Submitted by trlupin t3_zqyspk in ColumbiaMD
I'm considering a job in Rockville and my SO has an option for a job in Baltimore. Columbia seems like a nice halfway point. My friends used to live here so I have a sense of the area and liked it. The question is how bad is the traffic during morning and evening rush hour to get to Baltimore? Is it a reasonable commute? TIA
Going to Rockville will also optimally involve going on the MD-200 toll road both ways every day, be sure to budget for that.
Did this exact commute for a year and it was ~35-40 minutes each way. There’s rarely much traffic before you get within ~5 miles of the city, then it’s stop and go. Traffic was a little worse in the afternoons compared to the mornings, but it was pretty consistent in terms of the amount of traffic day in and day out.
I'm gonna disagree with this a bit. There's rarely much traffic until you hit within 5 miles of the city going in. Coming out, it can be a nightmare along 95 at any point. Typically, there will be stop-and-go traffic for a bit, then you're going, then there's another slowdown. My morning commute was typically before the rush, and that rarely took 30 minutes to around Penn Station. Coming back was 40 minutes minimum, and sometimes up to an hour. It may be better post-COVID.
Thinking the commute to Rockville will be more difficult than Baltimore
It depends on what part of Baltimore you are working in.
Columbia is a perfect location to split the difference for commuting. 200 is a toll road but should make for a pretty smooth commute to Rockville. Baltimore commute times will vary based on location of destination, but you have some options of I95 to downtown or going 29/70 cutting through the west side. When commuting to Hampden area of Baltimore going 29/70 was very predictable and about 35/40 minutes each way.
If you want to take public transit to Baltimore, try either the 310 bus (Mall, Snowden River Parkway) or the Camden Line (Dorsey Station).
I live in Columbia and commute to Rockville every day. I do not use 200....I go 29 to 198. Not a bad commute but can hit some traffic occasionally.
What is the average travel time?
As others said, it depends on where in Baltimore, and I also feel like what time. If you're going downtown and you leave early enough, it's 20-25 minutes in the morning. Farther than downtown can add significant time, and same as leaving during the morning rush. I go in early and leave early and rarely am in the car more than 30 minutes.
Should be about 45min to an hour. But I've only made that commute a few times.
About 35 to 40 minutes. Obviously depending on traffic
I leave from Columbia to Baltimore every day at around 7am, traffic isn't too bad at all maybe like a 30 minute drive. Coming home at 5pm though takes me about 45-an hour
A huge difference in commuting time, for both, is if you're not doing regular hours.
Baltimore commute is going to vary heavily based on location, 30 minutes to an hour. For Rockville budget an hour and be aware that there is a minimal toll. You can use Google maps to get an estimate based on time.
I drive to the harbor daily and the only time it’s longer than 30-35 is when there is an accident or a road is shut down in the city. Without much traffic it’s about 15-20. Getting out onto 95 in the afternoon is a pain with the city traffic but if you can avoid peak times it’s not too bad.
Depends from where in Columbia and to where in Baltimore. I drive every morning in rush hour from around the Columbja Mall area to downtown Baltimore and it takes me anywhere from 25-35mins depending on traffic. Sometimes I can get there in as little as 20mins if there’s no traffic at all.
45 to 50 minutes for me taking this route. ICC saves time, but it adds up real quick.
I do ICC. Mall area to Shady Grove&270 is 35-40 mins.
My wife and I used to make this commute. We lived in elkridge and I worked in Baltimore city and she worked in Gaithersburg. So Columbia/elkridge was the perfect spot in the middle to move to.
This was pre-pandemic since I’ve been work from home ever since but it would take about 45mins to an hour to get to work and get home. Sometimes even worse depending on traffic but I’d say usually 45 mins.
It’s about the same now for my wife to get to work. About 40-45 mins usually.
You could always open up google maps and get directions and see how long it says to get there. Although it may not be helpful until after the new year.
Its horrible. I dreaded it when I lived in Columbia and worked in Rockville and that was 8 years ago. I work from home now, never again.
Flying-Bulldog t1_j10rdot wrote
It really varies. I’d say typical rush hour, you’re looking at easy 35-40 mins. Add some weather or and accident maybe an hour.