What's a reasonable drive time to work?

[sourcreamnchives]

Thinking of going for a job that would mean an hours drive (in fact slightly over) daily. Currently work local so this would be a big undertaking for me. Not to mention how much petrol I'd be using. For perspective can I ask your daily commutes?

An hour is a long journey, but a lot depends on the predictability and the roads concerned. For about a year when I was in my 30s I had this, and I had to leave the house before a set time otherwise it would be a lot longer. Our head of HR at the time lived in the next street, came to visit and set out 10 minutes after me and it took him 90 minutes.

I would not do that again.

I did an hour and a half drive to work for four years a long time ago. It was far too long, and one particular day when it was foggy, I suddenly realised I had carried on instead of turning - that was the day I knew I needed to change to a shorter commute.
I do 20 mins now, and recognise I'm very lucky.

If you live in a busy City, an hour isn't that long a commute - you can be sat in traffic that long - so it isn't all about distance.
However, if you have a choice between a drive of approx 1 hr 10mins each way, every day, and a drive of 10mins or so, then there would have to be something VERY appealing about the new job to tempt me to use up an extra 10 hours a week, before you get delays and problems (how do you get there when the car is in for MOT or off the road for some other reason, or if you have an accident or an operation that means you can't drive for a few weeks or months), and before you take into account the costs.

I have been thinking about this recently and decided 30 minutes travel time is the most I’d go to.
That adds 5 hours on to the ‘working week’.
Currently I’m a 10 minute walk away and I absolutely love that I don’t need the car (although I’ll be honest and say I drive if it’s pissing it down, maybe 6 times last year). It’d have to be an amazing job for me to consider leaving where I am, my work/life balance is great now and I’m loathe to knock it off kilter by choice.

My journey is 5-15 minutes there and 10-45 minutes back. I'm near 4 major motorways and any accidents cause absolute mayhem on the other roads so I'd not commute any longer than 20-30mins because it easily takes 3x longer with a motorway accident.

I have a 65mile drive to work. It takes me about 1hr05 there and 1hr15ish home (no public transport options). In non-Covid times I go in between 0 & 4 days a week, depends on the time of year. No way I could do it 5-days-a-week year round. It's exhausting, especially in the winter.

Mines 45 minutes, not really much traffic, just a long way, but I like this job much more than it’s predecessor which was a 20 min commute.
I don’t mind it, get my brain into work mode and the scenery is gorgeous, but as others have said the longer it is, the more potential for disruptions.
I can’t get to my job on public transport in time for example.

I have done the over the hour journey and I’m currently on a five min journey to work. Strangely I preferred the hour one.

I used to listen to audio books or sing loudly. Loved the time on my own. Now. Five mins and I’m there. Not even enough time to listen to the news.

Mine’s 45 minutes and it’s too long for me. Desperately trying to find a more local job as I have msk issues and driving exacerbates them.

My commute pre covid was an hour and 10 minutes drive. It wasn't ideal but I accept I need to commute because of where we live for my husband's job. It was a bit boring but unused the time to listen to podcasts. I used to commute by train and much preferred it as I could read or work while travelling. But, it wouldn't out me off a good job and I would commute further if I needed to. I work in academia so need to travel to universities and simply can't nwork locally.

As I've got older my enthusiasm for commuting has decreased - now I'd say no more than 40-50 minutes including traffic delays. I found any longer just made me anxious and jittery and gave me terrible road rage 🤣

Also starting a family hugely changed things and finishing at 530 to get home to a baby with a 1hr+ commute plus just used to upset me and make me feel like a bad mother that I literally only had an hour with her until bedtime

I work in the community in the west country over a large rural area and can drive anything from 20 minutes each way to 2 hours depending what clinic I'm going to. All of that is fine in summer but in winter more than a 40 minute drive is a proper chore and I have to have a reliable car so I have to lease one. Old bangers are no good.

My current job takes me 5 min to drive there. I'd be happy with 30-40 min but no longer really

I used to have a 50 mile, just over an hour commute (30 mins of dual carriageway).

It was expensive - petrol and wear and tear on the car - tyres etc, took a couple of hours out of my day and sometimes the traffic was awful.

If the money was right I would do it again, short term, but it would have to be significantly more than I was on before (I had moved rather than sort out a job that far).

I also worked in a 'nearer' office some days. 14 miles, but still took 50 minutes due to roads. These days my commute is a short walk.

If you have DC factor in additional childcare.

I drive anywhere from 50min - 1hr 30 to work, dependent upon traffic. Occasionally much longer if roadworks / an accident etc. It is OK, but really adds to the length of your working day.

Recently moved and can walk to work in less than ten minutes, which is glorious. Used to commute about 25 mins in the morning, achieved by leaving very early. Usually took 45 mins to get home, whether I left at 3pm or 7pm.

I live in Bangkok and the weather and traffic conditions make a HUGE difference... to get to the end of my road (about 450m) can take 2 minutes or 25+ depending on time of day, rain, and traffic. In bad weather it can be quicker to walk than drive but even with waterproofs and a brolly you're soaked with rain and/or sweat upon arrival

I agree with posters who say that commuting in heavy/slow traffic is harder than the same length of time when you're actually moving.

Good luck with your decision!

I have done 20-25 mins on country and local roads and no traffic - that was fine

40 mins on motorway was a breeze to drive most days but quite tough in hindsight. And very expensive. About 200 a month in petrol.

Now 10 mins and I get a lift Their and back.

It depends on the job and flexibility too. Can you be 10 mins late?

Things which would go into the mix for me in this decision -

Can you afford it ?
Is your car comfortable and reliable ?
Is the new role ‘ worth it’ - salary or better prospects etc
Will this time eat into other important things Too much after a while - childcare/fitness/hobbies etc

If it’s an hour each way that Is a lot but I have friends who do this daily.

If it did become too much are you able to move closer if you wanted to after a while ? Or is your housing pretty ‘fixed’.

Good luck op.

I walk to much of my work but sometimes drive or l’innocence transport an hour each way - just depends as I’m self employed and work all over. Mostly I am close and walk. The days I do longer commutes are definitely more tiring.

I have done 1.5 hour drive which was always 2-2.5 hours on a Friday due to weekend traffic. It was awful but I had no other choice at the time.

I used to listen to stories, quiz shows and chat shows on the radio to help. Regular music radio was no good for me as I'd just zone out.

On the plus side I never got wet or cold, my hair would always be perfect when I got to work and I could wear lovely shoes!

45 minutes tops.

My old job was 1hr 15 and worse when the Dartford Tunnel was backed up (fuck off with your claims that Darttag would mean you scarcely know you're even going through the crossing). It bleeds the life from your day.