DFW to KILEEN Commute lord help me.. (Austin, Killeen: cheap apartment, rental) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

Flowler · 09-04-2010, 10:30 AM

So I just accepted a job in Kileen, has anyone ever taken the drive from F/W to Killeen on a daily basis? I've set it up like this: Friday and Monday I take American Eagle and just fly down, Tuesday I take Amtrak. and the rest of the days I'm driving. This is just preliminary and I'm still working out the kinks. Any suggestions? Anyone want to carpool? Can someone give me what its like driving that far everyday?(171 miles) I'm a pretty fast driver and have gotten to Austin in 2 1/2 hours when I needed to catch my flight. I get mileage reimbursement per diem and it only takes 50$ to fill up my tank so I would actually be making money as a drive there.

P.S: I'm driving a Lexus Rx 330 if that helps. Thanks!!

Rakin · 09-04-2010, 10:45 AM

IMO that drive is not workable on a daily basis, I'd get a cheap apartment down that way and not try to drive that often. You can keep your place here for weekends if you think you'd be moving back this way.

Or move to North Austin / Georgetown where you could do a daily drive.

TexasHorseLady · 09-04-2010, 11:10 AM

I agree with Rakin - that will simply not work long-term. Find a cheap place to live much closer to work, and go back to DFW on weekends.

DanielWayne · 09-04-2010, 11:52 AM

Yeah that commute will leave you so frazzled you won't be worth anything at work. Get a place, find a nice weekly hotel, or find someone on Craigs list that is renting rooms from a house. Good luck!

Canine*Castle · 09-04-2010, 12:00 PM

I can't even imagine driving that far every day. Making money on the mileage is not worth the toll it will take on you. From home to work, I drive 7 miles round trip.

Willsson · 09-04-2010, 01:07 PM

Have you taken that Amtrak before? How will you get from the Amtrak station to your workplace? Are you aware of the expected delays Amtrak will have at ALL meetings with other trains? Amtrak will pull into a side track to wait for ANY and ALL freight trains to pass. This may add two more hours to your trip on any given day of the week. In either direction.

Consider flying or driving down Mondays, using a rental room for the nights of Mon/Tues/Wed/Thur and flying back Friday night. Or by whatever may suit your expected schedule.

Rakin · 09-04-2010, 01:10 PM

Let's do a little public school Texas Math.....

The way I see it is by the time you leave, work all day and drive back home you wil be doing a 26 hour day.

So what that means is by the time you get home in the evning you will already be 2 hours late for the next days work. And by the time 5pm Friday rolls around it will really be Saturday morning.

ChristieP · 09-04-2010, 01:29 PM

My husband has done Army stuff at Fort Hood, and we live in Grapevine. He drove down on Monday morning, stayed in Army lodging all week, and drove back on Friday afternoon. Driving back and forth every day would NOT be a viable option.

Flowler · 09-04-2010, 03:52 PM

Hey guys thank you for the feedback..This is a bit of a survival thing, I'm an unemployed single mother of one. This is the only job I've been offered in 2 years. Eitherway I have to take the job. Right now I cant afford to move down there but I will eventually.

Rakin · 09-04-2010, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flowler

Hey guys thank you for the feedback..This is a bit of a survival thing, I'm an unemployed single mother of one. This is the only job I've been offered in 2 years. Either way I have to take the job. Right now I cant afford to move down there but I will eventually.

I'm sure a major concern for you is the mother of one part. It would be tough with a child. I believe I'd move down that way if possible, Killeen would be a good place for a kid to grow up.

Hope you get it all worked out, best of luck