Moving to Long Valley?
We're thinking of moving to Long Valley and have heard great things. We're familiar with the general area, but were curious if anyone commutes to Parsippany and/or Madison areas and what your drive is like?
Looking at maps it seems like 80 can be avoided by shooting up to 46 or 10 and we know the backroads around there well. Just wondering if anyone has any personal experience to share!
Also, what is public transportation like? I wouldn't expect to commute daily to NY from LV, but is it convenient to drive to Peapack & Gladstone or Hackettstown for casual trips into Hoboken and the city? Other stations or routes to recommend?
Thanks for any help!
Carrie 
My DH goes to Whippany every day and he takes Rt 80. He leaves early (4:45am) so he doesnt hit traffic, but coming home he does. Sometimes if Rt 80 is backed up, he will jump on Rt 46 or Rt 10. It takes about 40 mins. going and over an hour coming home. It's a hassle no matter how you look at it. Dont know about the trains.
newbie I work in Madison, East Hanover, & Parsippany all the time. I hate route 80, so I take east mill to Chester, then 24/ Mendham Road to Morristown, then either jump on 287 for a couple of miles to Parsippany, or straight into Madison. I leave at about 6:15 from Schooleys Mountain Road and can be in Parisippany or Madison by 7:00. However, if you are in Mendham after about 6:45 you will hit traffic. Route 10 sucks after 6:30 so avoid that as well as don't bother getting on 80 after 6:00 AM. Basically the drive I take is great, as long as you start work early. The town is great, we have lived here for 4 years and are now getting ready to build a new house still in LV.
LongValleyFv For What's it's worth; I find the fastest way to Parrsippany is Bartley Rd across 206 into Flanders, up Hillside Ave to Rt 10 -east to Parsippany. Coming back to LV at rush hour, I find that reversing these directions get's you home faster than Rt. 80.
I have commuted to Parsippany for the past 6 years. If you are planning to live on Schooley's Mountain, the options presented by the other readers are the main ones to try. I live in the Fairmount section of town (on the southern border of the Township next to Tewksbury), and depending on time of day, I'll go in and out on Route 24 straight into Morristown as previously mentioned, or use several variations to avoid traffic: Route 24 to Mendham and cut through to 287 via Hardscrabble Road; or Route 517 in town to Route 512 into Pottersville, and then back roads through Peapack-Gladstone and Bernardsville to Route 287. Route 80 is always a real gamble, and Route 10 gets pretty dense-packed during the busy hours as well. 287 is generally pretty decent around the clock. If you like peaceful rural settings and don't mind adding 10 minutes to your commute each way, the back roads are the way to go.
Bruce Clark In addition to leaving extra early for the commute, there is the option to leave later with decent results.
Yes, there are lots of back roads to travel and you will find the route that works best for you. Many people do this commute and have been doing it for a long time.
As for the train to the city. I have done the Gladstone route, but many others may recommend the Dover station. It all depends on what side of Long Valley you are looking to settle in. The area is quite large and spread out.
I personally love to drive to Weehawken and take the ferry over. That is my favorite way to go - especially if we are going to be in mid-town.
Coralie Thanks for all of the tips! It certainly sounds do-able and I'm sure I'll find a route that works. I've been testing out some on Google Maps as well. LongValleyFv, thanks for mentioning Rt 10 - I use it occasionally during rush hour but not enough to know what it's like on a daily basis, so I appreciate the heads up.
Right now we're looking at the eastern and northern parts of Long Valley (to be a little bit closer to some family up in Passaic) but aren't 100% sure where we'll end up yet. We definitely like the area and will likely keep looking til we find something there.
Coralie, thanks for the train advice. We were also thinking of Morristown station as an option (used to live there so we know the route well), though we also often drive to Newark or Hoboken like you mentioned with Weehawken. As long as there are convenient/practical options it's all good. We don't go into the city daily, but I do occasionally for work so it's nice to know there won't be an issue.
All the advice has been greatly appreciated!
Carrie,
Just to toss this out there - I'd consider looking more south/east given your parameters. Being in the valley rather than on Schooley's Mountain has it's advantages when it comes to getting to NYC (Peapack/Gladstone is a lot closer) and you have easier access to 78 and 287. 80, 10 and 46 get horrible congested, plus you have to add in the traffic of getting on and off the mountain during commuting hours. It's not a lot longer to take Bartley Road from the valley to get out to 206 and onto 80 for the trips to see family.
I used to drive from the valley (not far off Rt. 517/Fairmount Rd.) to Florham Park for work, took about 45 mins. going 517 to 512, 206 to 287 and up.
I wouldn't rely on Morristown's train station for any regular trips in and out of the city, especially regular commuting. There is a wait list that's years long for commuter spots (unless that's changed recently since I inquired) and you have to pay meters to park at the public lot. Peapack and Gladstone are a longer train ride but much shorter drive and free parking.
Good luck! I grew up in LV and moved back to have a family, so I definitely recommend. :)
Jenlkm I drive from Long Valley to Bergen County everyday. You get used to it.
I drive Rt 80 everyday. Off hours are the best, Before 7 and after 6
There are lots of nice developments in town our favorite is Nestlingwood, very family oriented.
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