[hvexpatinct]

Lol at 45 minutes from Bethel to Hartford during peak traffic hours. You'll learn

[wma152]

yeah, I like how some people love to exaggerate their commute time, especially those that take the train as if they just walk out their house and step into the train waiting for them to take off.

If the OP has to be in Hartford at 9am, then you are screw.

[FutureTown]

If Google Maps says 75 mins, trust me...it'll take you somewhere around 75 mins unless you plan on speeding on a road that's solely dedicated to you, LOL! Wouldn't that be nice, though? I always think of it when I'm stuck in traffic. x_x

Newtown exits can get clogged a bit around, but, it clears up usually unless the reason is some accident or construction. I leave in the evening alot (5:30ish) and it's not bad at all. Very manageable.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by sk838

I am a technogy assistant in Midtown Manhanntan. However, starting on April 1, 2014, I am bein moved to Downtown Hartford. I looked up my route on my GPS, and my commute is from Exit 8 (Bethel) to Exit 50 (Downtown Hartford.) GPS is saying about 1 hour and 15 minutes. My commute to Midtown is 1 hour and a half. Anyways, I have to be at work by 9:00AM, so I will leave at about 7:30AM. My job ends at 5:00PM, so I expect to be home by 6:15PM. But, is this commute doable? I have never traveled east of Exit 9 at those times. How is that commute?

I think you'd have a tough time achieving that time in the afternoon.

[sk838]

After looking at Google Maps Typical Traffic, it dosent look that bad. It is only red for a few miles through Hartford and Waterbury. In Newtown, the traffic is heading eastbound. It looks like nothing compared to The Merritt and I-95.

[sk838]

Originally Posted by hvexpatinct

7:30-8:30 is generally the worst time for 84 eastbound through Waterbury. If you can get to Waterbury before 7:30 it is often a fairly smooth ride but after that no guarantees - yesterday I hit the mixmaster at 8:15 and it took a solid 30 mins to get across Waterbury to 691 alone. You will then hit a backup in Farmington (exit 39-40) about 80% of the time. Taking 691 to 91 can save time but doesn't always.

5pm is the absolute worst time to leave Hartford and then try to get through Waterbury. It's solid traffic from downtown to about exit 40, and then from just past exit 26 all the way through Waterbury. I would expect a 90 minute drive to Bethel most days. You can often cut about 15 mins off by leaving Hartford at 4:30 instead.

When you say really bad, is it anything like the Merritt or I-95?

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by FutureTown

If Google Maps says 75 mins, trust me...it'll take you somewhere around 75 mins unless you plan on speeding on a road that's solely dedicated to you, LOL! Wouldn't that be nice, though? I always think of it when I'm stuck in traffic. x_x

Newtown exits can get clogged a bit around, but, it clears up usually unless the reason is some accident or construction. I leave in the evening alot (5:30ish) and it's not bad at all. Very manageable.

Exactly, Google assumes close to speed limit plus traffic and there are 65mph zones along the way. 45 minutes, what do you do, drive 90mph? First off, much of the way is 2 lanes until you get close to Hartford and that would be impossible to do with the number of cars. When I was up in the Hartford area temporarily 4 summers ago and came home to Westchester County, NY on weekends, I'd have my cruise on 75 and often have to brake/turn it off without there being traffic (and you WILL have traffic in Waterbury and near Hartford). Then again, where I was working I did have a couple of coworkers who lived in Bethel, Newtown/Sandy Hook area, and 1 even in Danbury itself, so it's not impossible (hours were 8-4.....on those Friday afternoons/Sunday nights I did sometimes get there in 90 minutes so 1 hour is not imposible but don't expect it every day.....I usually took 84/684 but sometimes did the 691/91 suggestion Stylo said). Good luck!

[sk838]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

Exactly, Google assumes close to speed limit plus traffic and there are 65mph zones along the way. 45 minutes, what do you do, drive 90mph? First off, much of the way is 2 lanes until you get close to Hartford and that would be impossible to do with the number of cars. When I was up in the Hartford area temporarily 4 summers ago and came home to Westchester County, NY on weekends, I'd have my cruise on 75 and often have to brake/turn it off without there being traffic (and you WILL have traffic in Waterbury and near Hartford). Then again, where I was working I did have a couple of coworkers who lived in Bethel, Newtown/Sandy Hook area, and 1 even in Danbury itself, so it's not impossible (hours were 8-4.....on those Friday afternoons/Sunday nights I did sometimes get there in 90 minutes so 1 hour is not imposible but don't expect it every day.....I usually took 84/684 but sometimes did the 691/91 suggestion Stylo said). Good luck!

So, about 90 minutes?

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by sk838

So, about 90 minutes?

Google says 75, so you can assume that, and think it * COULD * be 90 minutes, you'll be good to go. I was saying it took me 90 minutes with NO traffic to go from Hartford down to the White Plains/New Rochelle area, which is a good 40 miles farther than where you're starting from.

[Chuck_Noris24]

Okay, so the Danbury-Hartford isnt the best commute, nor it is the worst. Through Danbury/Newtown in the morning, you will be going against traffic. As you near Waterbury, there may be a slow down because of the ending lane, but nothing serious. Hartford is where the real traffic is. But it is nothing compared to other stretches. In the afternoon, Hartford to Waterbury is serious. Once past Waterbury, traffic from Exit 9-7 heading West would be slow.