Is there anyone who either drives this route and / or knows approximately how long it takes to reach downtown Baltimore (Eastern Avenue) during rush hour from the Towson / Ruxton areas?

Well during rush hour you are going against traffic most of the way - so you have that going for you.

From the Ruxton Road exit onto I-83, I would imagine that it would take you about 15 minutes (probably less) to get downtown.

Now once you hit downton - it really depends on where exactly you are going. Interstate 83 will dump you on the Little Italy/Harbor East side of the Inner Harbor. Where are you going from there?

Depending on where you are going, you may have to add another 15-20 minutes to your trip.

AnnMarie, probably your best bet is to get on I-83 S from Ruxton Road, and follow it to the end, where it will dump you straight onto President Street going south. After a few blocks you'll be able to turn left onto Eastern Avenue - you'll be starting around the 1000 block or so. Just follow Eastern Ave east until you get where you're going. If you are going in the morning you will be with traffic, but in the evening it would be against traffic on I-83, but you'll still hit heavy traffic downtown due to the rush hour. The amount of time depends on how far out Eastern you're going, but you might want to allow as much as 45 mins door to door. Like SavTrav said, without traffic it's not very long, but with traffic, you never know.

Thank you both so much.

Destination is JHH Bayview for work. After 20 years in TX we're returning to Maryland, stressing over where to move and commute times--Map Quest doesn't take into consideration traffic so thank you!

We're open to suggestions....

Congratulations on your move back to Hopkins! I left in 1987 and will be going back next year for my 25 year reunion at JHMI. JHH Bayview wasn't even around yet when I left. I'm sure it is beautiful....that place always had something new being built the 9 years I was there.

Bayview is a pretty good distance out Eastern Avenue....there may be a better way to get rather than going through downtown......I'm not that familiar going that far down Eastern.

The good news is that you will be close to my favorite Greek restaurant - Samos.

I think you will find Baltimore very changed - lots of new housing downtown.

Welcome back!

AnnMarie, another way to get from Towson to Bayview is by taking the Beltway (I-695) east to I-95, then going south. There's a split about 1-2 miles south of the Betlway between I-95 and I-895, and if you take I-895, there is an exit at Lombard Street that goes directly to the Bayview campus. Very easy access from areas to the north or the northeast of the City. But it's also quite easy to get there from the south, again via I-895 north. Of course, you would have to go through the harbor tunnel every day, which is an extra cost.

If you are looking at nearby neighborhoods to live in, the Canton area is really close to Bayview - it would literally take you about 10 minutes - and it's quite a nice neighborhood to live in. Lots of nice restaurants and renovated row homes.

Thank you all so much for the welcome and the additional route information, I really appreciate it. I can't begin to tell you how happy and excited we are to return to the Baltimore area.

SavTrav, we love Greek food, how did you know?

smetz, thanks for the tip on Canton, we'll take a look.

I travel around the Beltway every morning from around Reisterstown Rd. over to 95/895. Go thru Towson around 7AM every day. It's a breeze going in that direction. I do hear that 95 south gets backed up sometimes.

Ikaros was my favorite Greek restaurant when I was there in the eighties. It might still be there.

Ikaros is still there, and it's still very good. As SavTrav said, though Samos is the favorite these days. Many people like Zorba's also for grilled meats and fish. AnnMarie, you should be enjoying your lunches, because Greektown is a short walk from Bayview.

Also, in regards to getting to Bayview, the Lombard Street exit from I-895 was put in specifically to accommodate Johns Hopkins for the Bayview campus.

Thanks you all, again!

smetz, to clarify, DH will be the one working at Bayview--he was tickled to hear about the Greek restaurant and now you say there's a Greektown? Oh, happy day!

...reading about Ikaros made me wonder if Pizza Palace in Towson is still around... and it is! ...after 20+ years...

Yes, Greektown is basically along Eastern Avenue, beginning around Ponca Street, and continuing a few blocks to the west. Easy walk from Bayview. It's nothing special, just a few greek restaurants, some bakeries, etc.

There's another very popular greek restaurant in Fells Point, called The Black Olive. More upscale, great fish.

Oh, it all sounds great--right up our alley.