We are arriving at FCO on a Tuesday, have rented a car there from FOX. We are driving to a villa close to the town of Poggibonsi. Looks to be a bit over three hours. There is a coastal route(E80), as well as inland route(A1/E35) that both time out the same. Based on a Tuesday in September, driving from FCO, which route is best?
We arrive at FCO at 1:35pm, and are asked to check in no later than 8pm at our apartment. I am hoping we can get our luggage and be on the road within 2 hours.
Thanks in advance,
Cheers,
Maureen
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16200 posts
The A1 route in the interior is longer in km, but since the road is much better, it is faster than the coastal route. The coastal route is in part two lane highways, pretty much north to Montalto, up to Albinia.
The portion from Grosseto to Siena, is also partially two lane highway.
The advantage of the coastal route is the cost: There are no tolls after Civitavecchia. However even on the A1, the freeway tolls won’t amount to much more than 15€ in total.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12036 posts
A 3+ hour drive after what is presumably an overnight flight is less than ideal.
If I were to do it I would choose the coastal route on the basis it more likely to have a greater variety of travel conditions, making it more interesting driving and thus easier to stay engaged and alert, as opposed to a more mind numbing cruise on a freeway type route
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16200 posts
The last time I took your exact route was a month ago, although I stopped a few days in Porto Santo Stefano along the way. If you decide to take the A12/SS1 (E80) along the coast to Grosseto (followed by the E78-Grosseto-Fano to Siena), make sure you arm yourself with some Euro change. On the portion where you have to pay toll (the A12 up to Civitavecchia) the toll payment uses the old system (which is typical in American turnpikes) where you throw money every so many miles at the toll booths. The toll booths are all unmanned and you must throw the change in the basket. You also have the option to insert credit cards, but I don’t know if they must be chip & PIN cards. Also don’t remember if the basket gives you change (probably). The route is not particularly scenic, as the highway is a certain distance from the sea. If you are in a hurry to get there and want to drive on a better freeway, take the A1.
Posted by
OP
Columbia, Missouri
2 posts
Thanks everyone!! Great information and suggestions.
We are cruising the Iberian Peninsula, and leaving BCN to FCO. Decided a laid back week in Chianti is just what we will need after 12 wonderful days of touring and cruising. I think we will take the inland up and the coastal back. We have plenty of extra time when we return to FCO...will overnight and then fly home the next morning. I am now trying to master downloading the drive for offline use on my iPhone...
Cheers,
Maureen