What is a reasonable work commute

[kirstenb1]

DH has about a 60 mile each way commute. It's all highway, so it takes about an hour. He drives an old Honda Civic. No doubt his new car will be a Civic, or similar gas mileage car.

 

[MushyMushy]

My husband used to commute 60 miles each way (anywhere from 1-2 hours depending on traffic). He took a huge pay cut in order to work 2 miles away in our own town. It was so worth it! He went from being gone from 6 am to 7-8 pm to working pretty much 9-5 and having a lot of work from home days.

Like others have said, it all depends on the family. I, personally, would not commute as far as my husband did. I couldn't stand that long of a drive every single day. I'd probably go 20-30 miles of highway driving.

 

[Sanchez]

My commute is .3 miles each way.

 

[MM27]

In NJ the length of the commute doesn't matter....it's the traffic that does!

That is so true. My work commute is about 45 miles and can take me anywhere from 45 minutes on a good day, to 2 hours on a bad day. A few times it has even taken more. And I swear people forget how to drive when it rains or snows.

Personally, I would prefer to be closer to home, but it's manageable.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Our drive is 9 miles which equals 30-35 minutes of driving. We have to take the side-streets. If we took the freeway, it would be an hour.

We both drive PT Cruisers, and the gas mileage is awful. But, we carpool to work so that is just awesome.

 

[golfgal]

15 minutes or less. I would go NUTS with the commutes most of you have. We are lucky that most people here don't have to commute more than 30 minutes or so.

 

[mjkacmom]

15 minutes or less. I would go NUTS with the commutes most of you have. We are lucky that most people here don't have to commute more than 30 minutes or so.

Here in NJ, 1/2 hour is considered a great commute - DH has that a few times a week in his office, and it's great. Today was an hour.

 

[JLTraveling]

It's really amazing how much the commutes vary in different areas of the country! Long commutes are pretty normal in Central Florida, where I grew up. If you're familiar with the area, we lived in Lakeland. Mom worked in Winter Haven, Dad worked in Orlando, and I went to school north of Orlando in Winter Park. Mom's commute was about 15 miles and typically took 20-30 minutes. Dad's was 54 miles--took right at an hour when he started in 1985, and closer to two hours by the time he retired in 2000. Mine was the longest through high school--I rode with Dad to his office and then spent another hour on the school bus, so about three hours each way!

I then lived at home and commuted to college in Tampa, 45 miles that took about an hour. That wasn't too bad, but then Mom started graduate school in Brandon, about 20 miles further and an extra hour of horrific traffic. Sometimes we'd commute together, which ended up being about five hours round-trip for whichever was driving. I don't think I ever had a work or school commute that was less than 30 minutes until I moved to New Orleans. It was strangely refreshing to live, work and shop all in the French Quarter, which was a ten-minute walk end to end!

The cars we had at various points: Honda Civic, Chevy Cavalier, Nissan Sentra, Saab 900s and Mazda RX-7. Mom usually got to take the Saab and later the Mazda to work on days that she didn't have school, because both cars required premium fuel and got horrible mileage. But they were fun to drive!

 

[crz4mm2]

45 min. about 60 miles I think. each way.
I only do it 3 days a weeks though.... and I would GLADLY do it

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Jersey girl here! I commute 2 hours each way into New York by train every day. In fact I'm on the train now. I so need a vacation.

 

[bored]

My commute is 2 miles each way. Used to have 40 minutes and won't ever do it again.

 

[lspst8]

I have a 50 mile each way commute now, and, while it isn't my favorite, it isn't that bad. I'm not sitting in traffic, so it takes me just over an hour each way. I do have to take the PA turnpike, so I don't really like the construction and tolls, but it beats just sitting there in traffic. I've been doing for about 20 months, so I guess I've gotten used to it. Next year, I'll be able to work from home a few days a week and I can't wait!

 

[Robinrs]

Jersey girl here! I commute 2 hours each way into New York by train every day. In fact I'm on the train now. I so need a vacation.

Commuting as a passenger and as a driver are two completely different animals. Did both for 20 years apiece and I'll take the train over driving ANYDAY!

When I bought my first house in the suburbs of Atlanta (a good deal, I thought) I had a two hour commute to and from work. It was without traffic, a half hour commute but the traffic in Atlanta is a bear. I sold my house and moved intown and have never looked back.

Everyone in my department has a major commute... I understand, the homes are much cheaper outside of the city and if you can stand it, do it. I pay much more to live here but I have a 5 minute no highway commute... and LOVE IT!!!