Travel time estimate--from Reston to VA Hospital Center in Arlington (Tysons Corner: how much, neighborhoods)

[virgo]

Good morning!

Can someone please help me with a travel time estimate? How much time should be allotted to travel from Reston, VA, to Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington on a regular basis? If your shift starts at either 8 a.m. or 9 a.m., would 90 minutes be enough time to cover for possible accidents, car broken down in a lane, deer was hit, rain (NOT snow, that's a different animal altogether), trying to find parking at work?

I would go Dulles Toll Road east, get off at Tysons Corner to go Route 7 east, and then Route 29, etc. I would prefer to not use I-66 inside the beltway because of the new toll starting on December 4th.

I would also prefer to establish a consistent morning routine of getting up at a certain time, getting dressed, and hitting the road. Is 90 minutes enough time or overkill?

Thank you!

[dkf747]

90 Minutes is too long for me. I would use back roads though. Something like Dulles Toll Road to Spring Hill Rd. to Lewinsviile Rd to Great Falls St to Lincoln Ave to Washington Blvd. That's just one possible route. There are others. Of course, all those other routes will get more traffic once the tolls start. I would still think it would take no more than an hour.

[Flamingo13]

I think 90 mins. is a better estimate in case. It can take 1/2 hr. sometimes just to get to Tyson's (sometimes longer). Winter and snow happening soon......

Bring a book or find a local place to hang out for a little while if you get there too early.

[virgo]

Thanks for responding.

dkf747: Thanks for the alternate route info. I hesitated to look at "side roads" because, not having any kids, I usually forget to factor in school buses picking up kids, and I didn't want to pick routes going thru neighborhoods.

The last time I was in North Arlington was this past spring. I had a 5 p.m. appt. at N 33rd Road for three days. At that time, it took me 43 mins., 45 mins., and 53 mins. (there was an accident) to reach my destination. I was going against traffic because I was headed toward DC so to speak, while the bulk of traffic was streaming away from DC. I will keep your side roads in mind.

Flamingo13: I picked 90 mins. because, from the paragraph above, it took me 53 mins. to get to N 33rd Road when there was an accident, and I was going against the bulk of traffic. Virginia Hospital Center isn't too much farther away from N 33rd Road, but going in the direction of rush hour traffic, it's hard to say. Plus, once I get there, I need to find parking and walk to the office.

I have to schedule 25-30 mins. to get from my place on South Lakes Drive to Reston Hospital Medical Complex for a doctor's appt. HA! Between the school buses and traffic streaming into Reston, you just inch along.

Thank you both for your input.