Driving from Athens to Delphi / Delphi to meteora

I have a strategy for visiting these two sites. On the first day take your time. Consider visiting Ancient Corinth and ancient Nemia on the trip to Delphi. Continue on to Patras and use the new bridge to cross the Gulf. Plan to arrive Delphi in the late afternoon. Find a hotel preferably with a view down the mountainside to the Gulf of Corinth. Amazing views. Visit the museum to get an impression of what you will see.
You could use this time to visit the lower site which is open as it has no gate.
Enjoy the evening in the village.
Next morning get up early and get to the site at opening. You will have it virtually all to yourselves until the tour buses arrive between 9:30 and 10. By then you will be high up in the site and it will take the crowds another hour before they catch up with you. Now its time to leave. Drive to Meteora. Just a hint there are 7 places in Greece called Meteora. Our GPS tricked us. You want to input Kastraki or Kalambeka nearby city/Village. Use the same plan as Delphi. Arrive late afternoon early evening. Drive up to the Monasteries and take your pictures. It will be peaceful up there without the tour bus crowds who will have left for the day. We stayed in the village of Kastraki which is nestled at the base of the mountains. Next morning get up early to visit the first Monastery. They are not all open every day. You will be amazed at the tour buses. What was peaceful in the evening will be crammed with buses and tourists. We chose to stay the second night in Kastraki and start the 5 hour drive to Athens fresh next day.

I don't see any reason to return to Delphi. We actually went to Corinth and visited the canal and found the sinking bridge that night but we could just as easily returned the car and stay at a hotel near the airport or one of the seaside locations near the airport for that last night.
Delphi and Meteora https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157698930270992

What are your plans for Crete?

Thanks for this detailed and informative response! Is the driving treacherous getting to meteora? Mountain roads? Narrow 2 lane roads?

Our plans for Crete are to fly into Chania from Athens, spend a few days there, then to to Heraklion for a few days. We will take a ferry from Heraklion to Santorini and island hop for a few days.

Departing Delphi is on mountain roads it is ski country you know. The roads are fine. No need to worry. You will find a major highway going north and a very good two lane highway towards Meteora.

Just for fun there is what you can expect in Chania. Its our favorite city in Greece. If you have any questions about this area I am happy to answer any questions.
Chania http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632117917828/
Chania May 2016 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157671465596275

Stan-such wonderful photos! Crete, Delphi, and Meteora are my next trip to Greece.

Stan, your pictures are stunning and make us anxious to see these beautiful places.

We like your advice about not returning to Delphi....originally we were concerned that we wouldn’t have time to see everything in Delphi staying just one night. If we were to head further towards Athens, what beach town might you suggest? I know that Rafina is where the ferries go out, but is it worth staying a night there so we’re close to the airport for our flight out the next day?

I have never stayed at Rafina but I understand its a good choice as it is close tot eh airport and several hotels offer transfer service to the airport.
Oh yes thanks for your kind words Beth and donita