Commuting from Wchester to CT, how bad? (Yonkers, New Rochelle: house, to live in)

[yiplong]

I live in Yonkers (near Cross County shopping mall), just got a job in Danbury, CT. So my daily commute will involve going up lower Westchester on one of 87, Sprain or the Hutch, and then take 684 up to CT. I haven't accepted the offer yet. Won't take it if the commute is going to hellish.

I have never driven north in morning rush hour traffic, I usually take the Metro North to NYC for work. Which route is best? I think 87 is a good bet, the toll probably deterred some travelers. Sprain doesn't look bad either. For those of you who also commute north, let me know what you experience is like. What about evening commute going south?

[streetsmart]

Definitely try the (Cross County to the) Hutch to the 684. The 684 is a great way to commute. The 87 is always heavily travelled. The best thing to do is try out the route at the time you will be doing it.

[ponytrekker]

You are going against traffic so it is not bad at all. Sawmill to 684 is the way to go. 287 East IS rush hour so avoid that at all costs. Same with Cross-County East though it is not AS crowded.

[SulfurDog]

Agreed about Sawmill route to 684, however when it's a heavy rain, you'll undoubtedly have to take 287 instead since the Sawmill invariably closes. Allow loads of extra time on rainy days since 287 is usually awful.

[hartsie]

Many, many years ago I used to live in Stamford, CT and travel to Dobbs Ferry for my job; I took either 95 or the Merritt/Hutch to 287. I realize you're going in the opposite direction, but if memory serves correctly, the drive wasn't a picnic either way.

Also, the Hutch in the morning (from the Cross BX up to about Mam'k Ave/127) is usually pretty slow, especially between 8-8:45. And if it's been raining? Slooooooooow.

[LoWest]

Agree with hartsie - avoid the hutch between 8 am and 9 am - the sprain going north is a much better option at that hour!

[7 Wishes]

I currently commute from the Mt. Vernon/New Rochelle border to Danbury 4 days/week for a temporary assignment until June so I have some insight here. Granted, my job is from 7-3 so it's before "rush hours". But I and my wife have commuted to various parts of CT at later times too from lower Westchester.

1) I get there in about 45 min, it's really easy, especially with the higher speed limit on 684

2) That said, if you leave your house later than 7:30am, there are two trouble spots:

- If you take the Hutch to 684, it will be "bumper to bumper" almost all the way to the highway unfortunately and will take you about 20-25 minutes just to do that stretch and delay you.

- But (since you live in Yonkers) if you take the Sprain or 87 (I'd take the former, both have no traffic and you avoid the toll), to I-287 east, there will be some 287 traffic until you pass White Plains, another advantage to taking the Sprain over 87 is you hit the 287 traffic closer to where it ends.

You also have the option of the Saw Mill until it ends at 684 in Katonah, only issue with that is even in your direction the traffic lights in Yonkers have a lot of traffic, but smooth sailing after that. Might be your best bet. It also closes a lot during heavy rain, especially in the Thornwood/Pleasantville area.

So if you're going during rush hours, it's probably about an hour each way, maybe a little more. But most of the traffic is down here, you're "reverse commuting" 684 and 84. Keep in mind that while people drive VERY fast on wide, straight 684 (I once had my cruise on at 75 and cars were blowing past me), it's also very heavily policed almost every time of day and night as well. Good luck!

[yiplong]

Thank you all, for your very helpful inputs. I have been going by the following route in the past few days:

- I-87 North to Tuckahoe Rd.
- exit to Tuckahoe Road and get on Sprain North
- stay on Sprain then switch to Saw Mill

I think the I-87 to Sprain route is quite good, I haven't encountered any traffic on any day so far. Surprisingly, traffic on the south bound side on these roads wasn't bad either.

Next week I will try switching to I-287 near White Plains and get on I-684 instead of Saw Mill. Sam Mill has traffic stops which can be annoying, but the trees and hills on the sides of the road make for nice scenery. I think I-684 is probably going to be faster.

Since this is my first week at work, I have been leaving extra early (2-3 pm) to deal with relocation issues, etc. In the next few weeks I will be leaving work at more "normal hours", perhaps 5 or 6. What would be a route coming back home? Do you think the same route going to work will work?