babyduke

My house to work takes:

1) 12.4 miles local (decent amount of stop and go at about 40mph/avg) and takes about 30 minutes.

2) I can also take high way for 8 miles (one toll of 40 cents) then local 5miles (40mph/avg). Takes me about 20mins.

Which route will be more cost efficient?

JohnS

I would choose the freeway every time.

MadMax96

Without doing any real math I'd say go for the shorter route - as long as you drive like an old man to keep the MPG up.

I personally avoid the tollways in IL unless it saves way more time. I'll only jump on there if the trip is like 40-50 miles each way.

babyduke

With the current economy, I need to be more sensible even if it's just a couple $ a day especially since I work every day. I'm trying to figure out paying 40 cents will be offset by driving on the highway.

garsarno

Sometimes the lack of aggravation in the drive is worth the toll. I have the same dilemma in Northeast PA. I can drive to certain parts of Scranton (north) and Clarks Summit, PA via the PA Turnpike (EZ Pass) and pay the toll or take Interstate 81. I usually pick the less traveled route and do the turnpike, especially if road work on the interstate is involved.

MadMax96

Another thing to consider (especially in IL) is construction! Everywhere lately in the Chicago burbs seems to be ripped up. I drive through 3-4 different construction zones on my way to work which causes me to come to a crawl for up to 1.5 miles at a time because of lane closures.

The highway is sooo far out of my way that it's not even an option.

If paying one or two tolls could help me avoid the construction I would gladly pay it.

jagtoes

You own a Lexus so it doesn't make any difference. LOL

dreyfus

Okay, let's run the numbers.

Assumptions (plug in your personal numbers):
Gas is 3.50 per gallon.
Highway mileage is 30 mpg.
Surface street mileage is 21 mpg.

Local
12.4 miles @ 21 mpg = .59 gallons @ $3.50 = $2.07

Interstate
8 miles @ 30 mpg = .27 gallons @ $3.50 = $.93
+
5 miles @ 21 mpg = .24 gallons @ $3.50 = $.83
+
$.40 = $2.16

This ignores the increased wear and tear on brakes, wheels, etc. for the surface streets. If the assumed numbers are correct then the local roads are the way to go, dollar-wise, but not by much.

Do the other factors involved (chance of delay, traffic, safety, etc.) add to or outweigh that nine cents? Your call.

MDames2

iTrader: (1)

With a $.09 difference between the two routes (assuming the numbers are correct), that equates to approximately $22.00 per year. It doesn't matter which route you take. $22 per year is insignficant.

garsarno

That's why: less aggravation in driving is the best way to choose.

babyduke

Great answer, just what I was looking for. Highway is myway!

dreyfus

Whoa! I had to edit my post because it is the local route that saves you the nine cents - I mistyped in "interstate" as the winner.

But as MDames2 said, the cost is irrelevant at this point. I agree with you that the highway is the better choice just to save the ten minutes.

JohnS

Or consider the cost of your time. If you make $30 and hour, the ten minutes you save is worth $5 of your time each way or $10 a day of your time. Over a year this adds up to $2600 of your time you saved. Worth it to me.

Richard95

That's assuming you get paid for getting to work 10 minutes earlier.

JohnS

Ahh.. that is an hourly worker mentality.
I am talking about the value of my time. Spending 20 extra minutes a day with my family is worth it plus the cost savings to boot are a nice bonus.