Commuting to Owings Mills (Baltimore, Columbia: moving, offices, best)

[MtnsPlease]

Hi,

I posted this on another thread, but no one had any helpful advice, so I was wondering if the Baltimore thread could help.
I just recently moved to Columbia, close to the Town Center, right off of 29. My new job has 2 offices that I need to alternate between - one in Columbia and the other in Owings Mills. The Owings Mills office is flexible with me starting the day at either 8:30 or 9am.
I've already checked out routes on the maps. But I know traffic on 695 can be a real pain. Other than 29 to 70 to 695 to 795, is there any other way? And would getting into the office by 8:30am be better than 9am (small difference, I know)?
Thanks.

[GunsMass]

How do you feel about Old Court Rd

[MtnsPlease]

Originally Posted by GunsMass

How do you feel about Old Court Rd

I just moved here so I have no idea what or where that is.

[GunsMass]

I don't know exactly what it's like west of liberty road, but I've used it in the nw part of baltimore county as a relatively quick back-road. You can google any street and use google's "map" tab to see its location. Looks like you could use it in combination with Granite or McDonough to weed your way through the area above 70/29.

[nurider2002]

There are back roads from Ellicott City to Owings Mills but, that is a LONG commute on the rural roads. You are better off doing 695 to 795. Traffic from Columbia to 795 shouldn't be that bad in the morning since most traffic is going the other way (the outer loop is usually jam packed from that stretch but the inner loop keeps moving, at least until Greenspring Avenue and you will be off 695 before that point).

[GoPhils]

Yeah it is opposite traffic for the most part, the only problem is 70 can get backed up as you approach 695.

I used to take some back roads from Columbia and various points south of there to Owings Mills, but I forget the exact way I went (basically I knew to take 29 all the way to the end and then turn right, and then let the GPS recalculate from there). Looking at google maps it says 26 minutes using 70/695/795, and if you click avoid highways it says 35 minutes so it may not even be too much different. It's definitely more scenic than the highway (especially if you're in traffic), but some of the roads over there are kinda windy and narrow so may not be the best in bad weather.

[MtnsPlease]

Thanks all for your response!! If I'm going the opposite way of traffic, it does make me feel a bit better. I will have to look up those back roads!

[jifie]

Originally Posted by MtnsPlease

Hi,

I posted this on another thread, but no one had any helpful advice, so I was wondering if the Baltimore thread could help.
I just recently moved to Columbia, close to the Town Center, right off of 29. My new job has 2 offices that I need to alternate between - one in Columbia and the other in Owings Mills. The Owings Mills office is flexible with me starting the day at either 8:30 or 9am.
I've already checked out routes on the maps. But I know traffic on 695 can be a real pain. Other than 29 to 70 to 695 to 795, is there any other way? And would getting into the office by 8:30am be better than 9am (small difference, I know)?
Thanks.

Helpful, or useful? I do believe two posters were trying to be helpful, now if you choose not to use their advice, than that is on you.