Driving from Rome Airport to Tuscany Area

If you have a GPS, it is not a problem-if you don't it can be confusing.
If you do have a GPS, make sure you tag the rental lot as your "home" or an address, as we had more confusion returning the car than driving anywhere in Tuscany or Umbria.

Some travelers have reported being blind-sided by how exhausted they were after basically not sleeping much on an overnight flying, then jumping into a rental car in Italy the morning after.

Physically, two separate things will affect the driver: being exhausted from staying up all night, plus the jet lag from the big time zone change.

It depends partly on how the driver will react in a stressful situation: exhaustion plus unfamiliar driving conditions. And how each you feels about taking safety risks and starting your vacation off in this way.

Some studies have shown that driving while severely exhausted, like staying up all night, is similar in terms of impairment and safety, to driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Only you can decide. It's a safety risk and doesn't start your vacation off perhaps in the way you'd really want. Some plan their trips to avoid this. Others do it, maybe because they didn't think of it until after their arrangements were made. Many of the ones who do it probably get away with it, but I guess there are some who have done it and ended up wishing they hadn't.

Your route will miss the Rome traffic. The autostrada traffic is some of the easier driving in Italy, in general. The most challenging driving is usually when you get off the autostrada, and past the rural routes, and into the villages, small towns, and cities.

It is not difficult. Depending upon the time of day, you may encounter heavy traffic on the ring road, but it is very similar to heavy traffic on expressways here. We have done it many times, without GPS, and I think that it is about the same level of difficulty as leaving any American airport. Even if you use GPS, it is a very good idea to also have a map and compass handy. I think the hardest thing is trying to figure out which lane to get in when you get to the toll booths.

You will take the A1 north to Tuscany. The signage along the A1 is pretty clear. If your town is on the A1, it is easy. If you have to take secondary roads to get to your destination, it gets a little tricky. I've never used GPS so that might solve the problem, but you have to get used to navigating by "aiming" for a town in the vicinity of where you want to go. For example, I have driven from Siena to Cortona (before GPS). Most intersections are not posted by what road you are on like in the U.S., it is usually posted as this road goes to this city and that road goes to that city. For example, if I recall correctly, when we left Siena, we were looking for signs pointing out the direction of Arezzo/Perugia. Then when we got to a sign that said Arezzo one way and Perugia the other, we turned towards Arezzo and followed that direction until the signs started pointing in the direction of Cortona. It is not fool-proof either, because more than once I have come across an intersection where the signs pointed to the left AND to the right for the same city. It's important to know how to do this and how to use a map and compass because judging from my friends' experiences, GPS is not infallible.

I'd suggest taking the train to Orvieto and getting your car there. We are veterans at landing, climbing in car and heading out. This year we are staying the first four days in Rome. My husband is very happy at that idea!!!! He is looking forward to his first relaxing arrival in Italy. Then getting the car and heading out!

I second the previous poster's suggestion of taking a train to Orvieto or somewhere in Tuscany, then renting a car. The train is a relaxing way to see the countryside after the flight. If you plan to spend the first night or two in a hilltown, you can pick up the car on your way out of town and avoid the restricted driving districts and parking hassles.

Chiusi is a good center point to rent a car. There are rental car locations right across the street from the train station. Asserents for one.
Chiusi is close to Montepulciano. Pienza, Monticino and many other Hill towns

Take the coast highway--E80/ss1 to tuscany.
Interstate from airport, dont have to go near Rome.
Two lane road about 50 miles later then interstate again. When you get to Grosseto, take the E78, nice new road up to Montalcino and spend the first nights there.
About 2-2.5 hours of easy, stress free driving.

Lot less stressful (for me) than lugging your luggage from airport to train station, wait for train then get stuff on train,then to new train station, wait for train then to train then from train station in Orvieto to taxi to rental car.
VS--push you luggage on cart to rental car place at airport, get keys, put luggage in trunk and then enjoy the countryside on your drive to Montalcino.

I drove Rome airport to Assisi last May, and the route to Tuscany is very similar - you'll just exit further north on the A-1. It worked great, and I liked being able to load my luggage at the airport and just go. Picking up the car was very easy and traffic on the ring road the circles Rome wasn't bad. I had a GPS, and wouldn't recommend trying to navigate in Italy without one. If you're concerned about being too jet lagged to drive, then others' suggestion to take a train to a town near your Tuscan destination and pick up the car there would be a good alternative. Another advantage of that alternative is that you could return the car later in the day, which might save you a day of car rental that could offset part or all of the cost of your train tickets. If you decide to pick up the car in Orvieto, consider taking the regional train from the airport with change at Tiburtina. It's just as fast as going via Termini, and costs EUR 14.75 for the total trip compared to EUR 14 for Leonardo Express ticket that only gets you to Termini.

Thanks everyone for your comments. We are already committed to picking up our car at the airport and we rented a Villa in Southern Tuscany near Monticello. . I will take everyone's suggestions and hopefully it will all go smoothly. I appreciate all your input. We are arriving on a Sunday so there are not a lot of car rental agencies open in some of the smaller towns.

Valerie,
You would find it very useful to go to the Slow Travel website. Click on "Italy", then "Instructions for Visitors". It gives you everything you need to know about driving, parking, road signs, rental cars etc. in Italy. We made printouts and found them invaluable when driving from FCO to Tuscany and then all over Tuscany and Umbria for two weeks. We found the ring road from the airport to the Autostrada about like any big city freeway (stressful when not familiar with it), but had no problem. The Autostrada was easy. We didn't have a GPS, but stopped at the first Autogrill and bought detailed maps of both Tuscany and Umbria and we had no problems. Have a great trip!