Renting a car in LaSpezia, Italy and driving to Austria

I would consider the driving estimates at www.viamichelin.com to be more reliable than Rome2Rio. If they're similar, then you'll feel pretty secure about it. However, picking up in one country and dropping in another usually adds hundreds of dollars; try a price quote through AutoEurope or other agent. The train connections are a key reason for packing light but otherwise not a major hurdle. The car won't be of much use at your destinations. To me, the primary benefit of a car would be if you had time to make more stops along the way.

The roads are wonderful, better than the US interstates. If you enjoy driving in beautiful country side over the Alps, go for it. But not just to save 3 hours. That time can easily spent seeing Lake Maggiori and stopping for photos and lunch, so you would not actually arrive earlier.

Plus the drop off fees imply a loop is often more cost effective.

Other considerations for driving are:

All drivers who will be driving in Italy require an IDP for most countries. You don't say in your posts or in your profile where you are coming from. If North America they are available at AAA/CAA offices for under $20 plus photos.

There will be the huge drop off fee.

You will need to pay tolls on the Italian motorways.

Expect lots of delay crossing into Switzerland, and very convoluted queues, especially if you go in at Chiasso and through the Gotthard Pass.

When you enter Switzerland you will need to buy (and affix) a windscreen sticker called a Vignette which accounts for motorway tolls. It will cost you CHF 40.

Expect delays getting into the Gotthard tunnel.

Don't stop in Interlaken. It isn't the mountains and traffic can be really awful of all those who don't know they can get up to the mountains. Drive up to Lauterbrunnen and park (pay) there from whence you can get by train and gondola up into the real scenery.

When you enter Austria you will need to buy an Austrian Vignette for those roads. A short term one is around €10. In addition to the Vignette Austria has a number of long tunnels on the motorway which require an additional toll.

It will take you much longer than either rome2rio or viamichelin say to drive. Trust me, I do it lots.

Your other post says "this May", and this one says "Spring of 2015".

Have you already been?

If not, you may find May a bit early for the mountains and Cinque Terre.

Nigel has it spot on.

Agree with Nigel, especially with the part about it taking longer than the online maps say it will take. That has never been a deterring factor on the trips when we rent a car but if your goal is to save time, I'd say you'll get there just as quickly as by train.