Question about possible commute time (Herndon, Fairfax: how much, house, purchase)

[LocalGuy61]

My wife and I are considering the purchase of a house in Sterling. I work in downtown Fairfax. If anyone here has experience with that particular commute and can let me know how long I can expect it to take in the morning, as well as in the evening, I would really appreciate it. I would also appreciate recommended routes for making that drive. Thanks a lot.

[Fredesch]

What do you mean by downtown Fairfax? Fairfax City?

[LocalGuy61]

Originally Posted by Fredesch

What do you mean by downtown Fairfax? Fairfax City?

Right. Fairfax City.

[Fredesch]

I never commuted that route, but for a while I lived in Herndon and would travel to our house in Kings Park which was being remodeled. I would take the FFX parkway and jump off at Braddock Rd. Depending on where you are in Sterling, you might go 28 then to Sunrise Valley to the FFX parkway and jump off at 236, 29 or 50. You will probably find a better way to get to the FFX parkway than Sunrise Valley Dr. It took me from 50 minutes to an hour but I started near Fox Mill and went nearly to the beltway on Braddock Rd.

[gomason]

I would say this is an easy 45 minute commute. I would suggest taking 28 South to West Ox Road to 50 to downtown. The worst part of this commute will be your time between 50 and Fairfax City. 50 is a mess during rush hour and downtown Fairfax is a never ending traffic nightmare.

[tysonsengineer]

Nah, don't even mess with 28 if you don't have to, you'll lose 15 minutes on that stretch to 50.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Fair...6993!3e0?hl=en

It might look crazy, and google might tell you it is too, but avoiding 50 and 28 as much as possible is your goal.

You can use FFX co Parkway, not sure how much the fair lakes improvements have helped, but when I lived in Herndon it was a major congestion point... so that might have changed since. If so take Parkway to Monument instead.

35 minutes consistently, no ups and downs like 28 and 50 have in store for you.

Ignore all of this if you plan on waking up at 5am (something a lot of people forget to mention is what time they commute). Wake up that early (out the door before 6) and you can take the major routes direct, and get there in 25min

[clangal]

I agree with TysonEngineer - try FFX Co Pkwy to Monument. Monument to 29, if that helps send you to the right spot in Fairfax. If 28 is closer to your home than the Parkway, consider exiting on McLearen and connect with the Parkway. 50East from Rt 28 is heavily travelled by trucks and commuters, and all those stoplights might make you a little crazy. Timing is everything. Once the public schools end mid-June, your routes will ease a little. If you use Apps, try WAZE and see which routes it sends you on any given day. It learns commuters' workarounds. The good news is you have several reasonable routes to traverse the region, so you're not beholden to just one.

[Middlin]

I actually used to work in Fairfax City across the street from the Courthouse. I agree with FFX County Parkway, but I would take Braddock and then either go all the way to 123 or take the road before (left onto Shirley Gate) and then a right onto Lee Highway and than another right onto Main.

[djcl86]

The mapped route TysonsEngineer is showing could be less messy depending where in Sterling you'll be living. For example, it can be easier to get to the FFX CO Pkwy, if you were moving to Lowe's Island in Sterling that's right off the Algonkian Pkwy which becomes the FFX Co Pkwy.

[Middlin]

Trust me, you never want to take 50. I usually left work at 4:30 and it could take from the Courthouse driving on 50 to the Harris Teeter right before the FFX Parkway 30 minutes +