Commute annandale to bethesda (Fairfax: home, living, costs)

[jky123]

Hi all,
New here...lived in nova all my life (annandale) and will possibly be driving to NIH in bethesda. From my past experience it takes about 20-25 min non rush hour. But I haven't had the chance to try it out in rush hour. Please, any commuters and how long does it morning and evening? Thanks!

[dc_123]

I would have to get a huge increase in pay to make that commute every day during rush hour. The Tysons area is a nightmare on the beltway and the Cabin John Bridge to the 270 split is no picnic either.

[cliftonmom]

It won't be as bad as you might think. Once you hit the beltway you need to get past the I-66 mess, then it lightens up across the bridge. I would estimate about 40 minutes to the NIH gate - then another 40 minutes to find on campus parking!

[jky123]

Haha...well I'm gonna do a test drive FROM bethesda to nova tomorrow evening during rush hour and time it since i'll be there anyway for the day, and i'm going to time the opposite direction next week. see, i have an internship to possibly do there which would be for about 10 months..then if i ended up getting a job i would move there so i wouldn't commute every day. on the other hand, the other internship option is closer to home (still at INOVA fairfax hospital though which can be congested to get to)...but the closer internship costs $6000 to do, while the NIH internship has no cost. So if I think I can do the commute and live at home to save the cost of living out in bethesda, i would do that. what is your opinion on that take?

[jky123]

Originally Posted by cliftonmom

I would estimate about 40 minutes to the NIH gate - then another 40 minutes to find on campus parking!

Have you experience the NIH on campus parking? Would it really be that bad for ppl working there?....oh I hope not.

[claude henry smoot]

Your mornings should be ok - as others have said - the 66 area will usually be slow, but you're sort of reverse commuting (considering all the Marylanders pouring into VA) so it's not that bad.

Evenings will be another story - it can be tough. Expect MD to the 66 area to be a 30-40 minute ordeal at the least. That's one of those commutes that could be 30 minutes one day, and 1.5 hours the next. When traffic gets really messed up on 495 (maybe once every couple of weeks, 5-6pm), you will literally crawl from the 270 spur area to Fairfax - we're talking stop and go the entire way.

As far as testing today - don't get too excited with your results. Best I can tell from my commute, we're still in holiday mode. My commutes this week have been way too easy - almost too good to be true! I'm not expecting it to last into next week.