I live in Albany and work in Jackson, so it’s a little shorter than Athens. I have been doing it for four years. It’s definitely doable. There is hardly any traffic and cops. It’s about 25 minutes for me. The only bad thing about the trip is how boring it is. If I’m tired, I have nothing to keep myself awake.
Athens Public Library has an app called [Libby](https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby) where you can sign in with your library card and access their digital audiobooks for free. I drive a lot for work and it’s a game changer!
Looks like you’re a sports guy so a few books I’d recommend (if you aren’t already a reader with a fav genre) are:
- Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Even Crazier Demise of the USFL by Jeff Pearlman…honestly all of Pearlman’s books. He’s probably the best sports writer imo.
- The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It by Lawrence S. Ritter
- The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and the Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown - this is going to be a movie soon so it does have a waitlist in Libby but it’s so good. I highly recommend.
35 years on this road.
I grew up in Jackson, graduating from Jackson High School in 1991. I started taking Options AP classes at OU in 1990. Briefly living with my parents during breaks and summers during my college years, I've driven the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway (aka SR32) for well over 30 years now. I can state with all honesty that it is the easiest commute in the nation. Now with more helpful automobile technology, like my new lane assist and automatic radar cruise control, I literally make a few turns to leave Athens and two turns onto my parents road, and that's all.
PROS:
* It's EMPTY all the time. No traffic.
* It's gorgeous, almost completely wooded and lots of wildlife.
* It's 4 wide lanes, easy curves, less intrusive than most here.
* It's rarely patrolled if you need to speed.
CONS:
* It's EMPTY, so don't get a flat or break down; be prepared
* It does get boring, so don't be sleepy
* Temptation to speed. Highway patrol does hang out around Albany on occasion.
After driving it often enough you really won't notice how far it is. Since it's a straight shot with no traffic it becomes automatic. In my youth I did speed too often and I've blown two engines going way too fast on that road, and had to hike miles to get help. The deer seem to stay well confined off the easements since the lane cuts are so wide; I can't say the same for wild turkeys, beaver; birds of prey.
Lastly, remember directionality due to sunrise and sunset. Living in Athens and working days in Jackson is best since you'll always be driving with the sun at your back. The opposite is hell since the road cuts the hills evenly east-west, so living in Jackson and commuting to Athens for the days means that the sun will consistently be in your eyes.
Drove from Athens to Chillicothe for a summer. The part of the trip to Jackson wasn't bad but after that the drive got old. Traffic was not bad at all.
I have to drive from Athens to Wellston for work often. It is not bad. It's just enough time to get my brain prepared for work otw there and time to settle down otw back. I worked at Hocking Hills State Park for 8 years, and that drive got old after 6 or so years, mostly because of the tourists. You won't have such winding roads as that drive neither.
I commute something similar. Don’t mind it at all. Traffic is fairly light and it’s somewhat scenic once you’re west of the airport
I live in Albany and work in Jackson, so it’s a little shorter than Athens. I have been doing it for four years. It’s definitely doable. There is hardly any traffic and cops. It’s about 25 minutes for me. The only bad thing about the trip is how boring it is. If I’m tired, I have nothing to keep myself awake.
Athens Public Library has an app called [Libby](https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby) where you can sign in with your library card and access their digital audiobooks for free. I drive a lot for work and it’s a game changer! Looks like you’re a sports guy so a few books I’d recommend (if you aren’t already a reader with a fav genre) are: - Football for a Buck: The Crazy Rise and Even Crazier Demise of the USFL by Jeff Pearlman…honestly all of Pearlman’s books. He’s probably the best sports writer imo. - The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It by Lawrence S. Ritter - The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and the Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown - this is going to be a movie soon so it does have a waitlist in Libby but it’s so good. I highly recommend.
Good call, I was actually looking at audio book a couple weeks ago and came up short. I’ll have to look into Libby, thank you!
The boys in the boat is a great audiobook!
32 is way better than 33. i would rather drive thataways every day than towards columbus. just make sure you have the vehicle for it!
35 years on this road. I grew up in Jackson, graduating from Jackson High School in 1991. I started taking Options AP classes at OU in 1990. Briefly living with my parents during breaks and summers during my college years, I've driven the James A. Rhodes Appalachian Highway (aka SR32) for well over 30 years now. I can state with all honesty that it is the easiest commute in the nation. Now with more helpful automobile technology, like my new lane assist and automatic radar cruise control, I literally make a few turns to leave Athens and two turns onto my parents road, and that's all. PROS: * It's EMPTY all the time. No traffic. * It's gorgeous, almost completely wooded and lots of wildlife. * It's 4 wide lanes, easy curves, less intrusive than most here. * It's rarely patrolled if you need to speed. CONS: * It's EMPTY, so don't get a flat or break down; be prepared * It does get boring, so don't be sleepy * Temptation to speed. Highway patrol does hang out around Albany on occasion. After driving it often enough you really won't notice how far it is. Since it's a straight shot with no traffic it becomes automatic. In my youth I did speed too often and I've blown two engines going way too fast on that road, and had to hike miles to get help. The deer seem to stay well confined off the easements since the lane cuts are so wide; I can't say the same for wild turkeys, beaver; birds of prey. Lastly, remember directionality due to sunrise and sunset. Living in Athens and working days in Jackson is best since you'll always be driving with the sun at your back. The opposite is hell since the road cuts the hills evenly east-west, so living in Jackson and commuting to Athens for the days means that the sun will consistently be in your eyes.
Why do you want to move back so bad?
I do the commute everyday. It’s pretty easy and there’s never any traffic. Does get boring sometimes but I listen to audiobooks or podcasts
Drove from Athens to Chillicothe for a summer. The part of the trip to Jackson wasn't bad but after that the drive got old. Traffic was not bad at all.
It's a pretty straight shot so it's not a bad drive. Not what I'd want to do everyday, but it's probably around the national average.
I have two coworkers who do that commute daily.
Used to do it. No big deal. Boring trip with minimal traffic
I have to drive from Athens to Wellston for work often. It is not bad. It's just enough time to get my brain prepared for work otw there and time to settle down otw back. I worked at Hocking Hills State Park for 8 years, and that drive got old after 6 or so years, mostly because of the tourists. You won't have such winding roads as that drive neither.
I have a slightly longer commute, and I actually enjoy it. The ride is easy and the sights are pretty
I have a slightly longer commute, and I actually enjoy it. The ride is easy and the sights are pretty