Commute Times Across Our Neighborhood Guides
Typical drive time to downtown for every neighborhood and city guide on this site, grouped by metro and sorted from shortest to longest — not a ranking of which commute is better.
This is a list of facts, not a ranking. Within each metro, neighborhoods are ordered by their typical commute time to downtown, shortest to longest — we're not calling a shorter commute "better." How much a commute matters, and what a person is willing to trade for it, is a personal call. Note that distance and time don't always move together within a tied time range — a farther neighborhood on a fast highway can beat a closer one on surface streets — so the Distance column on its own won't always look sorted, even though Commute time is.
A note on these figures
Every drive-time estimate below is pulled directly from that neighborhood's or city's own guide on this site — the same figure you'd see in its Quick Facts sidebar, researched and sourced individually rather than generated for this page. They're typical, non-peak estimates; actual time varies by exact address, route, and time of day, and most entries already say "more in peak traffic" for a reason.
Atlanta
| Neighborhood / city | Distance | Commute time (sorted, shortest → longest) |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Park, Atlanta | ~2 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta | Typically 5-10 minutes via Boulevard or I-20, more in peak traffic. |
| Inman Park, Atlanta | ~2.5 miles east of downtown Atlanta | Typically 5-10 minutes via Freedom Parkway/DeKalb Avenue or the MARTA Blue/Green Line, more in peak traffic. |
| Midtown, Atlanta | ~2 miles north of downtown Atlanta/Five Points | Typically 5-10 minutes via Peachtree Street or the Downtown Connector (I-75/I-85), more in peak traffic. |
| Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta | ~1.5-2 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta | Typically 5-10 minutes via Boulevard, Ponce de Leon Avenue, or the Beltline, more in peak traffic. |
| Poncey-Highland, Atlanta | ~2.5 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta | Typically 5-10 minutes via Ponce de Leon Avenue or North Avenue, more in peak traffic. |
| East Atlanta Village, Atlanta | ~5 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta | Typically 10-15 minutes via Glenwood Avenue, Moreland Avenue, or I-20, more in peak traffic. |
| Virginia-Highland, Atlanta | ~3 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta | Typically 10-15 minutes via Ponce de Leon Avenue or Freedom Parkway to Moreland Avenue/I-20, more in peak traffic. |
| Decatur, GA | ~6 miles east of downtown Atlanta | Typically 15-20 minutes via DeKalb Avenue, Ponce de Leon Avenue/US-278, or MARTA's Blue/Green Line, more in peak I-20 traffic. |
| West Midtown, Atlanta | ~4-5 miles to downtown Atlanta via Northside Dr and Marietta Blvd | Typically 15-20 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Brookhaven, GA | ~11 miles to downtown Atlanta via I-85 | Typically 20-25 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Buckhead, Atlanta | ~8 miles north of downtown Atlanta | Typically 20-30 minutes via GA-400 or Peachtree Street, more in peak traffic on GA-400 and the I-75/I-85 Connector. |
| Sandy Springs, GA | ~10-12 miles north of downtown Atlanta | Typically 20-30 minutes via GA-400 or Roswell Road/US-19, more in peak traffic. |
| Douglasville, GA | ~20-22 miles west of downtown Atlanta via I-20 | Typically 25-35 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Jonesboro, GA | ~17-18 miles south of downtown Atlanta via I-75 | Typically 25-35 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Smyrna, GA | ~16 miles to downtown Atlanta via I-75 and the Downtown Connector | Typically 25-35 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Conyers, GA | ~24-28 miles east of downtown Atlanta via I-20 | Typically 30-40 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Dunwoody, GA | ~16-17 miles to downtown Atlanta via GA-400 and I-85 | Typically 30-40 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Marietta, GA | ~20 miles to downtown Atlanta via I-75 and the Downtown Connector | Typically 30-40 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Cumming, GA | ~40 miles north of downtown Atlanta via GA-400 | Typically 35-40 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| McDonough, GA | ~30 miles south of downtown Atlanta via I-75 | Typically 35-40 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Roswell, GA | ~20 miles north of downtown Atlanta | Typically 35-45 minutes via GA-400, more in peak traffic. |
| Alpharetta, GA | ~25 miles north of downtown Atlanta | Typically 35-50 minutes via GA-400, more in peak traffic. |
| Woodstock, GA | ~30 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta via I-575 | Typically 35-50 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Lawrenceville, GA | ~30 miles to downtown Atlanta via I-85 | Typically 40-50 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Canton, GA | ~40-45 miles north-northwest of downtown Atlanta via I-575 and I-75 | Typically 40-55 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Newnan, GA | ~38-40 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta via I-85 | Typically 40-55 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Peachtree City, GA | ~30-32 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta | Typically 45-55 minutes via I-85 South and GA-74, more in peak traffic. |
| Milton, GA | ~30 miles north of downtown Atlanta | Typically 45-60 minutes via GA-400, more in peak traffic. |
Austin
| Neighborhood / city | Distance | Commute time (sorted, shortest → longest) |
|---|---|---|
| South Congress, TX | ~1-2 miles south of downtown Austin, just across the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge via S. Congress Ave. | Typically 5-10 minutes — though bridge and downtown traffic (rush hour, events, festival closures) can stretch that considerably. |
| Round Rock, TX | ~19 miles north of downtown Austin via I-35 | Roughly 20-25 minutes off-peak — but I-35 through this stretch is one of the most congested corridors in the state, and the same trip can run 45+ minutes at rush hour. |
| Cedar Park, TX | ~19-20 miles northwest of downtown Austin via US-183 and the 183A Toll Road | Typically 25-30 minutes off-peak, more in peak traffic. |
| Kyle, TX | ~22 miles south of downtown Austin via I-35 | An estimated 25-30 minutes off-peak based on distance and route (not independently confirmed via a live drive-time source) — more in peak traffic, and this I-35 stretch backs up badly at rush hour. |
| Georgetown, TX | ~28 miles north of downtown Austin via I-35 | Typically 30-40 minutes off-peak, more in peak traffic — I-35 congestion through Round Rock adds real time at rush hour. |
| San Marcos, TX | ~31 miles south of downtown Austin via I-35 | Typically 35-40 minutes off-peak, more in peak traffic. |
| Bastrop, TX | ~30 miles southeast of downtown Austin via TX-71 | Typically 35-45 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Lockhart, TX | ~30 miles south of downtown Austin via US-183 | An estimated 40-45 minutes given the highway's lower speed limits and stoplights compared to I-35 (not independently confirmed via a live drive-time source) — more in peak traffic. |
Charlotte
| Neighborhood / city | Distance | Commute time (sorted, shortest → longest) |
|---|---|---|
| South End, Charlotte, NC | ~2 miles south of Uptown Charlotte via South Blvd or the LYNX Blue Line light rail | Typically 5-10 minutes, more in peak South Blvd traffic. |
| Matthews, NC | ~12-15 miles southeast of Uptown Charlotte via US-74/Independence Blvd | Typically 20-30 minutes, up to 45-55 minutes in peak traffic. |
| Fort Mill, SC | ~15-20 miles south of Uptown Charlotte via I-77 | Typically 25-35 minutes, more in peak traffic — this crosses the NC/SC state line within a mile or two of getting on the interstate. |
| Huntersville, NC | ~16 miles north of Uptown Charlotte via I-77 | Typically 25-40 minutes, more in peak traffic given heavy congestion on the I-77 north corridor. |
| Concord, NC | ~24-27 miles northeast of Uptown Charlotte via I-85 | Typically 30-40 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Gastonia, NC | ~23-24 miles west of Uptown Charlotte via I-85 | Typically 30-40 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Mooresville, NC | ~27-28 miles north of Uptown Charlotte via I-77 | Typically 35-50 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Rock Hill, SC | ~28 miles south of Uptown Charlotte via I-77 | Typically 35-50 minutes, more in peak traffic — this crosses the NC/SC state line into York County. |
Dallas-Fort Worth
| Neighborhood / city | Distance | Commute time (sorted, shortest → longest) |
|---|---|---|
| Uptown Dallas, TX | Under 2 miles south to Downtown Dallas — Uptown sits immediately north of and adjacent to the central business district, per Wikipedia's description. | Typically a 5-10 minute drive via McKinney Avenue or Akard/Field Street, or a quick ride on DART rail or the free M-Line Trolley. |
| Arlington, TX | ~15 miles to downtown Fort Worth via I-30 | Typically 20-25 minutes outside peak traffic. Measured against Fort Worth as the closer core — Dallas is about 22 miles/25-35 minutes away — though the AT&T Stadium/Globe Life Field entertainment district pulls traffic from both directions. |
| Plano, TX | ~19 miles to Downtown Dallas via US-75 | Typically 25-35 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Southlake, TX | ~21 miles to downtown Fort Worth via TX-114 and I-35W | Typically 25-35 minutes outside peak. Measured against Fort Worth as the closer core — Dallas is about 26 miles/35-40 minutes away — though Southlake sits only about 10 miles from DFW Airport and draws commuters toward both cities' northern business corridors. |
| Frisco, TX | ~27 miles to Downtown Dallas via the Dallas North Tollway | Typically 35-45 minutes, considerably more in peak traffic. |
| McKinney, TX | ~32 miles to Downtown Dallas via US-75 | Typically 40-50 minutes, considerably more in peak traffic. |
| Denton, TX | ~38-39 miles — roughly equidistant between the metro's two cores. | 45-55 minutes to either downtown (via I-35W to Fort Worth or I-35E to Dallas) — doesn't measure cleanly against either one. Denton is also a college town (home to UNT and TWU) with substantial local employment, so many residents don't commute to either downtown at all. |
Houston
| Neighborhood / city | Distance | Commute time (sorted, shortest → longest) |
|---|---|---|
| The Heights, Houston, TX | ~4-5 miles northwest of downtown Houston | Typically 10-20 minutes via I-10 and Studemont/Shepherd, more in peak traffic. Houston traffic is notoriously heavy — reflect that honestly. |
| Pasadena, TX | ~12-15 miles southeast of downtown Houston | Typically 20-30 minutes via SH-225 (La Porte Freeway) and I-45/Beltway 8, more in peak traffic. Houston traffic is notoriously heavy — reflect that honestly. |
| Katy, TX | ~30 miles west of downtown Houston | Typically 30-40 minutes via I-10 (Katy Freeway) off-peak, 45-60+ minutes (up to 75-90 on bad days) at peak. Houston traffic is notoriously heavy — reflect that honestly. |
| Pearland, TX | ~17-20 miles south of downtown Houston | Typically 30-40 minutes via SH-288, more in peak traffic. Houston traffic is notoriously heavy — reflect that honestly. |
| League City, TX | ~25 miles southeast of downtown Houston | Typically 30-45 minutes via I-45 (Gulf Freeway) off-peak, over an hour at peak. Houston traffic is notoriously heavy — reflect that honestly. |
| Sugar Land, TX | ~15 miles southwest of downtown Houston | Typically 35-45 minutes via US-59/69 (Southwest Freeway), 45-65 minutes in peak traffic. Houston traffic is notoriously heavy — reflect that honestly. |
| The Woodlands, TX | ~30 miles north of downtown Houston | Typically 35-45 minutes via I-45, with the Hardy Toll Road and Grand Parkway (99) as alternates — one of the longer commutes in the metro, and significantly more at peak. Houston traffic is notoriously heavy. |
| Cypress, TX | ~25-30 miles northwest of downtown Houston | Typically 35-50 minutes via US-290 (Northwest Freeway) and Beltway 8/Grand Parkway (99), significantly more at peak — figures vary widely depending on where in the sprawling Cypress area a home sits. Houston traffic is notoriously heavy. |
Jacksonville
| Neighborhood / city | Distance | Commute time (sorted, shortest → longest) |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside/Avondale, FL | ~2-4 miles to downtown Jacksonville via Riverside Avenue, Park Street, or I-10. | Roughly 5-15 minutes, more in peak rush-hour congestion approaching the Fuller Warren or Acosta bridges. |
| Orange Park, FL | ~15-18 miles to downtown Jacksonville via US-17 and I-295 | Typically 20-30 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Ponte Vedra Beach, FL | ~18 miles southeast of downtown Jacksonville | Typically 25-40 minutes via JTB (SR-202)/San Pablo Road or A1A/9A, more in peak or beach-season weekend traffic. |
| Fleming Island, FL | ~21 miles southwest of downtown Jacksonville via US-17 and I-295 | Typically 30-40 minutes, more in peak traffic. |
| Fernandina Beach / Amelia Island, FL | ~25 miles northeast of downtown Jacksonville via A1A/SR-200 to I-95 South and I-295 | Typically 35-45 minutes outside peak hours, up to 60+ minutes in heavy traffic. |
| Macclenny, FL | ~28 miles west of downtown Jacksonville via I-10 | Typically 35-45 minutes outside peak hours, more during rush-hour congestion. |
| Nocatee, FL | Roughly 25-30 miles to downtown Jacksonville via US-1 or I-95 — an estimate based on Nocatee's position between the confirmed distances to Ponte Vedra Beach (18 mi) and St. Augustine (40 mi). | An estimated 35-50 minutes, more in peak traffic — verify with a mapping tool for a specific address within the development. |
| St. Augustine, FL | ~40 miles south of downtown Jacksonville | Typically 45-60 minutes via I-95, longer via US-1 or in peak/beach-season traffic. |
Nashville
| Neighborhood / city | Distance | Commute time (sorted, shortest → longest) |
|---|---|---|
| The Gulch, Nashville, TN | Under 1 mile south of downtown Nashville — the Gulch borders the CBD directly along Demonbreun and Division Streets. | Typically a 5-10 minute walk or drive with no interstate needed, even in peak traffic. |
| Brentwood, TN | ~11 miles south of downtown Nashville | Typically 20-25 minutes via I-65, more in peak traffic. |
| Hendersonville, TN | ~18 miles northeast of downtown Nashville | Typically 25-35 minutes via Vietnam Veterans Pkwy (SR-386) to I-65, more in peak traffic. |
| Mt. Juliet, TN | ~19 miles east of downtown Nashville | Typically 25-35 minutes via I-40, more in peak traffic. |
| Franklin, TN | ~22 miles south of downtown Nashville | Typically 30-40 minutes via I-65, more in peak traffic. |
| Smyrna, TN | ~22 miles southeast of downtown Nashville | Typically 30-40 minutes via I-24, more in peak traffic. |
| Gallatin, TN | ~29 miles northeast of downtown Nashville | Typically 40-50 minutes via Vietnam Veterans Pkwy (TN-386) and I-65, more in peak traffic. |
| Murfreesboro, TN | ~33 miles southeast of downtown Nashville | Typically 40-55 minutes via I-24, more in peak traffic. |