How Long is the Drive From Clayton to Oakland During Rush Hour? (Walnut Creek: buying a house)

[kenrobin]

My wife & I both work in Oakland near Lake Merritt and we're contemplating buying a house in Clayton. Ygnacio Valley Rd is the main route leading into & away from 680. My Realtor warns that the rush-hour commute to/from Clayton to Oakland is over 1-hour. Is this true? I thought it would be more like 40 - 45 minutes but she says it can take up to an hour just to drive down Ygnacio to the freeway.

[Lifeshadower]

Originally Posted by kenrobin

My wife & I both work in Oakland near Lake Merritt and we're contemplating buying a house in Clayton. Ygnacio Valley Rd is the main route leading into & away from 680. My Realtor warns that the rush-hour commute to/from Clayton to Oakland is over 1-hour. Is this true? I thought it would be more like 40 - 45 minutes but she says it can take up to an hour just to drive down Ygnacio to the freeway.

Even during non-rush hour, driving to Lake Merritt from Clayton could almost take an hour. During rush hour, expect it to be 1:15-1:30 (being generous here) There's usually a bottle neck around the 680/24 interchange, and again at the Caldecott Tunnel. While the tunnel does have extra lane usage during rush-hour, it only helps so much. I used to do the opposite commute (it was a pain during rush hour because we only had two lanes in our direction INTO the tunnel)

Taking BART from Pleasant Hill or Walnut Creek stations could be an option, but it really depends how far away you work from the Lake Merritt BART station.

[kenrobin]

Thanks LS, this is helpful.