Moving to Ventura from Massachusetts! (Bakersfield, Oxnard: home, construction, living)

[JTelcontar]

This is an exciting time for me! I'm graduating in May and moving to Ventura in June (from Massachusetts, no less-- quite a ways from home). I'll be living on the eastern side of Ventura around S. Wells Rd. I've been visiting every couple of months since the summer, and it seems like the perfect place for me. Having friends in the area is also helpful.

I'm currently involved in the job search and exploring the various commute times. Obviously, working in Ventura itself would be ideal. But many of the jobs I'm considering are in Newbury Park and Westlake Village.

What is the commute like between Ventura and Westlake? I know that it's a bit over 30 minutes without traffic-- but I've never done the commute during rush hour. Is this doable? Will I go insane from hours on the road every day?

I was hoping for a commute that is less than an hour each way (if this is even feasible). I won't be considering other areas to live in, so the commute time is from eastern Ventura.

Any information you guys could provide would be awesome!

[Roma]

Hi JTelcontar,

My husband commuted from the beach in Oxnard (next to Ventura) to Thousand Oaks 5 days a week for 3.5 years during rush hour both ways. He said it would take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes each way.
Good luck on your move!

Roma

[JTelcontar]

Roma: Oh, that is a positive thing to hear! And thanks. Sounds like the horrendous traffic is closer to the 405, then. Phew!

[Roma]

Hi,
One more thing, my husband said that the morning commute would take about 30 minutes and the evening commute would take between 30 - 45 minutes. So evening is slightly longer. (This is if there is no accident or lanes blocks by construction or something). But normally 30-45 minutes.

[JTelcontar]

Either way, 30-45 minutes is really the ideal for me, so that works just fine. Obviously, accidents make everything longer. hah!

This would actually be shorter than my commute from the North Shore to Boston in MA (which can be up to/over an hour for ~20 miles during rush hour). So it's looking good to me.

Thanks very much for the info!

[pollygeorge]

Hello!

I am also moving to the Ventura area from Bakersfield. I haev a job there - helping people find jobs. I will be in my office Thursday. E-mail me and let me know if you have had any luck. And...Welcome to Cali!

[Pier]

Heading to Ventura 4pm to 6pm

You will find yourself in stop-and-go traffic while driving west on the 101 through the 101-118 split, while driving down the Conejo grade or while driving on the 118 from the 101-118 merger through the Sunset Hills exit.

Blame Amgeners who scurry home like lab rats leaving their cubical cages.

Cars and trucks will come to a standstill on the 101 through Camarillo and heading into Oxnard

Heading to TO 7am to 8am

You will find yourself in stop-and-go traffic while driving east on the 101 as you come to the Oxnard-Camarillo border, as you approach the Conejo grade. Flow rate slows through east TO until heading past the Westlake Blvd exit.

101 Tech Corridor drivers -- Zoomgating

Cali drivers lack skill, especially during the rain. Most tailgate between 75-80 MPH. If you move to another lane, you can watch them zoom up to resume tailgating the next guy. Zoomgating defines So Cal driving.

Traffic flow will come to a standstill often between 6 am and 6 pm as folks cannot resist slowing down to see the aftermath of many accidents that happen on the 101.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Pier

Heading to Ventura 4pm to 6pm

You will find yourself in stop-and-go traffic while driving west on the 101 through the 101-118 split, while driving down the Conejo grade or while driving on the 118 from the 101-118 merger through the Sunset Hills exit.

There is no 101-118 split. Was the reference to the 101-126 in East Ventura?

Sunset Hills straddles the 23 in Thousand Oaks. Not sure what is being referred to. Sunset Hills is nowhere near the 101 and nowhere near the 118.

To the original poster. You should have no problem making this commute in under an hour. Yes, there will be traffic, especially on those mornings when the sun is directly in your eyes heading east and in the afternoons heading west.

There aren't really any good alternatives from Ventura to the Conejo Valley either.

Best practice is to adjust your start time to 7AM if possible.

Check Sigalert.com - Personalized Traffic Reports during the times you are considering commuting. Yellow dots mean pain. Red dots mean torture. Most likely you will have a few yellow dots but it shouldn't be horrible.

[sponger42]

Consider using the VISTA bus if you work near the 101 coridoor. They allow bikes onboard, it's not crowded at all, and it's only $2 one-way. Much cheaper and more relaxing than driving.

Ventura County Transportation Commission - Ventura Intercity Service Transit Authority (VISTA) (http://www.goventura.org/home/index.asp?page=101 - broken link)

Scroll down. You probably will want the HWY101/Conejo Connection

There's also the Metrolink train. Also more relaxing and cheaper, but also leaves at an ungodly early hour.

Metrolink :: Ventura County Line

The only drawback is that the latest morning bus leaves before 7AM.

I carpool in from midtown near the beach to Canoga Park. It takes me 40-50 minutes to get to work in the morning and 45 to an hour to get home. The worst times going East/South is between 7:15-8:15 Wed, Thurs, Fri. and North/West between 5:00 - 6:00 PM.

[~Boo~]

The Vista bus is a good suggestion. I know someone that uses it & they prefer it over driving.

You shouldn't go insane from hours on the road...no, it's not as bad as the 405. But it is worse than it use to be. You will be tired. My husband use to work in TO & we lived off of Wells Rd/118 & the traffic was manageable, but a pain. The widening of the 101 in Oxnard helped with the flow, but now there are just more cars. If you can adjust your work time just a bit...may make it a little easier. Then again it's nothing compared to driving in Boston!

Going home from TO, IMO, is longer with traffic. It starts right before the Conejo Grade & will be all the way into Ventura. You can get off the 101 any where between Central & Vineyard to connect to LA Ave/118 (which becomes Wells Rd)...there is traffic on the back roads too, but we use to do this instead of going all the way to the 126.

Good luck on your move! Ventura County is a wonderful place.

btw, my hubby moved out to Ventura from NH. We are ready for a change & we will be calling the Northeast home in a few years.