Driving from Stafford to Bowling Green (Richmond, Fairfax: rent, house, construction)

[jzcrandall]

It looks like I'll be teaching in Caroline County! It's not Fairfax, but it'll be a good place to cut my teeth, gain experience, and get my Postgraduate Professional license. Then I can try again in a few years.

With that said, I am looking at moving up to Stafford County so that I can be closer to NOVA, and the rent looks comparable to what I'm paying in Richmond, plus the driving times from, for example, Aquia Harbour, are actually shorter than driving from Richmond according to Google Maps. But that doesn't take driving in rush hour into consideration. I would likely leave my home at 6am so that I can get there before 7, then probably leaving to go home around 3, or 5 during wrestling season. What's traffic like on I-95, Route 2, and Route 3 like at that hour?

[tgbwc]

Congratulations!

What is that, about a 40 minute drive south? What rush hour traffic would there be? You go past Fredericksburg. I don't think you would get close enough to Richmond for their rush hour traffic, would you?

[jzcrandall]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

Congratulations!

What is that, about a 40 minute drive south? What rush hour traffic would there be? You go past Fredericksburg. I don't think you would get close enough to Richmond for their rush hour traffic, would you?

According to Google Maps it's 42 minutes from Aquia Harbour, and even 49 minutes from Triangle. As far I know it's smooth sailing on 95 once you get south of 610. Based on my experiences driving in and around Fredericksburg I should be okay.

[va_lucky]

Originally Posted by jzcrandall

It looks like I'll be teaching in Caroline County! It's not Fairfax, but it'll be a good place to cut my teeth, gain experience, and get my Postgraduate Professional license. Then I can try again in a few years.

With that said, I am looking at moving up to Stafford County so that I can be closer to NOVA, and the rent looks comparable to what I'm paying in Richmond, plus the driving times from, for example, Aquia Harbour, are actually shorter than driving from Richmond according to Google Maps. But that doesn't take driving in rush hour into consideration. I would likely leave my home at 6am so that I can get there before 7, then probably leaving to go home around 3, or 5 during wrestling season. What's traffic like on I-95, Route 2, and Route 3 like at that hour?

Traffic is fine from DC southward from 7am-8am the entire way (at least on Monday or Tuesday). It takes me 1 hr to go 65 miles. When I do the same thing on Saturday at 11am it is a minimum of 2 hours.

I'd suggest the Fredericksburg area (Spotsylvania) over Stafford in this case as well. You still have access to NOVA in the Fredericksburg area and although we lost by a few percent in the poll you would arguably be in NOVA whilst in the Fredericksburg area.

Check google maps for traffic at that time as well just to be sure but I head South at times that should be worse than you specified (for far longer distances) and have had no issues.

[jzcrandall]

Originally Posted by va_lucky

Traffic is fine from DC southward from 7am-8am the entire way (at least on Monday or Tuesday). It takes me 1 hr to go 65 miles. When I do the same thing on Saturday at 11am it is a minimum of 2 hours.

I'd suggest the Fredericksburg area (Spotsylvania) over Stafford in this case as well. You still have access to NOVA in the Fredericksburg area and although we lost by a few percent in the poll you would arguably be in NOVA whilst in the Fredericksburg area.

Check google maps for traffic at that time as well just to be sure but I head South at times that should be worse than you specified (for far longer distances) and have had no issues.

That's the tricky part about using Google Maps is that it uses traffic that moment you look it up; It would be really nice if Google Maps had an option in which you can put in the time you need to be there, and it would tell you the ideal time to leave (my TomTom did that). Also, I am driving away from DC, so I take that into consideration as well; based on my experience, if I were to move to Stafford, I should try and live south of 610 since that's where the construction for the HOT lanes start.

[va_lucky]

Originally Posted by jzcrandall

That's the tricky part about using Google Maps is that it uses traffic that moment you look it up; It would be really nice if Google Maps had an option in which you can put in the time you need to be there, and it would tell you the ideal time to leave (my TomTom did that). Also, I am driving away from DC, so I take that into consideration as well; based on my experience, if I were to move to Stafford, I should try and live south of 610 since that's where the construction for the HOT lanes start.

Actually Google Maps has (or recently HAD) a slider which you could see the different colors at the time period specified. I noticed that they did something weird to Google Maps recently though. I have not explored it's functionality and it frustrates me a bit.

You are right to move South of 610. Eventually, the Hot Lanes will probably run to exit 126 as well.

I live in Spotsylvania because under PERFECT circumstances (which seldom exist anymore), it is about 1 hour to DC or Richmond. Lay me off in DC, I can work in Richmond. Lay me off in Richmond I can work in DC. Keep it up and I'll keep my house open and run to RTP...hey that rhymed!

Eventually, I hope that I don't have to work at either...but I need to make as much money as I can so I remain patient hoping that my children will have a better commute than me one day.

[va_lucky]

I went to google maps and checked it out. Go to the word "change" in the lower left hand corner and click on it. Select the time and day. I seriously use this to accept or refuse jobs.

[rae-zor]

Never count 95 out for backing up in the opposite direction of rush hour. Faced it many times heading southbound in the morning. Fewer times north, but still enough. So, from exit 143, you should still ad on another 15 to 20 minutes on average to your commute both ways.

[va_lucky]

Originally Posted by rae-zor

Never count 95 out for backing up in the opposite direction of rush hour. Faced it many times heading southbound in the morning. Fewer times north, but still enough. So, from exit 143, you should still ad on another 15 to 20 minutes on average to your commute both ways.

I have been doing the Southbound DC to Spotsylvania commute on Mondays and Tuesdays for 8+ months now between 7am and 8am and it is always an hour rain or shine. Now Saturday it is 2.5-3.5 hours. Other days of the week, I don't know about.

The only hint of a delay is at Backlick Road and then you are ok if you don't stay in the right lane.

If Wednesday-Friday are different animals, please share. I am considering changing my shift to include Wed-Friday Southbound between 7am-8am.

[Rimonabant]

how's the Lorton to Fredericksburg portion?

I started a post last wk (or two) and would be curious to get your opinion - it helps a great deal!

thanks