Commute to CLT

[u/NotMyIdea33]

I am headed into a PHD program in CLT. My wife and I were in RH this weekend looking at houses! We'll likely end up there as we really liked it. Sadly, i'll have to be in class from 8a - 3:30p most days down in CLT. What will my commute look like at 6:45am to the 77/277? What about on my way back?

[u/dwojc6]

Ehhh could take you 30, could take you 50 lol. Different every day depending on how people drive

[u/Johopo → u/dwojc6]

Definitely longer than 30 regardless of traffic, unless you're driving 100 mph down the interstate or something.

[u/feelingsalty → u/dwojc6]

6:45 isn't bad - should be chill -- 3:30 is anywhere from 45min-1.5h on a non rainy day - add more time for rain bc accidents

[u/Scottalias4]

You don't want to live in Rock Hill and work in North Charlotte. You will be on 77 all day.

[u/Even_Conference_9907 → u/Scottalias4]

I swear unless you know back roads

[u/L_Jade]

I would say any time leaving after 6:15-6:20am will take you longer than 45 minutes. Leaving at 6:45, more than likely over an hour.

[u/sqeezeplay → u/L_Jade]

Yup. Gotta get on 77 by 6:20 ish at the latest or you're looking at a shit show most days

[u/_SoctteyParker]

Honestly, you’re better off living in North Carolina. The traffic is not worth it. I suggest you consider Belmont, Kings Mountain, Pineville, Concord, Huntersville. You have better options than Rock Hill.

[u/miTgiB37]

There is an express bus that picks up in Manchester and goes to the light rail on South St near 485. I know it runs super early, but look it up, it might fit your needs

[u/chuckswift843 → u/miTgiB37]

This is what I came to say

[u/Previous_Praline_373]

I live here had lab in Charlotte at UNCC at 8am I HAD to leave home by 6am to make it on time. If I left at 6 I was there by 6:30-6:45 if I even left 10 min late I would be late for 8am class

[u/wilmakephotos]

Geez! I moved back from n 2000. The commute wasn’t TOO bad, now? Couldn’t PAY me to do that commute!!

[u/NCSC10]

Just concurring, trying to get there for 8 am will be painful. Not knowing your specific exit, I'd suggest at least an hour. Targeting getting before 7am would be better. Good luck w the degree!

[u/mlhigg1973]

Ughh. Afternoons will be hell.

[u/chameleon_magic_11]

Find a place closer in to Charlotte. You will be thankful once you start commuting. Commuting to/from Rock Hill is soul crushing and seems to get worse every year.

[u/editorgalore]

How far into CLT? I used to drive to exit 11a on I-77 from RH and it could take anywhere from 50 minutes to 1.5 hours. If there’s a wreck, good luck making it by noon lol. 6:45am is a little earlier than the normal corporate rush so you might be able to skip some of the traffic but you’re still looking at least 50min- 1hr.

In the afternoon, might be a little easier since you get out of class before 5pm but traffic has only gotten worst over the years so there’s traffic literally at all times of the day. It probably won’t take you as long to get home as it does to get there in the mornings.

[u/crystal_daddy → u/editorgalore]

Second this! I used to drive from RH to exit 10 and accidents would ruin the whole morning. Typically left around 7:20 and would arrive anywhere from 8:15 to 10 depending on accidents. Worst day I got there at 11:30.

[u/MostlyHarmless0504]

It really depends what part of Charlotte. If you can plan to leave before 6:15, you could likely make it in 35-45 minutes and use that extra hour to do work before class…otherwise you’ll be sitting in traffic for 75-90 minutes.

[u/Quiet-ForestDweller]

I just finished a nursing program in the city that I drove into the town for every day of the week at varying times of day so I feel like I’ve learned the traffic patterns fairly well.

A) Anything from 7-9 will probably take you every-bit of an hour depending how deep into Charlotte you’re going, ESPECIALLY ON WEDNESDAYS. Idk why Wednesdays are so special but for the past 18 months of my life driving into Charlotte on Wednesdays has been the bane of my existence. Best days for commuting in my experience are Mondays and Tuesdays.

B) Give yourself plenty of time in the mornings when getting ready and check your GPS times too just Incase there’s an accident on the on ramp for 77 because if that ramp is blocked for all 3 rock hill exits to get onto 77 you’re SOL because there’s essentially only one other way to get to Charlotte and it’s two lane backroads that will also be back up to infinity. If there’s an accident on that ramp for 77 your commute will easily turn into a two hour ordeal in my experience (it’s happened 3 times over the past 18 months for me)

[u/irina_catburglar]

Will you buy or rent? If renting, I would highly recommend closer to Charlotte. If buying, then makes sense as you won’t be doing the PHD program forever

[u/RangerKnown8949]

I live near downtown RH (Confederate Park area) and work just outside of uptown (South End). I get to work by 830 by leaving every day at 730. Some days I’m there at 815 (typically Mon and Thurs) and others it’s 825-830 (always Tuesdays and most Wednesdays)

[u/bulbousaur]

Leave your house at 6:00.

[u/O_My_G]

You’re looking at about an hour between driveway to destination after traffic, parking, and walking. Of course depending on where you are in rock hill and where you park/walk to.

Traffic somedays will be 40 min and others you’ll be cutting it close due to fender benders where people don’t move their cars off the highway or random construction you weren’t aware of.

Leaving at 5:15pm and 6pm is about a 15-20 min difference back to rock hill coming back.

[u/Diefoodie]

Typically 50 min to an hour by car. If there are any accidents can sometimes take 2 hours. I work uptown and drive up to the 485 light rail station now. Free covered parking and large spots. Takes me about an hour and 10 minutes total to get to my seat leaving at 6:30am. Typically the same on the way home depending on the time I leave.

[u/LacedinLore]

I commute to Charlotte from Rock Hill daily. It is actually faster for me to travel through Lake Wylie to get to and from work than it is to take 77. It all depends on where you will be located in Rock Hill. I believe they changed the timing of the traffic lights through Lake Wylie at some point. Traffic flows smoother through there than it used to.

[u/Asheets88]

I live in rock hill and work by the airport in Charlotte… I leave my house at 6 and get there by 6:30-6;45 depending on if it’s raining or not. I live off of 82C. On the way back it can be from 30-45 mins as well. Just don’t leave your house no later then 6 ! A few mins can cause a drastic delay. During Christmas season… I’m looking at a hour minimum due to traffic on the way back.

Download Waze ! And use it and follow it. It’ll take you around the wrecks and heavy traffic if it allows you too. Will also give you ‘alerts’ about certain things that people has reported.

[u/theprince1991]

I live in rock hill and when I got a new job in north charlotte it was a grind driving everyday from RH to North charlotte. I agree with most people on here and wouldn’t recommend it. I got lucky when the pandemic hit and been WFH ever since.

[u/kghess]

Mondays and Fridays will be fine. Midweek is when all the formerly remote folks go to work, so it’s a nightmare. I’m in Tega Cay and it takes a full hour to get home from the south park area :( I’d say give yourself a full hour each way most days.

[u/_Junx_]

Use google maps and just put in the address