Reverse Commuting to Oak Brook, Questions/Thoughts?

[adele115]

Originally Posted by foggy068

I've been searching posts about the reverse commute to Oak Brook from the city but many seem very old and outdated so I am looking for some new opinions. Recently I have just accepted a position in Oak Brook and will be moving from Michigan. I have potential roommates that have an apartment in Lincoln Park which allows me to pay a really low rent compared to typical rent in the area which is why I would be leaning more towards reverse commuting out to Oak Brook rather that living in the suburbs. I'm just wondering how bad the commute actually is? Some have told me 40-55 mins which I am totally okay with and some have told me 2 hours. I am also not from the area so I have no real idea on public transport but I do know that Oak Brook does not have really any options regarding it. Any thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated!

There really isn't a "reverse" commute in Chicago. There is only "commute" and from 630am-9am and 3:30pm-630pm it is hell. Going from most places in LP to Oak Brook on a daily basis will be torture. I agree with others that a) consider Forest Park (more affordable rentals than Oak Park) or head out to the burbs. Forest Park gives you city feel with the blue line access. Also, easier to travel into the city on weekends. You may look at La Grange, or if you really want to be close to work, Lombard near Yorktown mall has a lot of rentals.

[CCrest182]

Originally Posted by foggy068

I've been searching posts about the reverse commute to Oak Brook from the city but many seem very old and outdated so I am looking for some new opinions. Recently I have just accepted a position in Oak Brook and will be moving from Michigan. I have potential roommates that have an apartment in Lincoln Park which allows me to pay a really low rent compared to typical rent in the area which is why I would be leaning more towards reverse commuting out to Oak Brook rather that living in the suburbs. I'm just wondering how bad the commute actually is? Some have told me 40-55 mins which I am totally okay with and some have told me 2 hours. I am also not from the area so I have no real idea on public transport but I do know that Oak Brook does not have really any options regarding it. Any thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated!

I would personally avoid 290 and the Kennedy like the plague; inbound or outbound, any time of day. I-55 *might* be the best alternative, but you'd essentially be heading southwest, and then from Outbound 55 you'd need to get on northbound 294, and then westbound 88, and finally exit at either 22nd St or Route 83. I have never reverse commuted from the city before, but from what I understand nearly all the expressways are terrible during morning/evening rush in both directions.

Historically, 55 is the best bet, but I could be wrong, as traffic seems to be a growing issue in the area.

[fusillirob1983]

I think it really depends on the OP's age to an extent, what they spend their free time doing and whether or not they know people in the area (i.e. in the city or suburbs, or both).

[Vosges]

OP, how old are you? Early 20s?

[beaniemac]

Originally Posted by OPRFmama

Lots of people live in the city and commute to the burbs for work, so you wouldn’t be alone on your drive. On a nice weather day, probably 45-60 minutes, but in rain or snow plan for double that time...

I reverse commute from my house in the city to downers grove, which is right next to oak brook. takes me 40-45 minutes typically. however, on the way home, I don't use the eisenhower and take 294 as it's much faster. if you need to use the eisenhower both ways, you can run into traffic nightmares coming into the city as it'd take me about 90 minutes to use that route to get home.

the times there are bad weather, I've always worked from home, so I didn't have to deal with the traffic. but there are people that work here that commute from wisconsin and indiana as well.

[MSchemist80]

I have a coworker that commutes to Lombard from Mchenry and one from Gurnee and they typically have a better commute than the people commuting from deep in the city.