Moving to Arlington, where can I commute to? (Alexandria, McLean: how much, house)

[backtoeastcoast]

We will be moving to Arlington, VA this summer for my husband's job, to an area near the National Foreign Affairs Training Center.

I understand that traffic can be difficult. I am looking at jobs in the following areas and need a reality check if they are doable based on where I will be living:

1. Fort Belvoir. I have been told to rule this out based on our future location in Arlington. Agree?

2. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Drivable? Is there a public transportation option for this one?

3. Alexandria, off of South Kings Road, near Greendale Golf Course. Google maps gives me two routes, Route 1 vs 395. What should I know about these options?

Thanks very much!

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by backtoeastcoast

We will be moving to Arlington, VA this summer for my husband's job, to an area near the National Foreign Affairs Training Center.

I understand that traffic can be difficult. I am looking at jobs in the following areas and need a reality check if they are doable based on where I will be living:

1. Fort Belvoir. I have been told to rule this out based on our future location in Arlington. Agree?

2. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Drivable? Is there a public transportation option for this one?

3. Alexandria, off of South Kings Road, near Greendale Golf Course. Google maps gives me two routes, Route 1 vs 395. What should I know about these options?

Thanks very much!

1. Don't agree, if you take 395/95 S to the Fairfax Co Pkwy to Belvoir not the worst commute in NoVA.

2. Don't drive. There is public transportation available but it isn't pretty.

3. Very much doable. I'd opt for 395 S since you'd be going against traffic.

[backtoeastcoast]

Thanks so much!

How much time to budget for Fort Belvoir?

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by backtoeastcoast

Thanks so much!

How much time to budget for Fort Belvoir?

Very dependent on the part of Arlington. If you are living in South Arlington near the Pentagon or closer to Alexandria around 35 min at least. North Arlington that will add a good amount of time.

[backtoeastcoast]

Thank you!

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by backtoeastcoast

We will be moving to Arlington, VA this summer for my husband's job, to an area near the National Foreign Affairs Training Center.

I understand that traffic can be difficult. I am looking at jobs in the following areas and need a reality check if they are doable based on where I will be living:

1. Fort Belvoir. I have been told to rule this out based on our future location in Arlington. Agree?

2. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Drivable? Is there a public transportation option for this one?

3. Alexandria, off of South Kings Road, near Greendale Golf Course. Google maps gives me two routes, Route 1 vs 395. What should I know about these options?

Thanks very much!

1. I live in N. Arlington and used to work at Belvoir, south post. Easy commute via 395 (about 35 minutes) or GW Parkway (45 minutes but more scenic and enjoyable).

2. Walter Reed is drivable. I used to work in Rockville, MD, and drove each way. Traffic coming home was worse than on the way in. I currently work in S. Spring but do a super-early shift, and there's a lot of volume, but it's all going 80 mph, so I get there in 30 minutes. WR should be about the same--less time on Beltway but that's offset by time on neighborhood streets. Transit would mean a rail transfer and take about 1 hour on a good day.

3. 395 to Van Dorn. Route 1 has lots of stoplights. 395S in the morning is cake. The people going the other way are in hell.

Bottom line: Everywhere else is a reverse commute from Arlington, because most people would rather spend less money to get a bigger house farther out. Thus they sit in traffic to go toward Arlington/DC, while those who live in Arlington/DC/Falls Church/McLean/Bethesda breeze along to everywhere else.

[backtoeastcoast]

Thanks Carlingtonian! Very helpful!