 7:30AM-3:30PM. So I am thinking of leaving at 6:30AM to go to Fair Lawn by 7:30AM and then leaving at 3:30PM to drive home in Somerville. Thoughts? Would I hit traffic? Will it take longer than an hour??

Please let me know. Thank you!!

[captne76]

Traffic? Yes you certainly will not be alone on the roads.
It's "doable" and in my book at TJC Typical Jersey Commute.

You will hit slowdowns in the usual spots probably like NJ 24 freeway merge then up to I-80,,,but I'm thinking not all too bad afterwards.

I took that ride back when they had HOV lanes on 287 and that was one big BRAKE check, causing 95% of traffic to go from 3 lanes and stop to go to 2 lanes. That was sort of an eco-political deal to get the 3rd lane built on two eights (287) after the top portion was completed.

[Rachel87NJ]

Thanks for your feedback! A coworker told me that my commute will be an hour and half at minimum on rt. 287 at 3:30pm. Is that true?

[captne76]

Its a little shorter going across I-80 to Route 20 or River Drive and up rather than the whole loop up 2 8's (287) but timewise not too much diff I think like 7 miles shorter.

[Rachel87NJ]

Okay thanks. I was just thinking to avoid 80 since it always seems congested.

[Rachel87NJ]

Anyone else have experience with this commute?

[Ivan Putski]

I go the opposite way from Wyckoff to Bridgewater (leave at 7am 208N to 287S) and I always see a ton of traffic on your side in the morning on 287N starting around the Bernardsville/Basking Ridge area and presumably through Rt80 (I pass through that area around 7:30-40ish). You said you're leaving at 6:30am so you may miss the heavy traffic, not sure.

As for 208S, my wife always complains it jams up from Wyckoff/Hawthorne border up to about Maple ave (Glen Rock/Fair Lawn) exit so that stretch may take you 10 minutes when it's normally a minute or 2 drive. We live equidistant to Rt17 and Rt208 so she takes Rt17 in the morning when she goes to work in Teaneck and skips 208 altogether.

Leaving 10 minutes earlier/later makes a world of difference when you're talking about 287 so you may want to be safe and leave a little earlier until you figure out a pattern.

[turtleroger]

if you have a smartphone, try using the waze app. it's not perfect, but will help determine the best route based on current traffic conditions.