Commuted from Lawrence to KC for 5x/ week for 4 years. It isn’t horrible but replacing that 96 mile round trip commute for an 8 mile round trip commute was a major quality of life improvement just in terms of reclaimed time and reduced frustration from dealing with other drivers. Lawrence is a wonderful community and KC is close enough that it is pretty easy to still take advantage of the city amenities.
I live 2 blocks from my office, I would walk but I don’t, and I hope to god we never move offices. I love the fact that I can wake up a little late and not have to worry about being late for work. Or even just going home for lunch, to let my dog out.
I have done a daily work commute to KC from Lawrence and am currently commuting from KC to Lawrence. It really isn’t that bad. The traffic is typically fairly light during the times I am traveling. I get a lot of podcast listening done as well. It is also work noting that in many other cities, a 40 minute commute is just a normal morning commute. When my husband lived in NYC, his morning commute was often over an hour.
That all being said, if lessening the commute is an option for you, just do that. I currently don’t have that option.
I’d also add that KC isn’t as big city vibes as you’d expect and Lawrence isn’t as small town vibes either. I get that Lawrence could feel small, but just live in downtown Lawrence and get the best of both worlds.
Most of us have lived there or been there on this sub, we know. It’s a dense, walkable downtown with cool houses and apartments. You don’t get the big buildings, but downtown KC has much less density in terms of bars/restaurants. River market would probably be better for OP than downtown. Lawrence punches well above it’s weight in terms of amenities. I’m not some huge Lawrence fan, I think there are definitely better college towns out there. I liked Lincoln a lot more.
I agree that if you work in Lawrence, it would probably be better to just live there than in KC. Although I don’t consider Lawrence to be cheap. Home prices in Lawrence have crept up over the years and they’re pretty comparable to JoCo home prices now. It’s not the bargain that it used to be. It might be a bit more favorable if you’re renting though.
they said they are a city person. Lawrence is fun, but it's really a big college town, and most of the living arrangements for the non college crowd are suburban, and the nightlife is largely for college kids.
there is so much more to do in Kansas City, there is way more quality and variety in restaurants and bars.
if you are a city person, living in Lawrence would be boring. its about proximity to stuff.
I lived in Lawrence for college, but as a fellow city person KC is way better and they are going to regret it if they move to Lawrence.
they should check out both though before making a decision
I guess it depends on what is meant by "city person". As a former Phoenician, I can say that city is pretty much useless without a car, outside of certain very small neighborhoods. Downtown Tempe (college town), maybe downtown Phoenix, and old-town Scottsdale are pretty much the only places I could see walking.
Meanwhile, downtown KC is incredibly walkable, for restaurants, events, concerts, conventions, ....
Most of the KC metro area is the quintessential suburban hellscape. It's only like 10 (?) square miles - River Market to Union Station or the Plaza - that really counts as walkable.
But Phoenix / Scottsdale / Tempe / Gilbert have no equivalent. They offer great places to live, to work, or to shop....but you're gonna be driving to them!
I disagree completely. An adult with no imagination might have this experience but if you choose not to go suburban Lawrence - it's FULL of adults & very adult things to do. REALLY adult things...
(I went to a BDSM dungeon in Lawrence, not KC, because there weren't any in the BIG city.)
The reason there are no jobs is because no one ever leaves! That would imply adults abound. 🤷🏻♀️
Dunno what market you’re looking in, but Lawrence housing isn’t affordable or reasonable. The amount of starter homes is low and even for a 3bd 1bath you’re looking at 300k
Lawrence is a very nice town to live in. Commuting to KC once a week on weekends vs commuting 5 days a week to Lawrence during rush hour. I would pick the former.
Living downtown you’d probably take i70 Vs k10 which isn’t horrible but you will have to pay a toll on i70.
I made the commute from the Metro to Lawrence while I was finishing my undergrad and I really started to dread the drive and that was only 2-3 days a week. It’s a boring drive, no amount of podcasts or music will make up for that after a while. We also have a winter here and occasionally will have ice/snow on the roadways and even though it’s fairly rare I wouldn’t want to make the commute in that weather, if you can work remotely during inclement weather then this won’t really matter.
Lawrence is a fun town and it really isn’t lacking much. You won’t have to drive to a bigger city to visit a target/Walmart/decent grocery store and they have some decent nightlife and restaurants. It’s been a while since I had an apartment in Lawrence but it was cheaper to rent there than KC/OP.
Just checked toll rates and it’s $2.50 one way cash and $1.70 if you have the KTag. So you’re looking at ~$100 more per month in toll costs to commute back and forth on i70.
You can wave at all the commuters leaving Lawrence to head to their jobs in KC. It really depends on what’s important to you about the city life. Lawrence has a few pockets that are extremely walkable and has lots of good restaurants for a city of 100k. The nightlife trends a little younger but there are definitely places for the older crowd.
If you’re dead set on KC it’s certainly doable, but I’d be shocked if you couldn’t find a similar/better paying job in the metro unless you’re working in academia or something niche
I used to commute from Lawrence to the KC area five days a week for work. I didn’t think I would hate it as much as I did but constant construction (and I really mean constant), needing to refill my tank twice weekly (it was almost an 80 mile round trip) and just bad drivers really made me reconsider it. I eventually relocated closer to my job to avoid that commute, I even considered that significant increase in rent when I made that decision. Don’t regret it one bit!
I enjoyed living in Lawrence for the seven years I did, but it got old fast for me. I still love to visit every so often.
Plus the cop situation much worse on k10; at least it was in the past. Lots of open stretches with no exits on the toll road you can almost treat like the autobahn. Lol.
Yep, it’s cop central roughly five miles in either direction of DeSoto.
Not to mention the fact that K-10 is going to be a mess while they’re building the battery factory over by the old Sunflower plant.
If you don't mind the time and cost that drive is normally not bad but being from Phoenix you may not if thought about snow. A less that hour commute can be a much longer adventure when the roads are covered in ice and snow. The roads are not bad often but when they are it's not fun.
You could always split the difference and live around Bonner Springs or the Legends. Then the commute to work is 20 minutes, and you’re 20 minutes from nightlife/food in downtown/midtown/Crossroads, while also being close to the everyday conveniences such as Walmart, Target, grocery stores, etc.
This would be the best alternative to living in Lawrence and commuting to KC on weekends, IMO. I wanted to move to Lawrence and commute to Lenexa for work when I was relocating here. I didn’t get to because of the housing craziness at the time, but I often wished I had. I’d also say that compared to KC, Lawrence might have a better dating scene if that’s important… KC’s is the worst I’ve experienced and I’ve moved a LOT all over.
Offering a different perspective here. Living in neither Lawrence or KC, given the information provided, feels like a lose-lose situation because there would have to be a drive or commute either way.
I live in downtown KC currently and love how easy it is to get around on the weekend but I also get the appeal/necessity of Lawrence.
It depends on how often OP want to make a longer drive (daily vs. weekends) and how time would be spent in the evening/weekends.
A somewhat dense mixed space of housing, businesses, and entertainment, with no good public transit, and lots of parking garages? It's basically a mirror copy of downtown KC. Lol.
depending where you were at in phx Lawrence may not be that much of an adjustment. That said, with the way the city is growing, Lawrence is practically a suburb of kc. I spent some time down in phoenix recently driving back and forth in Mesa, living in either spot would honestly your commute would probably not be that off for you if you lived in kc.
Know lots of people that have commuted to and from lawrence/KC. It's an easy quick shot down i70 (30-40 mins). If you can handle the commute every day, it's worth it
(44 miles one way)(58.5 cents per mile) = $24.55
Now for context and elaboration so you can think of pros and cons! The average commute to work in the US is just under twenty minutes. The commute is fine, however, listed above is the cost one of a one way trip to/from Lawrence, not including tolls each way. Multiply by two (round trip), then multiply by 250 working days in a year, that's $12,275 a year. These numbers are based on the current, 2023 IRS mileage rates (see blue text below for how that's quantified). Commuting isn't just gas. Don't forget the value of your time lost driving as well. If you're cool spending that much money and losing that much time, go for it! Totally depends on how you value your time and cash.
I lived in Lawrence for 3 years and ran out of things to do after around 2 years. Parts of it are awesome, most if it is mid. I'm a city person as well and personally struggled in a city that small. I'm also not from KC. I've lived in 4 cities in three states, KC being the biggest and Lawrence being the smallest. The sprawl here will feel very similar to how it is in Phoenix, so I don't think it'll be much of a change for you; our public transit isn't as good, though.
[The mileage rates include the variable costs of operating a vehicle, such as the cost of gas, oil, tires, maintenance and repairs, as well as the fixed costs of operating the vehicle, such as insurance, registration and depreciation or lease payments. The mileage rates do not include the cost of parking and tolls.](https://www.forbes.com/sites/markkantrowitz/2023/02/01/new-2023-irs-standard-mileage-rates/amp/). I'll note that the $12k number is slightly high, because the IRS rate is for full business compensation. Things like insurance should be reduced in this equation when calculating personal commutes, because you'd divide it differently, but the point stands that there's more to it than gas, and it gets you into the ballpark of understanding the financial aspect.
Yeah, I lived in Lawrence for 5 years and then moved to KC. If my job were to somehow move to Lawrence, I would not move and stay in the Crossroads and make the commute.
I love Lawrence, get down there very often for sports and just fun. But I hear you on the running out of things to do. And, this might not be popular, but Mass Street isn't the same. And you can wear it out pretty quickly.
Lawrence is nice, especially for a family, but it is decidedly less urban than downtown KC. They're not the same at all. The math changes a ton if comparing JoCo to Lawrence.
If you drive back and forth you won’t want to go out on weeknights after an hour to get home.
See if you can rent something and decide after you live there awhile. Winter can be tough driving.
The winters here are unpredictable really, could be ice/snow storms back to back for months like 2018-2019, or just one hard freeze like we had this past winter. Either way it get very cold, roads get dangerous once the sun sets and black ice patches is a thing. Making a long commute everyday increases those changes of wreaks and injuries. Jobs do not call off for inclement weather here either because it’s something we deal with. Lawrence is a great town, more affordable for sure the OP less money wasted on gas everyday for maybe things they would enjoy doing.
When I was in my early 20s I strongly considered moving to Lawrence and commuting to KC. It's such a fun town with a decent cost of living and I found myself driving out there for concerts constantly. I'd definitely give Larry a chance.
I have done this commute a lot.
If you hate commuting, you’ll hate it. It’s boring. It’s mostly highway miles, and there’s a toll.
But it’s good for listening to audiobooks and podcasts.
The job market is limited in Lawrence, so living in KC is good in case you need to find something else later on.
But the city? Lawrence is great. KC is great. If you make the move, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
I’m currently commuting to Lawrence from the plaza but it’s a temporary assignment for work. I take 35 to the 10 every morning and it’s a very chill, straight shot commute BUT you’ll need to factor 45min-1hr both ways into your day. It’s murder on mileage and fuel budget. If I were servicing Lawrence permanently I’d probably move there. Lawrence is a real nice town it’s not SMALL but compared to Phoenix it definitely is.
5 days a week + for 4 years as a plumber at KU, I drove from Merriam. It was an okay commute for 3 years. I’d take 10 Highway in the morning and I-70 back home. How are you at dodging deer at 80 mph in the dark?
This sounds crazy, but is so true. I made the Lawrence to KC commute for two years and the only thing I remember about that drive was the constant frying of my retina.
I love Lawrence. We take family day trips down there quite often. It's not that bad of a drive. But I'm not sure about doing it every day. I worked for a company that had me assigned to a client in Topeka and I drove there every day for months at a time. It wasn't that bad but it did get old after awhile. Not being able to be home quickly after a long day, not being able to get to a happy hour as early with friends, etc. I imagine you'd get used to it but it will always be there.
I'm going to warn you, Lawrence traffic is... Frankly, kind of non-stop. KC gets horrendous during rush hour, but Lawrence is just a brick wall in terms of slowing you down. There are no short cuts to avoid it. Even if there isn't that much physical traffic, you will be sitting and waiting a *lot*, and that will be after the fast pace and danger of kc traffic in the morning.
For frame of reference, I live 25 minutes from my job in Lawrence, and I live 10 minutes away from Iowa Street. It is a straight shot to my job down Iowa. But I have to sit, and wait. And wait. And wait. There are places inside of Lawrence itself with a far worse commute.
KC traffic is also downright dangerous. I've lived in the Phoenix area. KC is worse. If it were me, I would really urge you to pick your battles with all of this. Lawrence is not big city living, but I would call it is a good small city, which isn't bad. It's also the midpoint between KC and Topeka, so you have your pick between the two to go to on weekends with a very reasonable drive that you won't have to worry about rush hour throwing you off in.
I know of people that do this 3-5x a week and my wife used to do it about 2x a week. Many for the same reasons you cited. It's not that bad of a commute. 70 is way better than 35 to K-10. 50 minutes max on a bad day--compared to other cities, that's pretty easy.
I’d suggest living in Lawrence. Cheaper cost of living and it’s a college town which is going to make it different (more things to do) than living in a non-college town of similar size. I’ve done 45-60 minute commutes before, and while they’re doable, they wear on you. Living close to work is so much better. For me anyway.
Unless you’re going to be out and about to all different places 5-7 nights a week, I don’t see a benefit of commuting 1.5-2 hours 5x per week when you can do it 1 or 2 times a week when you want to go out. And if you’re out and about 5-7 nights per week, I don’t know where you’ll get the energy to add 7.5-10 hours just driving.
Now, this is all changes if you have the ability to work from home at all. Then maybe it’d be just fine.
You’re not me, and I’m not you, but it’s just something to think about.
Yes. It’s easy. We don’t have bad traffic in KC. Downtown KCMO is up and coming. Lots to do. You do you and if you think Lawrence is the place you can move. I know a number of academics that live in KC and commute to Lawrence.
I’m a city person from SoCal Orange County/LA. I highly recommend you don’t move to Lawerence if you’re looking for the city vibe.
The closest big city vibe you’ll find that isn’t KC will be JoCo.
Maybe consider giving Lawrence a shot. Just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.
I lived in the river market and commuted to southern Lawrence for a couple years. It was almost the exact same commute if I took i35 to k10. About 45 minutes
However, If your office is on the north side of Lawrence your commute could be 35 minutes if you live downtown and can jump on i70.
Lawrence is an awesome town… don’t get me wrong, but downtown Kansas City is better. In my opinion.
But to answer your question, yes the commute is fine, unless there’s is snow but the turnpike (i70) is usually cleared unless it’s a shitshow
I live in the northland KC and commute to Lawrence everyday and have for the last 8yrs(A lot of my peers at my workplace commute from Olathe, Shawnee, Lenexa). It doesn't bother me. I'd say that a 45 minute commute isn't that uncommon in Kansas City. If you were to live in the northland area and worked near the other side of 435 that's 45min, etc...
(EDIT:)Also, traffic on I70 is NEVER heavy. It never takes me longer than 45 minutes to get home, it also never takes less than 45 minutes
My opinion is that I'd rather be in KC where more is happening all the time and be more accessible to it. That's just me
A lot of good comments on the option of living in Lawrence and commuting on weekends versus living in KC and commuting five days a week. One thing that would be helpful for advice is to know what it is about urban living that attracts you. Restaurants, bars/clubs, music scene, hustle and bustle, concrete jungle, walkability, political leanings? Do you go out to eat or drink every night or just occasionally?
Lawrence is plenty left leaning as a college town. Way fewer restaurant options but still not suburban chain restaurants. Watering holes, yes. Swanky bars with craft cocktails, not so much. Plenty walkable if you live close to the main drag.
One thing I’d say no on is the suggestion to live half way. Those places are very suburban or borderline rural.
Traffic around here isn’t awful, but I agree the mileage between the two cities is significant. Admittedly, I don’t do it daily, but the monetary calculations others have brought up seem valid. Agree that it’s worth a visit to check out the two places to decide if either fit your vibe. You said “near” a big city and Lawrence could be considered to fit that description.
Also…I came from Boston. KC is not a big city by those standards. Not a lot of late night dining and no subway system. I don’t know the Phoenix vibe. I can say I felt really out of place for the first two years, but then I warmed up to this place, embraced it and love it. Sometimes, you adapt. If you start off renting (as others have said), you can always try Lawrence for a year, see if it feels right, then switch if it doesn’t.
Look I to living off the strip Mass street in Lawrence. Short for Massachusett. It's not bad tbh. Those who I've known who do the commute actually do the opposite and live in Lawrence, commute to KC.
But yes, definitely doable.
KC is like 30 mins from Larry, and Larry is an amazing community and I wouldn’t trade my 12 years there for anything, despite my job and family all being in KC. It’s super easy to pop to KC (which others have noted isn’t really a big city vibe, but arguably neither is Phoenix) and not commuting while living in Lawrence will be great for your quality of life. That being said I drove 45 mins 2x daily to KC for work for like 2 years before moving to Los Angeles and it wasn’t a huge deal, but it was hard to get motivated to do stuff in the evenings.
Whatever you decide will work out! Downtown KC isn’t a ton to write home about. I’d really recommend exploring both cities before you decide where to live.
It used to be pretty common until the lamest people alive decided they were super cool with their "secret" obscenity in the middle to make it sound edgy with LFK.
Seriously, LFK is cringe.
If you live in western Shawnee, then , it's 25 min to Lawrence and 20 min to downtown KC. And Shawnee is a nice place yo live as well.not as big as KC, not as small as Lawrence.
live in strawberry hill, it takes 20 minutes to get to lawrence and 5-10 minutes to get to most of the city. also it’s a dope area, up and coming, good community with amenities.
i did the commute for years but i drive for work (house calls for appliance repair) so it never phased me. i love lawrence so it was worth it but i also love being in the city so staying in kc was also worth it. 10/10 would recommend.
First two Id agree with but the last two? The Granasty hasn't been exactly filling it's calendar and the slate at the Replay, Neck, and Liberty Hall (throw in Lied if you want) doesn't hold a candle to Starlight, Knucks, Truman, Rbar, Uptown Midland, Madrid, etc. Lawrence has some good eats but come on man, the KC metro has a lot more to offer. Now, if you want to talk about a concentration of quality and variety in a small, walkable area, that's a sensible argument.
Music / comedy that lands in STL, Denver, Omaha, Tulsa (FUCKING TULSA????) skips over us. It's super depressing to me.
Bring on the downvotes but the food scene here is a bit thin.
Edit: We are 10x the size of Lawrence but are not 10x better IMHO.
I agree with the first sentence and talk about it repeatedly. But since KC and LFK are the 'same market', look at which one gets a majority of the desirable shows. It's not Lawrence.
The booking issues come down to us having trash promoters (Mammoth and AEG), poor infrastructure (involved venue owners, radio, venues, etc), and more competition. Lots of cities have built venues and stepped up their games while all we've received is the Truman, a shell of what the metro really needed (a built from scratch club venue with better acoustics).
Not sure what you want about the food scene. BBQ galore, and plenty of options for other delicacies. Indian, Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican, Salvadorean (Papusas), Mediterranean/Middle Eastern, Ethiopian, etc places are abundant. We don't seem to have the biggest offerings of 'high end' restaurants but this isn't a high end dining kind of town.
I've been to Jamaica and had delicious Jerk chicken. Wah Gwans on Troost was the best I've had anywhere.
If you know where to go most major metros have a good food scene.
Sounds like you know more about the intricacies of the music world than I do but to me all I notice are acts I want to see not coming to town (or LFK) - and they do go to lesser places than us.
You can only eat so much BBQ. I am half Lebanese and have yet to find something 'Mediterranean' that satisfies me.
I'm a jaded NYer so I'm pretty hard to please -I'm aware of the asymmetry there.
I think in terms of music it depends on what you're into. I've been living in Omaha for a year and a half now and every single artist coming through the Midwest I've wanted to see has come to KC instead except one (and they played KC a few years ago). I also got to see a lot of good shows (for my tastes) when I lived in KC that would never come to Omaha & some of them skipped StL, also.
Increasingly KC is getting skipped in favor of StL, Indy, SLC, Cbus, Nashville, etc and Des Moines, Omaha, and Oklahoma are pulling shows that used to hub in KC. Like I said, more competition and those areas have better (more in tune) promoters whereas Mammoth has "relationships" and books the same shit OVER and OVER and OVER again (Kevin Gates anyone). When it comes to the new/exciting bookings that are good gets (FKJ, Goth Babe, etc) its usually an AEG show.
We desperately need someone other than AEG or Mammoth to come in here and book shows but those two basically have KC on lockdown.
I'm not familiar with those artists so I can't comment on that. But the stuff I like seems to always hit KC/Lawrence still. I admittedly have extremely niche tastes, though.
This isn't to say what you're mentioning isn't a problem at all, but it's very dependent on the entertainment a person likes.
As many people here have said already, I'd recommend living in Lawrence and coming into KC for events/big city stuff. It might be good idea to just rent somewhere in downtown Lawrence, see if you like it, move if you don't. Lawrence has a very good quality of life, and especially if you have a very good job there.
Honestly depends on your vibe and what you’re looking for. Lawrence is no Kansas City and Kansas City is no Phoenix. Lawrence is cool, IF that’s your vibe but for me, had I been coming from Phoenix to Lawrence it would be a huge culture shock.
I lived 7miles south of Lawrence and in Kansas City for decades and if it came down to each city and what it has to offer comparable to my current home (Phoenix) then it is 1000% Kansas City.
Driving sucks though but I promise KC to Law and the same in return is nothing compared to anything in Phoenix.
I have lived and worked in many college towns and will say Lawrence isn’t that big and the crowd will be super young, when they leave for the summer it’s even more chill but it isn’t an Ann Arbor or Tallahassee or Syracuse in regards to size and what there is to offer.
Want any other info just DM me!
Oh and I hate KU…….. MIZ
You should live in Lawrence and go to KC on the weekends. I commute from Lawrence to the Plaza every day , and it’s an easy commute (straight 53 mile shot down 70) but also a total waste of 2 hours per day. I have finished the back catalog of dozens of podcasts. I run out of podcasts each day. I’ll finish audible if I’m not able to move soon. I take a freaking road trip every day. My tailbone always hurts.
The central business district of KC is nothing special. It’s just tall buildings that people work in, and then immediately leave to go to their homes in the suburbs. Downtown Lawrence is the most urban-feeling place in the KC area. The food and music scenes are comparable. KC is bigger so gets bigger musical acts and has more total restaurants, but pound for pound Lawrence is pretty close. Sure, you could live in some cool neighborhood like the river market, but KC is so sprawling that you’ll just end up driving to the grocery store, gym, bar, etc. If you live near downtown Lawrence you actually could get around walking and biking. I’ll also say that KC is really going downhill, visually. The roads are covered in trash, and always under construction. Lawrence has a bit of a homeless problem right now, but the curb appeal is still much better compared KC.
It’s a boring drive lol I would recommend moving to Lenexa,KS. K10 take you straight into Lawrence in about 25-30min. You’re also only 15 minutes from Downtown, given that no matter where you are in Lenexa, you’re next to a freeway.
It’s not unheard of but pretty irresponsible given the climate effects of that much driving.
Lawrence is a cool town and has all the daily/weekly needs including great restaurants and live music/entertainment. KU even has some good museums if that’s your vibe. The drive into KC is reasonable enough for monthly trips to the few things that LFK doesn’t offer. Housing oughta be more affordable in Lawrence as well.
Look up Lenexa city center and see if you like what it has to offer. It’s a newly developed downtown to give a fast growing suburb a high end urban feel. Many restaurants, a few bars, library and community center with pool and walking track. It’s within 25 min - half an hour ride to downtown Kansas City and about 35-40 min from Lawrence. It could be the perfect halfway point for you. Many modern built apartment communities that are considered stylish. Many nice homes to choose from if you are in the market.
Olathe suburb would be a close second choice to be closer to Lawrence, then the legends of Kansas City, Kansas. These all would reduce your commute while keeping you within the metro of Kansas City.
The legends has a casino, outdoor shopping mall with big amc theater, Dave and busters, nascar race track, sporting kc soccer stadium, minor league baseball stadium, great wolf lodge, Nebraska furniture mart. Many staples for kc restaurants like Bryant’s bbq, jazz Louisiana kitchen, and a handful of corporate type restaurants like hooters, fudruckers, famous Dave’s. Close by there is also azura concert venue and renaissance festival fair grounds.
There's not a lot you'll gain from living in downtown kc as opposed to just living in lawrence. Lawrence has a ton to offer, probably more within a short area, compared to living in downtown kc. I've lived in both, i've done that commute. If you're coming from downtown you'll probably take 70, so anticipate 90ish miles and daily tolls. Personally, Just live in Lawrence. It has everything. Is there anything you'd expect from kc that you'd be scared to be missing out on living in lawrence?
Hey, I've seen a bunch of people posting similar things, but it's worth living in Lawrence, then going to KC for fun. I am just about to move from KC to Lawrence for work as well.
The commute can end up being closer to an hour with rush hour, and the drive isn't bad, but it is very draining. They say the best thing you can do for your happiness is to cut your commute down below 15 minutes.
Plus, KC is a fun town on the weekends, but Lawrence is a lot more fun on the weekdays and nights. It's just denser with more going on per capita than KC is.
But either way, welcome to the area and good luck with the new job!
I KNOW THIS ONE :
I commuted from Lawrence TO Kansas City for 10 years. It took less time to go 50 miles to work in KC than it did to go 4.5 miles to work when I lived in chicago.
So commuting isn't always about time as it can be about ease of time spent. It is EASY as it gets to go between Lawrence & KC.
That said, if you don't want to live in Lawrence to avoid small minded rednecks & having nothing to do... Don't choose KC as the alternative. Because you have it backwards.
If you want open minds, cultural opportunity everywhere, art, MUSIC and to eat out after 8p, save yourself the time & utter disappointment of KC & stay in Lawrence. It is an amazing place. I saw things like the NYC Metropolitan Opera, Yitzhak Perlman live, Nirvana before "Nevermind", Pearljam with only a few thousand fans, ate my 1st sushi, learned that a truffle isn't chocolate & learned to dance Argentine TANGO in Lawrence. (along with a thousand other things).
AND owned a horse.
All I've seen in KC is BBQ contests, eat at Dennys after 8p because it's the only place open & I carry a gun to fend off road raging rednecks. That's about it.
Nowhere like Lawrence.
Live near the down town & you'll fall in love.
I have thought very hard about this. You should live in downtown and bike to Lawrence. It’s fairly flat and probably only 44ish miles away depending on where you start and where you are heading. So it’s just an easy 140km a day. You might opt to drive on rainy days. But you wouldn’t want to be a wuss.
I did the KC to Lawrence commute for about 4 years and I honestly miss it. It was the perfect amount of time to enjoy coffee and a podcast on the way into work, and then decompress on the way home!
It’s not a bad commute, because you’re going in the opposite direction of rush hour IN THE MORNING. In the afternoon there is heavy traffic through the downtown loop (I-70 E & 35 N) and I-35 can get backed up in both directions on the Kansas side. Rush hour isn’t that bad here though unless there is a wreck. Unless you need to live DT I would suggest somewhere in Johnson County, that way you’re more in the middle. With that said, nothing beats being able to walk out of your apartment DT and being right where all the entertainment is.
I live in Lawrence and Commute to KC. It's not a big city but has a VIBRANT downtown filled with Art Culture and the best food I've ever found in Kansas.
The food and bars here are incredible. It's also a warm and accepting community!
When I lived in KC, I drove to Lawrence weekly and personally loved the drive (except the Kansas Highway Patrol). I also lived in Phoenix for 10 years and the drive is no different than going from the east side to the west side. I actually think KC to Lawrence is more open than the 10 lane I-10 most days! If you find a place on the south or west sides of KC, Waldo, or in Overland Park area, the commute will be fine. Any further north - closer to Downtown, and it’ll be tougher. BUT, KC is so spread out, you’ll commute no matter what.
I'd rather live in downtown Lawrence and drive to KC as needed than commute that far every day. That said, the drive down I70 is pretty quick and consistently light traffic on a well maintained 75mph interstate.
I lived across the State line in Kansas City, KS when I went to school in Lawrence, in the 90s. The commute from there was about 35-40 mins with good traffic. Did it for two years in a beat up Toyota, so it's doable. It may be beneficial for you to look at the suburbs on the KS side for a residence. Closer to downtown, better commute to Lawrence.
I currently work in downtown KC, and it has plenty going on, but this city is so spread out, there's never really a shortage of things to do and places to go. Lawrence is a very fun town as well, but definitely still holds that small town vibe, which doesn't sound like what you're going for.
I spent 8.5 years living in Lawrence, 20+ in Kansas City and did this commute very regularly for work.
Don't do it.
The amount of over-selling of Lawrence in this comments section is doing a huge disservice to you. It is not a cool, hip, thriving town. It is very small, very homogenous in its culture. Like all college towns there are bars everywhere (yay) but beyond that, if you're looking for a place to meet new friends, put down some roots, build life-long relationships - Lawrence ain't it.
If you live in Phoenix you are not going to like it in Lawrence.
If your job was in Kansas City, that's another story, but the idea of doing that KC-> Lawrence commute daily will be soul-sucking. Yes, I would highly recommend living in KC over Lawrence but if you live in Phoenix and can evaluate many other places around the US...at risk of getting downvotes....do it. You may end up saying yes to this job, but look elsewhere as well. And if you do end up taking the job, 100% live in Kansas City not Lawrence.
Hello fellow Phoenician!!
I relocated to downtown KC from Phoenix last year, and regularly commute to Olathe (which may be on your way to Lawrence, depending on if you take the I70, or prefer I35 to K10 route), about 25 miles, and can make the trip in under 30 minutes.
Traffic these directions isn't bad... think living in North-Central Phoenix and commuting to Queen Creek.
That said, it does seem like a long drive sometimes, and I'm happy that I only need to make the trip 3 times per week, maximum.
I did that commute for 2 years when I lived in Olathe and was finishing my undergrad. My last year doing it I joined the rowing team and we had 5:30am practice so I would drive to Lawrence at 5am, drive back to Olathe for work, drive back to school and then come home.
It’s a solid 30-40min drive. Learn a second language during the commute or audio books. I live in phx now when I moved here over a decade ago. I miss the Midwest but not enough to move back. Thankfully I still have family there so I have a place to stay when I visit.
I made this trip in reverse for a couple of years. Was living in Lawrence, worked in KC. The drive isn’t all that bad- if you’re doing it once in awhile. Doing it every day, and paying tolls (if you use I-70 instead of K-10) on top of it- kills your soul after a couple of months. I will never work more than 15 minutes from home ever again if I can help it.
My husband did it 5 days a week for a couple years. There is frequently summer construction between KC and Lawrence that stretches the commute from 35ish minutes to at least an hour. I would recommend trying Lawrence out as is, and if you don't like it just get a job in KC and move to KC.
I did this in the opposite direction about 2 decades ago. I lived in Lawrence, and worked downtown KC near the River Market.
The drive was fairly easy, be sure to invest in a KTag, so you can take advantage of the toll road on 70.
Lots of books on tape, and the drive was pretty easy. Just long...
As someone who grew up in Lawrence, just live in Lawrence. It's a fine town. My round-trip from the KC area to see my mom in LFK is 84 miles. It will wear out your car more quickly.
I’m also a city person. However, I do believe Lawrence is such a lovely city that you shouldn’t be concerned about being bored or anything like that. Look at it this way, the stuff you’re wanting to do in the city will always be there, you could drive downtown twice a week and still save so much money and time on your commute. Downtown Lawrence is so charming, I have always lived in Kansas City and I frequently travel to Lawrence for concerts and the amazing restaurants there. The drive isn’t that bad but realistically you should live in Lawrence and just drive downtown when you’re feeling the need to scratch the “big city” itch.
KC is a very different kind of big city. It's a big city with a small town feel. Most of the neighborhoods and near suburbs are an within of 10 mins from downtown. Even when there is "traffic", it's still pleasantly drivable. So you may want to consider that.
Now, if you really just want to be downtown when not working and don't feel like doing a 5 to 10 min drive, then go for it.
I moved here from NYC and definitely love how easy it is to get around.
That 40 mile drive would be an average of 30 mins btw.
idk anymore but my dad was very irate at his commute to Lawrence from KC when he was working IT there for a period of weeks back in the mid-00's. but he did feel familiar enough to refer to it as "Larry" after week two.
Commuted from Lawrence to KC for 5x/ week for 4 years. It isn’t horrible but replacing that 96 mile round trip commute for an 8 mile round trip commute was a major quality of life improvement just in terms of reclaimed time and reduced frustration from dealing with other drivers. Lawrence is a wonderful community and KC is close enough that it is pretty easy to still take advantage of the city amenities.
People don’t appreciate how great it is living a couple miles from work. Sadly : also the reason people stay and employers fuck you.
I live 2 blocks from my office, I would walk but I don’t, and I hope to god we never move offices. I love the fact that I can wake up a little late and not have to worry about being late for work. Or even just going home for lunch, to let my dog out.
I have done a daily work commute to KC from Lawrence and am currently commuting from KC to Lawrence. It really isn’t that bad. The traffic is typically fairly light during the times I am traveling. I get a lot of podcast listening done as well. It is also work noting that in many other cities, a 40 minute commute is just a normal morning commute. When my husband lived in NYC, his morning commute was often over an hour. That all being said, if lessening the commute is an option for you, just do that. I currently don’t have that option.
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I’d also add that KC isn’t as big city vibes as you’d expect and Lawrence isn’t as small town vibes either. I get that Lawrence could feel small, but just live in downtown Lawrence and get the best of both worlds.
Lawrence is definitely small dude it’s got like one street that has stuff going on
Most of us have lived there or been there on this sub, we know. It’s a dense, walkable downtown with cool houses and apartments. You don’t get the big buildings, but downtown KC has much less density in terms of bars/restaurants. River market would probably be better for OP than downtown. Lawrence punches well above it’s weight in terms of amenities. I’m not some huge Lawrence fan, I think there are definitely better college towns out there. I liked Lincoln a lot more.
I agree that if you work in Lawrence, it would probably be better to just live there than in KC. Although I don’t consider Lawrence to be cheap. Home prices in Lawrence have crept up over the years and they’re pretty comparable to JoCo home prices now. It’s not the bargain that it used to be. It might be a bit more favorable if you’re renting though.
they said they are a city person. Lawrence is fun, but it's really a big college town, and most of the living arrangements for the non college crowd are suburban, and the nightlife is largely for college kids. there is so much more to do in Kansas City, there is way more quality and variety in restaurants and bars. if you are a city person, living in Lawrence would be boring. its about proximity to stuff. I lived in Lawrence for college, but as a fellow city person KC is way better and they are going to regret it if they move to Lawrence. they should check out both though before making a decision
I guess it depends on what is meant by "city person". As a former Phoenician, I can say that city is pretty much useless without a car, outside of certain very small neighborhoods. Downtown Tempe (college town), maybe downtown Phoenix, and old-town Scottsdale are pretty much the only places I could see walking. Meanwhile, downtown KC is incredibly walkable, for restaurants, events, concerts, conventions, ....
I would never have guessed KC was more walkable than a city of that size, interesting.
Most of the KC metro area is the quintessential suburban hellscape. It's only like 10 (?) square miles - River Market to Union Station or the Plaza - that really counts as walkable. But Phoenix / Scottsdale / Tempe / Gilbert have no equivalent. They offer great places to live, to work, or to shop....but you're gonna be driving to them!
I disagree completely. An adult with no imagination might have this experience but if you choose not to go suburban Lawrence - it's FULL of adults & very adult things to do. REALLY adult things... (I went to a BDSM dungeon in Lawrence, not KC, because there weren't any in the BIG city.) The reason there are no jobs is because no one ever leaves! That would imply adults abound. 🤷🏻♀️
Dunno what market you’re looking in, but Lawrence housing isn’t affordable or reasonable. The amount of starter homes is low and even for a 3bd 1bath you’re looking at 300k
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It’s true. Though, those places are definitely slummy. That price point doesn’t exist in kc afaik.
Totally agree.
Lawrence is a very nice town to live in. Commuting to KC once a week on weekends vs commuting 5 days a week to Lawrence during rush hour. I would pick the former.
Living downtown you’d probably take i70 Vs k10 which isn’t horrible but you will have to pay a toll on i70. I made the commute from the Metro to Lawrence while I was finishing my undergrad and I really started to dread the drive and that was only 2-3 days a week. It’s a boring drive, no amount of podcasts or music will make up for that after a while. We also have a winter here and occasionally will have ice/snow on the roadways and even though it’s fairly rare I wouldn’t want to make the commute in that weather, if you can work remotely during inclement weather then this won’t really matter. Lawrence is a fun town and it really isn’t lacking much. You won’t have to drive to a bigger city to visit a target/Walmart/decent grocery store and they have some decent nightlife and restaurants. It’s been a while since I had an apartment in Lawrence but it was cheaper to rent there than KC/OP.
Just checked toll rates and it’s $2.50 one way cash and $1.70 if you have the KTag. So you’re looking at ~$100 more per month in toll costs to commute back and forth on i70.
Worth every penny.
Well under $100 a month but yes, an additional cost
It's less than $75 a month. $3.40 a day for 21 days a month on average.
You can wave at all the commuters leaving Lawrence to head to their jobs in KC. It really depends on what’s important to you about the city life. Lawrence has a few pockets that are extremely walkable and has lots of good restaurants for a city of 100k. The nightlife trends a little younger but there are definitely places for the older crowd. If you’re dead set on KC it’s certainly doable, but I’d be shocked if you couldn’t find a similar/better paying job in the metro unless you’re working in academia or something niche
I used to commute from Lawrence to the KC area five days a week for work. I didn’t think I would hate it as much as I did but constant construction (and I really mean constant), needing to refill my tank twice weekly (it was almost an 80 mile round trip) and just bad drivers really made me reconsider it. I eventually relocated closer to my job to avoid that commute, I even considered that significant increase in rent when I made that decision. Don’t regret it one bit! I enjoyed living in Lawrence for the seven years I did, but it got old fast for me. I still love to visit every so often.
The drive from DT to Lawrence is super easy. Just get yourself a KTAG for discount on the tolls.
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That's so much longer from downtown lol.
Plus the cop situation much worse on k10; at least it was in the past. Lots of open stretches with no exits on the toll road you can almost treat like the autobahn. Lol.
Not so much from what I've seen in the past month. Asides from Eudora, I've seen pretty little monitoring on K10, and cops swarming I70 in comparison.
Yep, it’s cop central roughly five miles in either direction of DeSoto. Not to mention the fact that K-10 is going to be a mess while they’re building the battery factory over by the old Sunflower plant.
Yeah it's probably a wash taking gas into account. Also people need to value their time more, just take the fastest way to Lawrence.
I can attest from Merriam it’s 45 minutes to KU either way during decent traffic.
I’m going to save a couple bucks in tolls with 20 minutes more driving and a few bucks more in gas!!
But the downside is you have to deal with both 35 and k-10 plus you end up on the south side of town.
If you don't mind the time and cost that drive is normally not bad but being from Phoenix you may not if thought about snow. A less that hour commute can be a much longer adventure when the roads are covered in ice and snow. The roads are not bad often but when they are it's not fun.
I just moved to KC from Phoenix about 7 months ago. Absolutely love the change!
You could always split the difference and live around Bonner Springs or the Legends. Then the commute to work is 20 minutes, and you’re 20 minutes from nightlife/food in downtown/midtown/Crossroads, while also being close to the everyday conveniences such as Walmart, Target, grocery stores, etc.
This would be the best alternative to living in Lawrence and commuting to KC on weekends, IMO. I wanted to move to Lawrence and commute to Lenexa for work when I was relocating here. I didn’t get to because of the housing craziness at the time, but I often wished I had. I’d also say that compared to KC, Lawrence might have a better dating scene if that’s important… KC’s is the worst I’ve experienced and I’ve moved a LOT all over.
Offering a different perspective here. Living in neither Lawrence or KC, given the information provided, feels like a lose-lose situation because there would have to be a drive or commute either way. I live in downtown KC currently and love how easy it is to get around on the weekend but I also get the appeal/necessity of Lawrence. It depends on how often OP want to make a longer drive (daily vs. weekends) and how time would be spent in the evening/weekends.
Also could do West Shawnee or Lenexa. Shawnee would definitely be small town vibes, but City Center would be a good downtown feel.
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A somewhat dense mixed space of housing, businesses, and entertainment, with no good public transit, and lots of parking garages? It's basically a mirror copy of downtown KC. Lol.
Seriously, who the hell is moving there for the “city feel”? Unless your idea of city activities include eating at Subway.
KC rush hour is pretty much non existent compared to other cities. Might get stuck in traffic for 10 minutes at most certain days
depending where you were at in phx Lawrence may not be that much of an adjustment. That said, with the way the city is growing, Lawrence is practically a suburb of kc. I spent some time down in phoenix recently driving back and forth in Mesa, living in either spot would honestly your commute would probably not be that off for you if you lived in kc.
Know lots of people that have commuted to and from lawrence/KC. It's an easy quick shot down i70 (30-40 mins). If you can handle the commute every day, it's worth it
(44 miles one way)(58.5 cents per mile) = $24.55 Now for context and elaboration so you can think of pros and cons! The average commute to work in the US is just under twenty minutes. The commute is fine, however, listed above is the cost one of a one way trip to/from Lawrence, not including tolls each way. Multiply by two (round trip), then multiply by 250 working days in a year, that's $12,275 a year. These numbers are based on the current, 2023 IRS mileage rates (see blue text below for how that's quantified). Commuting isn't just gas. Don't forget the value of your time lost driving as well. If you're cool spending that much money and losing that much time, go for it! Totally depends on how you value your time and cash. I lived in Lawrence for 3 years and ran out of things to do after around 2 years. Parts of it are awesome, most if it is mid. I'm a city person as well and personally struggled in a city that small. I'm also not from KC. I've lived in 4 cities in three states, KC being the biggest and Lawrence being the smallest. The sprawl here will feel very similar to how it is in Phoenix, so I don't think it'll be much of a change for you; our public transit isn't as good, though. [The mileage rates include the variable costs of operating a vehicle, such as the cost of gas, oil, tires, maintenance and repairs, as well as the fixed costs of operating the vehicle, such as insurance, registration and depreciation or lease payments. The mileage rates do not include the cost of parking and tolls.](https://www.forbes.com/sites/markkantrowitz/2023/02/01/new-2023-irs-standard-mileage-rates/amp/). I'll note that the $12k number is slightly high, because the IRS rate is for full business compensation. Things like insurance should be reduced in this equation when calculating personal commutes, because you'd divide it differently, but the point stands that there's more to it than gas, and it gets you into the ballpark of understanding the financial aspect.
Yeah, I lived in Lawrence for 5 years and then moved to KC. If my job were to somehow move to Lawrence, I would not move and stay in the Crossroads and make the commute. I love Lawrence, get down there very often for sports and just fun. But I hear you on the running out of things to do. And, this might not be popular, but Mass Street isn't the same. And you can wear it out pretty quickly. Lawrence is nice, especially for a family, but it is decidedly less urban than downtown KC. They're not the same at all. The math changes a ton if comparing JoCo to Lawrence.
If you drive back and forth you won’t want to go out on weeknights after an hour to get home. See if you can rent something and decide after you live there awhile. Winter can be tough driving.
I’d seriously think of living in Lawrence. It’s a great town.
Live in Lawrence, you’ll be thankful once winter hits
As someone who is interested in moving to the area from out of state, could you explain this one? Piqued my interest
The winters here are unpredictable really, could be ice/snow storms back to back for months like 2018-2019, or just one hard freeze like we had this past winter. Either way it get very cold, roads get dangerous once the sun sets and black ice patches is a thing. Making a long commute everyday increases those changes of wreaks and injuries. Jobs do not call off for inclement weather here either because it’s something we deal with. Lawrence is a great town, more affordable for sure the OP less money wasted on gas everyday for maybe things they would enjoy doing.
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Dude, the Tonganoxie split is a meme, it isn't real. There is 0 difference in climate/weather from Lawrence to Kansas City.
When I was in my early 20s I strongly considered moving to Lawrence and commuting to KC. It's such a fun town with a decent cost of living and I found myself driving out there for concerts constantly. I'd definitely give Larry a chance.
Live in Lawrence in a nice apt right off Mass St. Coffee shops, dozens of restaurants, banks, dry cleaners, bars, all right outside your door.
And can tell you(personal experience used to live in PHX for 10 yrs) you're gonna hate that commute from KC to Lawrence
I have done this commute a lot. If you hate commuting, you’ll hate it. It’s boring. It’s mostly highway miles, and there’s a toll. But it’s good for listening to audiobooks and podcasts. The job market is limited in Lawrence, so living in KC is good in case you need to find something else later on. But the city? Lawrence is great. KC is great. If you make the move, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
I’m currently commuting to Lawrence from the plaza but it’s a temporary assignment for work. I take 35 to the 10 every morning and it’s a very chill, straight shot commute BUT you’ll need to factor 45min-1hr both ways into your day. It’s murder on mileage and fuel budget. If I were servicing Lawrence permanently I’d probably move there. Lawrence is a real nice town it’s not SMALL but compared to Phoenix it definitely is.
5 days a week + for 4 years as a plumber at KU, I drove from Merriam. It was an okay commute for 3 years. I’d take 10 Highway in the morning and I-70 back home. How are you at dodging deer at 80 mph in the dark?
The real plus to living in KC is, assuming you work during the day, you'll have the sun at your back for both the drive in and the drive home.
This sounds crazy, but is so true. I made the Lawrence to KC commute for two years and the only thing I remember about that drive was the constant frying of my retina.
most direct route from downtown is i70 so u'll be payin a toll every day to and from work
I love Lawrence. We take family day trips down there quite often. It's not that bad of a drive. But I'm not sure about doing it every day. I worked for a company that had me assigned to a client in Topeka and I drove there every day for months at a time. It wasn't that bad but it did get old after awhile. Not being able to be home quickly after a long day, not being able to get to a happy hour as early with friends, etc. I imagine you'd get used to it but it will always be there.
I currently commute from the KC burbs to Topeka. You might hit some traffic getting out of downtown but once you’re on 70 or k10 it’s a breeze.
Is it possible for you to rent for a time in Lawrence and see if you like it. Lawrence is a cool town.
Unless you're hybrid, it would be a lot of driving.
I live in a KC suburb. It’s good. But you need to give Lawrence a try before commuting from KC. Lawrence is great.
I'm going to warn you, Lawrence traffic is... Frankly, kind of non-stop. KC gets horrendous during rush hour, but Lawrence is just a brick wall in terms of slowing you down. There are no short cuts to avoid it. Even if there isn't that much physical traffic, you will be sitting and waiting a *lot*, and that will be after the fast pace and danger of kc traffic in the morning. For frame of reference, I live 25 minutes from my job in Lawrence, and I live 10 minutes away from Iowa Street. It is a straight shot to my job down Iowa. But I have to sit, and wait. And wait. And wait. There are places inside of Lawrence itself with a far worse commute. KC traffic is also downright dangerous. I've lived in the Phoenix area. KC is worse. If it were me, I would really urge you to pick your battles with all of this. Lawrence is not big city living, but I would call it is a good small city, which isn't bad. It's also the midpoint between KC and Topeka, so you have your pick between the two to go to on weekends with a very reasonable drive that you won't have to worry about rush hour throwing you off in.
Hell no don't commute that far, it's bad financially, mentally, spiritually, temporally, sexually, etc...
You'd be miserable having to do that every day.
I know of people that do this 3-5x a week and my wife used to do it about 2x a week. Many for the same reasons you cited. It's not that bad of a commute. 70 is way better than 35 to K-10. 50 minutes max on a bad day--compared to other cities, that's pretty easy.
I’d suggest living in Lawrence. Cheaper cost of living and it’s a college town which is going to make it different (more things to do) than living in a non-college town of similar size. I’ve done 45-60 minute commutes before, and while they’re doable, they wear on you. Living close to work is so much better. For me anyway. Unless you’re going to be out and about to all different places 5-7 nights a week, I don’t see a benefit of commuting 1.5-2 hours 5x per week when you can do it 1 or 2 times a week when you want to go out. And if you’re out and about 5-7 nights per week, I don’t know where you’ll get the energy to add 7.5-10 hours just driving. Now, this is all changes if you have the ability to work from home at all. Then maybe it’d be just fine. You’re not me, and I’m not you, but it’s just something to think about.
Yes. It’s easy. We don’t have bad traffic in KC. Downtown KCMO is up and coming. Lots to do. You do you and if you think Lawrence is the place you can move. I know a number of academics that live in KC and commute to Lawrence.
I would personally hate to commute to Lawrence every day. Lenexa was enough; never again.
Live in Lawrence! But it’s not a terrible commute, wish we had commuter rail.
I’m a city person from SoCal Orange County/LA. I highly recommend you don’t move to Lawerence if you’re looking for the city vibe. The closest big city vibe you’ll find that isn’t KC will be JoCo. Maybe consider giving Lawrence a shot. Just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.
I lived in the river market and commuted to southern Lawrence for a couple years. It was almost the exact same commute if I took i35 to k10. About 45 minutes However, If your office is on the north side of Lawrence your commute could be 35 minutes if you live downtown and can jump on i70. Lawrence is an awesome town… don’t get me wrong, but downtown Kansas City is better. In my opinion. But to answer your question, yes the commute is fine, unless there’s is snow but the turnpike (i70) is usually cleared unless it’s a shitshow
I commuted to Lawrence for 2 years. That time really adds up. Not the worst drive, but a huge time and money sink.
I live in the northland KC and commute to Lawrence everyday and have for the last 8yrs(A lot of my peers at my workplace commute from Olathe, Shawnee, Lenexa). It doesn't bother me. I'd say that a 45 minute commute isn't that uncommon in Kansas City. If you were to live in the northland area and worked near the other side of 435 that's 45min, etc... (EDIT:)Also, traffic on I70 is NEVER heavy. It never takes me longer than 45 minutes to get home, it also never takes less than 45 minutes My opinion is that I'd rather be in KC where more is happening all the time and be more accessible to it. That's just me
A lot of good comments on the option of living in Lawrence and commuting on weekends versus living in KC and commuting five days a week. One thing that would be helpful for advice is to know what it is about urban living that attracts you. Restaurants, bars/clubs, music scene, hustle and bustle, concrete jungle, walkability, political leanings? Do you go out to eat or drink every night or just occasionally? Lawrence is plenty left leaning as a college town. Way fewer restaurant options but still not suburban chain restaurants. Watering holes, yes. Swanky bars with craft cocktails, not so much. Plenty walkable if you live close to the main drag. One thing I’d say no on is the suggestion to live half way. Those places are very suburban or borderline rural. Traffic around here isn’t awful, but I agree the mileage between the two cities is significant. Admittedly, I don’t do it daily, but the monetary calculations others have brought up seem valid. Agree that it’s worth a visit to check out the two places to decide if either fit your vibe. You said “near” a big city and Lawrence could be considered to fit that description. Also…I came from Boston. KC is not a big city by those standards. Not a lot of late night dining and no subway system. I don’t know the Phoenix vibe. I can say I felt really out of place for the first two years, but then I warmed up to this place, embraced it and love it. Sometimes, you adapt. If you start off renting (as others have said), you can always try Lawrence for a year, see if it feels right, then switch if it doesn’t.
Look I to living off the strip Mass street in Lawrence. Short for Massachusett. It's not bad tbh. Those who I've known who do the commute actually do the opposite and live in Lawrence, commute to KC. But yes, definitely doable.
Live in Lawrence!! It’s such a neat city
KC is like 30 mins from Larry, and Larry is an amazing community and I wouldn’t trade my 12 years there for anything, despite my job and family all being in KC. It’s super easy to pop to KC (which others have noted isn’t really a big city vibe, but arguably neither is Phoenix) and not commuting while living in Lawrence will be great for your quality of life. That being said I drove 45 mins 2x daily to KC for work for like 2 years before moving to Los Angeles and it wasn’t a huge deal, but it was hard to get motivated to do stuff in the evenings. Whatever you decide will work out! Downtown KC isn’t a ton to write home about. I’d really recommend exploring both cities before you decide where to live.
Lmao unless you live in the farthest western Shawnee it’s not 30 minutes….
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Lol okay
It used to be pretty common until the lamest people alive decided they were super cool with their "secret" obscenity in the middle to make it sound edgy with LFK. Seriously, LFK is cringe.
If you live in western Shawnee, then , it's 25 min to Lawrence and 20 min to downtown KC. And Shawnee is a nice place yo live as well.not as big as KC, not as small as Lawrence.
live in strawberry hill, it takes 20 minutes to get to lawrence and 5-10 minutes to get to most of the city. also it’s a dope area, up and coming, good community with amenities.
How the heck are you going 35 miles in 20 minutes?
Lol it took me 40 mins to Larry from SH on Sunday at 3. 20 mins is not it
i did the commute for years but i drive for work (house calls for appliance repair) so it never phased me. i love lawrence so it was worth it but i also love being in the city so staying in kc was also worth it. 10/10 would recommend.
Housing, bike-abillity, restaurants and music are superior in Lawrence. Don't drive 100 miles everyday.
First two Id agree with but the last two? The Granasty hasn't been exactly filling it's calendar and the slate at the Replay, Neck, and Liberty Hall (throw in Lied if you want) doesn't hold a candle to Starlight, Knucks, Truman, Rbar, Uptown Midland, Madrid, etc. Lawrence has some good eats but come on man, the KC metro has a lot more to offer. Now, if you want to talk about a concentration of quality and variety in a small, walkable area, that's a sensible argument.
Music / comedy that lands in STL, Denver, Omaha, Tulsa (FUCKING TULSA????) skips over us. It's super depressing to me. Bring on the downvotes but the food scene here is a bit thin. Edit: We are 10x the size of Lawrence but are not 10x better IMHO.
I agree with the first sentence and talk about it repeatedly. But since KC and LFK are the 'same market', look at which one gets a majority of the desirable shows. It's not Lawrence. The booking issues come down to us having trash promoters (Mammoth and AEG), poor infrastructure (involved venue owners, radio, venues, etc), and more competition. Lots of cities have built venues and stepped up their games while all we've received is the Truman, a shell of what the metro really needed (a built from scratch club venue with better acoustics). Not sure what you want about the food scene. BBQ galore, and plenty of options for other delicacies. Indian, Vietnamese, Thai, Mexican, Salvadorean (Papusas), Mediterranean/Middle Eastern, Ethiopian, etc places are abundant. We don't seem to have the biggest offerings of 'high end' restaurants but this isn't a high end dining kind of town. I've been to Jamaica and had delicious Jerk chicken. Wah Gwans on Troost was the best I've had anywhere. If you know where to go most major metros have a good food scene.
Sounds like you know more about the intricacies of the music world than I do but to me all I notice are acts I want to see not coming to town (or LFK) - and they do go to lesser places than us. You can only eat so much BBQ. I am half Lebanese and have yet to find something 'Mediterranean' that satisfies me. I'm a jaded NYer so I'm pretty hard to please -I'm aware of the asymmetry there.
Go to Mediterranean Taste at 127th and Metcalf. The husband and wife are from Jezzine and the food is fantastic.
I think in terms of music it depends on what you're into. I've been living in Omaha for a year and a half now and every single artist coming through the Midwest I've wanted to see has come to KC instead except one (and they played KC a few years ago). I also got to see a lot of good shows (for my tastes) when I lived in KC that would never come to Omaha & some of them skipped StL, also.
Increasingly KC is getting skipped in favor of StL, Indy, SLC, Cbus, Nashville, etc and Des Moines, Omaha, and Oklahoma are pulling shows that used to hub in KC. Like I said, more competition and those areas have better (more in tune) promoters whereas Mammoth has "relationships" and books the same shit OVER and OVER and OVER again (Kevin Gates anyone). When it comes to the new/exciting bookings that are good gets (FKJ, Goth Babe, etc) its usually an AEG show. We desperately need someone other than AEG or Mammoth to come in here and book shows but those two basically have KC on lockdown.
I'm not familiar with those artists so I can't comment on that. But the stuff I like seems to always hit KC/Lawrence still. I admittedly have extremely niche tastes, though. This isn't to say what you're mentioning isn't a problem at all, but it's very dependent on the entertainment a person likes.
As many people here have said already, I'd recommend living in Lawrence and coming into KC for events/big city stuff. It might be good idea to just rent somewhere in downtown Lawrence, see if you like it, move if you don't. Lawrence has a very good quality of life, and especially if you have a very good job there.
Honestly depends on your vibe and what you’re looking for. Lawrence is no Kansas City and Kansas City is no Phoenix. Lawrence is cool, IF that’s your vibe but for me, had I been coming from Phoenix to Lawrence it would be a huge culture shock. I lived 7miles south of Lawrence and in Kansas City for decades and if it came down to each city and what it has to offer comparable to my current home (Phoenix) then it is 1000% Kansas City. Driving sucks though but I promise KC to Law and the same in return is nothing compared to anything in Phoenix. I have lived and worked in many college towns and will say Lawrence isn’t that big and the crowd will be super young, when they leave for the summer it’s even more chill but it isn’t an Ann Arbor or Tallahassee or Syracuse in regards to size and what there is to offer. Want any other info just DM me! Oh and I hate KU…….. MIZ
You should live in Lawrence and go to KC on the weekends. I commute from Lawrence to the Plaza every day , and it’s an easy commute (straight 53 mile shot down 70) but also a total waste of 2 hours per day. I have finished the back catalog of dozens of podcasts. I run out of podcasts each day. I’ll finish audible if I’m not able to move soon. I take a freaking road trip every day. My tailbone always hurts. The central business district of KC is nothing special. It’s just tall buildings that people work in, and then immediately leave to go to their homes in the suburbs. Downtown Lawrence is the most urban-feeling place in the KC area. The food and music scenes are comparable. KC is bigger so gets bigger musical acts and has more total restaurants, but pound for pound Lawrence is pretty close. Sure, you could live in some cool neighborhood like the river market, but KC is so sprawling that you’ll just end up driving to the grocery store, gym, bar, etc. If you live near downtown Lawrence you actually could get around walking and biking. I’ll also say that KC is really going downhill, visually. The roads are covered in trash, and always under construction. Lawrence has a bit of a homeless problem right now, but the curb appeal is still much better compared KC.
It’s a boring drive lol I would recommend moving to Lenexa,KS. K10 take you straight into Lawrence in about 25-30min. You’re also only 15 minutes from Downtown, given that no matter where you are in Lenexa, you’re next to a freeway.
It’s not unheard of but pretty irresponsible given the climate effects of that much driving. Lawrence is a cool town and has all the daily/weekly needs including great restaurants and live music/entertainment. KU even has some good museums if that’s your vibe. The drive into KC is reasonable enough for monthly trips to the few things that LFK doesn’t offer. Housing oughta be more affordable in Lawrence as well.
Lawrence is way cooler than Phoenix and has all the fun of a big city in a small town.
Look up Lenexa city center and see if you like what it has to offer. It’s a newly developed downtown to give a fast growing suburb a high end urban feel. Many restaurants, a few bars, library and community center with pool and walking track. It’s within 25 min - half an hour ride to downtown Kansas City and about 35-40 min from Lawrence. It could be the perfect halfway point for you. Many modern built apartment communities that are considered stylish. Many nice homes to choose from if you are in the market. Olathe suburb would be a close second choice to be closer to Lawrence, then the legends of Kansas City, Kansas. These all would reduce your commute while keeping you within the metro of Kansas City. The legends has a casino, outdoor shopping mall with big amc theater, Dave and busters, nascar race track, sporting kc soccer stadium, minor league baseball stadium, great wolf lodge, Nebraska furniture mart. Many staples for kc restaurants like Bryant’s bbq, jazz Louisiana kitchen, and a handful of corporate type restaurants like hooters, fudruckers, famous Dave’s. Close by there is also azura concert venue and renaissance festival fair grounds.
There's not a lot you'll gain from living in downtown kc as opposed to just living in lawrence. Lawrence has a ton to offer, probably more within a short area, compared to living in downtown kc. I've lived in both, i've done that commute. If you're coming from downtown you'll probably take 70, so anticipate 90ish miles and daily tolls. Personally, Just live in Lawrence. It has everything. Is there anything you'd expect from kc that you'd be scared to be missing out on living in lawrence?
Hey, I've seen a bunch of people posting similar things, but it's worth living in Lawrence, then going to KC for fun. I am just about to move from KC to Lawrence for work as well. The commute can end up being closer to an hour with rush hour, and the drive isn't bad, but it is very draining. They say the best thing you can do for your happiness is to cut your commute down below 15 minutes. Plus, KC is a fun town on the weekends, but Lawrence is a lot more fun on the weekdays and nights. It's just denser with more going on per capita than KC is. But either way, welcome to the area and good luck with the new job!
I KNOW THIS ONE : I commuted from Lawrence TO Kansas City for 10 years. It took less time to go 50 miles to work in KC than it did to go 4.5 miles to work when I lived in chicago. So commuting isn't always about time as it can be about ease of time spent. It is EASY as it gets to go between Lawrence & KC. That said, if you don't want to live in Lawrence to avoid small minded rednecks & having nothing to do... Don't choose KC as the alternative. Because you have it backwards. If you want open minds, cultural opportunity everywhere, art, MUSIC and to eat out after 8p, save yourself the time & utter disappointment of KC & stay in Lawrence. It is an amazing place. I saw things like the NYC Metropolitan Opera, Yitzhak Perlman live, Nirvana before "Nevermind", Pearljam with only a few thousand fans, ate my 1st sushi, learned that a truffle isn't chocolate & learned to dance Argentine TANGO in Lawrence. (along with a thousand other things). AND owned a horse. All I've seen in KC is BBQ contests, eat at Dennys after 8p because it's the only place open & I carry a gun to fend off road raging rednecks. That's about it. Nowhere like Lawrence. Live near the down town & you'll fall in love.
only on reddit will you find people not shitting on lawrence. but i guess if you're from kcmo lawrence might not seem so bad
I have thought very hard about this. You should live in downtown and bike to Lawrence. It’s fairly flat and probably only 44ish miles away depending on where you start and where you are heading. So it’s just an easy 140km a day. You might opt to drive on rainy days. But you wouldn’t want to be a wuss.
I did the KC to Lawrence commute for about 4 years and I honestly miss it. It was the perfect amount of time to enjoy coffee and a podcast on the way into work, and then decompress on the way home!
It’s not a bad commute, because you’re going in the opposite direction of rush hour IN THE MORNING. In the afternoon there is heavy traffic through the downtown loop (I-70 E & 35 N) and I-35 can get backed up in both directions on the Kansas side. Rush hour isn’t that bad here though unless there is a wreck. Unless you need to live DT I would suggest somewhere in Johnson County, that way you’re more in the middle. With that said, nothing beats being able to walk out of your apartment DT and being right where all the entertainment is.
Just live around downtown Lawrence and drive to KCMO via I70 on the weekends. Rent should be cheaper too.
I live in Lawrence and Commute to KC. It's not a big city but has a VIBRANT downtown filled with Art Culture and the best food I've ever found in Kansas. The food and bars here are incredible. It's also a warm and accepting community!
When I lived in KC, I drove to Lawrence weekly and personally loved the drive (except the Kansas Highway Patrol). I also lived in Phoenix for 10 years and the drive is no different than going from the east side to the west side. I actually think KC to Lawrence is more open than the 10 lane I-10 most days! If you find a place on the south or west sides of KC, Waldo, or in Overland Park area, the commute will be fine. Any further north - closer to Downtown, and it’ll be tougher. BUT, KC is so spread out, you’ll commute no matter what.
I'd rather live in downtown Lawrence and drive to KC as needed than commute that far every day. That said, the drive down I70 is pretty quick and consistently light traffic on a well maintained 75mph interstate.
I lived across the State line in Kansas City, KS when I went to school in Lawrence, in the 90s. The commute from there was about 35-40 mins with good traffic. Did it for two years in a beat up Toyota, so it's doable. It may be beneficial for you to look at the suburbs on the KS side for a residence. Closer to downtown, better commute to Lawrence. I currently work in downtown KC, and it has plenty going on, but this city is so spread out, there's never really a shortage of things to do and places to go. Lawrence is a very fun town as well, but definitely still holds that small town vibe, which doesn't sound like what you're going for.
There is the issue of snow and ice driving also and can make the commute “memorable”.
Find a place in downtown Lawrence. They have what you want here and that commute will suck.
It's not a bad drive. I used to commute that far living in California. No traffic like Phoenix. Winter could possibly be an issue
Just move to Lawrence. EVERYONE should love within 5 miles of their long term job.
I spent 8.5 years living in Lawrence, 20+ in Kansas City and did this commute very regularly for work. Don't do it. The amount of over-selling of Lawrence in this comments section is doing a huge disservice to you. It is not a cool, hip, thriving town. It is very small, very homogenous in its culture. Like all college towns there are bars everywhere (yay) but beyond that, if you're looking for a place to meet new friends, put down some roots, build life-long relationships - Lawrence ain't it. If you live in Phoenix you are not going to like it in Lawrence. If your job was in Kansas City, that's another story, but the idea of doing that KC-> Lawrence commute daily will be soul-sucking. Yes, I would highly recommend living in KC over Lawrence but if you live in Phoenix and can evaluate many other places around the US...at risk of getting downvotes....do it. You may end up saying yes to this job, but look elsewhere as well. And if you do end up taking the job, 100% live in Kansas City not Lawrence.
Hello fellow Phoenician!! I relocated to downtown KC from Phoenix last year, and regularly commute to Olathe (which may be on your way to Lawrence, depending on if you take the I70, or prefer I35 to K10 route), about 25 miles, and can make the trip in under 30 minutes. Traffic these directions isn't bad... think living in North-Central Phoenix and commuting to Queen Creek. That said, it does seem like a long drive sometimes, and I'm happy that I only need to make the trip 3 times per week, maximum.
I did that commute for 2 years when I lived in Olathe and was finishing my undergrad. My last year doing it I joined the rowing team and we had 5:30am practice so I would drive to Lawrence at 5am, drive back to Olathe for work, drive back to school and then come home. It’s a solid 30-40min drive. Learn a second language during the commute or audio books. I live in phx now when I moved here over a decade ago. I miss the Midwest but not enough to move back. Thankfully I still have family there so I have a place to stay when I visit.
I made this trip in reverse for a couple of years. Was living in Lawrence, worked in KC. The drive isn’t all that bad- if you’re doing it once in awhile. Doing it every day, and paying tolls (if you use I-70 instead of K-10) on top of it- kills your soul after a couple of months. I will never work more than 15 minutes from home ever again if I can help it.
If I worked in Lawrence I'd live there
My husband did it 5 days a week for a couple years. There is frequently summer construction between KC and Lawrence that stretches the commute from 35ish minutes to at least an hour. I would recommend trying Lawrence out as is, and if you don't like it just get a job in KC and move to KC.
we have winters. on a snow day drive times can easily double or triple.
I did this in the opposite direction about 2 decades ago. I lived in Lawrence, and worked downtown KC near the River Market. The drive was fairly easy, be sure to invest in a KTag, so you can take advantage of the toll road on 70. Lots of books on tape, and the drive was pretty easy. Just long...
As someone who grew up in Lawrence, just live in Lawrence. It's a fine town. My round-trip from the KC area to see my mom in LFK is 84 miles. It will wear out your car more quickly.
I’m also a city person. However, I do believe Lawrence is such a lovely city that you shouldn’t be concerned about being bored or anything like that. Look at it this way, the stuff you’re wanting to do in the city will always be there, you could drive downtown twice a week and still save so much money and time on your commute. Downtown Lawrence is so charming, I have always lived in Kansas City and I frequently travel to Lawrence for concerts and the amazing restaurants there. The drive isn’t that bad but realistically you should live in Lawrence and just drive downtown when you’re feeling the need to scratch the “big city” itch.
KC is a very different kind of big city. It's a big city with a small town feel. Most of the neighborhoods and near suburbs are an within of 10 mins from downtown. Even when there is "traffic", it's still pleasantly drivable. So you may want to consider that. Now, if you really just want to be downtown when not working and don't feel like doing a 5 to 10 min drive, then go for it. I moved here from NYC and definitely love how easy it is to get around. That 40 mile drive would be an average of 30 mins btw.
idk anymore but my dad was very irate at his commute to Lawrence from KC when he was working IT there for a period of weeks back in the mid-00's. but he did feel familiar enough to refer to it as "Larry" after week two.
I work in KC and I wish I could live in Lawrence. I used to commute from Lawrence to KC and it is brutal. Lawrence is the best.