Would a commute from Bradenton to Tampa be terrible? (Sarasota: rent, house)

[brooklyn1234]

I'm going to be moving to the area in a month, and I just had a fairly successful interview that looks promising with Florida Hospital Tampa. I'm going to be staying in Bradenton for about a year while exploring the area and figuring out exactly where I want to settle. This would roughly be my commute:

Map

Per google maps it would be 50 minutes without traffic. How realistic is this estimate? Is this a commute that would be terrible traffic-wise? I'll be on nights to start, so my commute to work (driving north) would be around 6:00pm, and my commute home (commuting south) would be around 7:00am. Any insight would be appreciated!

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by brooklyn1234

I'm going to be moving to the area in a month, and I just had a fairly successful interview that looks promising with Florida Hospital Tampa. I'm going to be staying in Bradenton for about a year while exploring the area and figuring out exactly where I want to settle. This would roughly be my commute:

Map

Per google maps it would be 50 minutes without traffic. How realistic is this estimate? Is this a commute that would be terrible traffic-wise? I'll be on nights to start, so my commute to work (driving north) would be around 6:00pm, and my commute home (commuting south) would be around 7:00am. Any insight would be appreciated!

It is realistic. We live in south Manatee by the airport, and my husband drives to downtown Tampa every day. Traffic almost always moves nicely. Plus you have the added benefit of going against the traffic. Very doable.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by brooklyn1234

I'm going to be moving to the area in a month, and I just had a fairly successful interview that looks promising with Florida Hospital Tampa. I'm going to be staying in Bradenton for about a year while exploring the area and figuring out exactly where I want to settle. This would roughly be my commute:

Map

Per google maps it would be 50 minutes without traffic. How realistic is this estimate? Is this a commute that would be terrible traffic-wise? I'll be on nights to start, so my commute to work (driving north) would be around 6:00pm, and my commute home (commuting south) would be around 7:00am. Any insight would be appreciated!

I would do a test drive to see how you feel about the drive also if it is only for a year with a good job you could do it. You should be going against traffic which would help also

[photoman_6]

what's the commute presently? If you did it before there is no reason why it couldn't be done. the likely problems would be traffic accidents and road closures. Otherwise, 1 hour is doable.

[brooklyn1234]

Thank you so much for the insight! You guys have confirmed what I was thinking- that it would be pretty doable for me . I'm not actually living in the area yet, but have made several trips down over the last year to get a feel for the area. I did a test drive last time I was down there and it felt ok, but it was at a different time of the day which is why I wasn't too sure. Presently I have a 45 minute commute which I'm fine with, so I figure a little further is ok.

Thanks again!!

[sware2cod]

Traffic generally is very smooth with minimal backups heading north into Tampa until you get close to the I-4 interchange. Even then it's not bad, just more cars and sometimes you slow down slightly. For most of your trip you'll be going fast.

Be careful about speed traps. There is a section near Ruskin on I-75 that sometimes has 6 squad cars out giving tickets at the same time. They pull over car after car after car. So your biggest issue is forcing yourself not to go too much over the speed limit. That's how nice the traffic flows.

[Shabotnik]

My niece drove from our house in Sarasota to Bush Gardens, 1 1/4 hour minimum, and back for 2 1/2 years, so it can't be all that bad. She moved out now and I'm heartbroken, but I digress.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by bobbi jo newnen

Been there, done that...


Moving forward, I would not want to do it for long - the traffic and flow in Tampa is getting far more congested by the year - so is the traffic all around Sarasota/Manatee and the choke points or ingress and egress around the I75 access/secondary road points...by 2016 , just a year away you're going to witness and experience at least a 7% increase in N/S traffic. You can get transportation analysis from FDOT, and the planning commission, plus the respective counties themselves. Hillsborough is already obsolete in my opinion.


I have commuted in many much larger cities (e.g. Dallas, Atlanta S/D, et al) and this place is getting to be quite congested more than it was just 5 years ago. I am no newcomer either. Been around since 1977, so I've seen the drama and know all of the actors in the "play" of planning and investment.


Good luck, but I would advise and plan against it in the longer term. Really. Don't let anyone tell you it's "not that bad". The only drive that is relatively "easy", is a drive from Manatee to downtown St Pete, and back every day. Going to Tampa via 75 and 4, and the Crosstown every day, you can guarantee yourself that you will experience drama about every other day.

Sooo not true - my husband has been making the drive for 6 years now, and has only had a delay or problem once or twice.

[Luby162]

Originally Posted by brooklyn1234

I'm going to be moving to the area in a month, and I just had a fairly successful interview that looks promising with Florida Hospital Tampa. I'm going to be staying in Bradenton for about a year while exploring the area and figuring out exactly where I want to settle. This would roughly be my commute:

Map

Per google maps it would be 50 minutes without traffic. How realistic is this estimate? Is this a commute that would be terrible traffic-wise? I'll be on nights to start, so my commute to work (driving north) would be around 6:00pm, and my commute home (commuting south) would be around 7:00am. Any insight would be appreciated!

extremely Doable, will be a lot better than driving into manhattan from brooklyn...if that is what you do now ? Tampa traffic is not anything like NY traffic, there is traffic but nothing like the BQE or LIE on a friday in the summer !!!!!

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by brooklyn1234

I'm going to be moving to the area in a month, and I just had a fairly successful interview that looks promising with Florida Hospital Tampa. I'm going to be staying in Bradenton for about a year while exploring the area and figuring out exactly where I want to settle. This would roughly be my commute:

Map

Per google maps it would be 50 minutes without traffic. How realistic is this estimate? Is this a commute that would be terrible traffic-wise? I'll be on nights to start, so my commute to work (driving north) would be around 6:00pm, and my commute home (commuting south) would be around 7:00am. Any insight would be appreciated!

Sounds like you would be avoiding the "rush" hours ~ not so bad...go play in rush hour traffic & you might have a different opinion. It's one thing if you have cheap or no rent but the time spent commuting, gas would be deciding factors, IMO. It's preferable to live within ten miles of work. We do have much more traffic on the highways year round than in the past. Factor in the reliability of your vehicle as well. Does your position include taking "call" or ability to be "called in"? I can't imagine wanting to commute 120+ mile a day.