Is there such thing as "reverse commuting" in the DC area? (McLean: home)

[Osita]

Hi! I am moving to the area - soon - and need to find appropriate housing. I will be working near Silver Springs, MD., and was thinking of living in the McLean, VA area. My question is: Is there such thing as a reverse commute in the area? Will it take me FOREVER to travel the 20 miles between Mclean and Silver Springs going to and from work? Does anyone happen to know approximately how long this commute would take me? Mapquest says it will be approximately 30 minutes - but I do not believe it.

I would love any help you can give me. Thanks you!!!

[gnu]

I exit 495 before getting to Maryland, but in the mornings, 495 backs up 2.5 miles BEFORE the American Legion Bridge on the VA side every morning. I wouldn't say forever, but it won't be an easy commute.

[LLD]

not really much of any reverse commute on the Beltway -- reverse commutes are realying about living "in" and commuting "out"

For instance I lived in Kensington but worked in Gaithersburg MD so traveled the opposite of most people -- going out 270 in the morning instead of in towards Bethesday on 270. That was an easy commute and one I considered a reverse commute. It would be like living in Tyson's and working in Leesburg -- that would be a reverse commute.

[claremarie]

My husband had been commuting from McLean to College Park on the Beltway for 20 years. It is, in fact, a reverse commute in the morning, as most Beltway traffic is headed in the opposite direction. The earlier you can leave the better, but I'd plan on 45 minutes rather than 30, particularly if it will take you more than a few minutes to get on the Beltway in McLean (and depending, of course, on how far off the Beltway in Silver Spring you will be going). The traffic backups on the Legion bridge are temporary, due to a painting project that restricts the merge lane from the GW Parkway.
Coming home in the afternoon/evening is much less predictable, because there are backups on the Beltway in Md approaching the 270 split. Once you get past that point, it's usually OK.
However, unless you have compelling reasons to live in McLean, I'd try to find something closer to your office.....

[saganista]

Hardly ever go to Silver Spring, except maybe on a weekend, but I do 495 from McLean up to 270 in the morning rush with some frequency, and I'd concur in most of this kind of bad, but not really horrible, stuff for that part of the 495 run anyway. But like others, I'd say that if you don't have some pretty good reason for being in McLean, you could save yourself some time, money, and aggravation by setting up camp a little closer to SS...

Reverse-commute pretty much applies on the major and some intermediate routes that lead from the suburbs to the city. Otherwise forget it. More than half of the suburban population works in the suburbs. They go every which way to get to work, so nothing is safe...

[seldomseen]

Mclean to Silver Spring is technically a reverse commute, but you should still plan on dealing with some significant traffic. I used to commute from Herndon to College Park, and traffic was attrocious!!