HELP! Falls Church to Fairfax (GMU) commute? (Idylwood, Dunn Loring: school, university)

[jldahmer]

I am still new to the area and I am trying to find a better way to get from (the City of) Falls Church to the Fairfax campus of George Mason in the morning, and then back during evening rush hour. I know that no matter what, it's going to be rough. But does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

[HarryLou]

What is your current route? You could go straight up Route 29 to Fairfax Circle and take 237 (Old Lee Highway) up to Main Street and take a left on University Drive. Old Lee Highway can be a mess when school is open, so at Fairfax Circle you could go east on Route 50 for a block then turn right on Pickett--take Pickett across to 236 (Little River Tpk), turn right (west). Take 236 to University Drive -- make a left. A lot of options on surface streets. Alternatively, since rush hour goes east in the a.m., you could take 66 west to Chain Bridge Road. There is a lot of traffic going in to Fairfax City in the morning, but you have options. Turn left on Route 50, then right at the light on University Drive. Hope I have not confused you. Although I live in the area, I tend to be directionally challenged.

[bmwguydc]

Actually, it's a fairly easy commute, all things considered, especially compared to heading east in the morning. You can actually get on Pickett without having to deal with Fairfax Circle, if you were so inclined, just turn left on Pickett where it changes to Blake at the Ihop. And, you could also make a left from Main Street (236) on Roberts and get to GMU that way, without having to go all the way into Fairfax to University.

You could also take Route 7 west; L on Idylwood; L on Gallows; R on Prosperity (after the Dunn Loring Metro); Follow Prosperity across Route 50 to Route 236 (Little River Turnpike); R on 236 to head to Fairfax, and continue to Roberts or University.

Another option is to take 66 W to 495 S to Braddock Road to GMU. And, you could even take Route 50 W from Falls Church, too, turning on Prosperity, Pickett, or continuing to University. If you did that, you would turn L on University, and follow through the downtown area to GMU.

The return trip can be slow, depending upon time of day, so you might do better with the Prosperity route, just watch your speed on the hills.

[alibaba1579]

Originally Posted by bmwguydc

You could also take Route 7 west; L on Idylwood; L on Gallows; R on Prosperity (after the Dunn Loring Metro); Follow Prosperity across Route 50 to Route 236 (Little River Turnpike); R on 236 to head to Fairfax, and continue to Roberts or University.

The return trip can be slow, depending upon time of day, so you might do better with the Prosperity route, just watch your speed on the hills.

My DH works at gallows and 50, and we live a couple miles south of GMU. This tends to be his best route most of the time.