How far is too far?

[Minnie*J*]

I have been looking for a job for a long time. I have been looking everywhere within an hour's drive. I was thinking that maybe I may need to consider a longer commute. So how far is too far to commute to work? If you commute an hour or so to work every day, how is it really? Do you hate it?

Just wanted to add, I live in an area where there is no public transportation, so that is not an option. Also, I cannot relocate as my dh has a good job here.

 

[wdwfan16]

Do you own a home and have a family where you presently live? Maybe you should consider relocating.

The type of drive is very important in a commute. 60 miles of highway that never gets conjested is far different from 20 miles or highway they can become stop and go traffic.

 

[minkydog]

I used to commute into Atlanta 45-55 minutes, if I was lucky and there were no wrecks. Rush hour in Atlanta is miserable, 2 hours out of my life every day. I hated every minute of it and after 2 years I threw in the towel. Now I work 20 minutes from home in a lower stress job making almost what I was making then. Win-win!

I would never go back to bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It depends on how much you are making really? It is not uncommon for people here to commute 2hrs to work daily.

I think it is crazy but many people have land with animals, dream home etc., and would not have it any other way.

 

[Robinrs]

I used to commute into Atlanta 45-55 minutes, if I was lucky and there were no wrecks. Rush hour in Atlanta is miserable, 2 hours out of my life every day. I hated every minute of it and after 2 years I threw in the towel. Now I work 20 minutes from home in a lower stress job making almost what I was making then. Win-win!

I would never go back to bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic.

I stupidly bought a house in the outskirts of Atlanta and had a TWO HOUR nightmare drive...ONE WAY!! I finally sold that house back when my son was starting school and now I ... thank the LORD... have a 5 minute commute. I LOOOOOVE it!!

No way would I go back. It made me irritable and I had no time to myself or my family.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I know people who will commute up to 2 hours and outside of that, they get temporary living arrangements in new location adn come home on weekends.

It really all depends on how long you are willing and able to do without a paycheck before reality sits in that any income is better than no income.


It also depends on how much money you will make to compensate for the higher gas bill.

The people I know who are stuck in that situation are higher paid professionals.

I would expand your search and cross that bridge to decide if a job offer comes along.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

When I lived on Long Island, my commute was about 2 hours each way into NYC. Most of that was on a commuter railroad. I have also driven more than 90 minutes each way to several jobs. Depends on the opportunity...

 

[dislaney]

I commuted an hour each way everyday and I can't imagine commuting more than that. I guess if I had to and it was a job I needed I would make it work somehow but I think anymore time than that in a car and I would go crazy.

 

[MM27]

I commute an hour each way to work. I don't mind the drive, but it really stinks when traffic gets backed up and the hour turns into 2 or more.

 

[jsmith]

you have to look at it as opportunity cost-just getting a job if you have to commute that far is not reasonable. I commuted 96 miles each way for about 3 years-because of what i do i didnt commute everyday-i had a studio apt that i kept here and used weekends-you have to look at the cost of the job against what you will make-i.e -commuting will creat additional expenses-as well as additional family stress. Will you make enough money to cover the cost of extra gas, overnight lodging if weather doesnt allow you to make your drive-or temp living arrangments-remember that this will include rent, lights, cable or internet,and groceries. if you are commuting a couple of hours-do you have young children-because you need to budget for extra day care expenses. When you have taken all that into consideration-will you be contributing to family income-or creating a drag-thats how you determine if its worth the cost.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

For family reasons, I had to move back home while still attending college. Until this semester, I was commuting about 4 hours (each way by metro) to go to school.

DO NOT DO THIS!

This semester, I drive down once a week in horrible traffic. It takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours and is better, but still I do not recommend it!

For an internship last semester, I commuted about 1 ½ hours (each way). I still hated it. Anything over 45-60 minutes is a bit much to me. (However, it also depends on what time I leave. If I leave in the late morning, a longer commute is no big deal. The earlier, the harder the commute. I am not a morning person!)

Unfortunately though, sometimes a person has to do whatever she can to survive.

Good luck finding a position. Maybe you’ll get lucky and something will turn up closer to your home.

 

[yoopermom]

I'm a teacher, and know quite a few other teachers, who are renting a room during the week and driving home for weekends in order to even HAVE a job (often 2-4 hrs from home). Obviously I wouldn't do this if I had a small child, but last year I drove 90 miles each way, and was just glad to have a job.

Terri

 

[disfan07]

for years my dad commuted from northern virginia to silver spring, md....with traffic, it was 1 1/2 hours each way usually....sometimes 2 hours

than he had a 30-45 minute commute from northern virginia to DC

than he had a 1 1/2 hour commute from northern virginia to quantico

Now, he has about 1 1/4 hour commute from santa clarita, ca to palmdale, ca.

He will always tell you that the worst two commutes were to silver spring and to DC...not because of the amount of time, but becaus eo fteh traffic.
He said that the 1 1/2 hours to quantico was a breeze and the 1 1/4 hour to palmdale is a breeze because he was/is going opposite of traffic.

 

[golfgal]

I can't imagine commuting that long. Around here if your commute is over 30 minutes it is TOO FAR. If it is your only chance for a job then you might have to do that but just make sure the salary justifies the commute.

 

[lspst8]

I have an hour commute. Luckily it is major highways from one suburb to another, so I'm not sitting in traffic. Round trip is 100 miles. I do not enjoy it. I used to work 2 miles from home and that was much better. I personally would not commute any longer than one hour each way.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I've never done more then a half hour commute by car, and would seriously have to either love or need the job to change that. But I did have one job with a train commute of hour, and that didn't bother me at all. - On the train, it became useful/social/recreational time, instead of lost time.

 

[Arielle22]

I worked for 7.5 years at a job that on the best day was a 45 minute commute and on the worst 2 hours. It was in stop and go traffic.

My current job is an hour commute but on the train. So I get to read 2 hours a day.

All the towns near mine are bedroom communities without much opportunity for a job so my commute isn't unusual.

 

[Golf4food]

I've never had to commute farther than 20-30 minutes one way for work, but in college for two years I drove 42 miles that took about an hour, mostly on interstate, but involved an interstate connection, a bridge over a river, and exit to another highway. On bad days it could take up to 90 minutes or more one way. Stressful no matter how light the traffic. It does wear you down after a while - the tension and stress mainly.

Not to mention gas. Figure out if you can afford that commute if gas goes up to $5 per gallon and see if you'd still want that job. It was over $4 not that long ago and could very well go over $5 in the next few years, maybe even higher.

 

[ICF]

I would never do it unless the pay was REALLY good.

Waisting 2 hours of my life in a car isn't my idea of fun...not to mention the costs due to gas and wear & tear on the car.

Mine is currently about 25 mins, with minimal traffic issues, and that's plenty for me.

 

[2binak]

It's such a personal decision and really depends on your desire to drive and the cost of travel. I've had commutes that were 20 mins in town with lots of stop & go traffic and others that were 30 mins on the highway with little to no traffic. Either type of commute was too much driving for me I wish we had public transportation here so that I didn't have to drive at all. DH drives 40 mins one way, all highway with little to no traffic and he doesn't mind it one bit.