Driving Route Suggestions

What do you mean by "about 7 days"? How many nights do you have on the ground in Europe?

I think you're trying to go to far too many places. ViaMichelin--thought to be optimistic--estimates your driving time at 20-1/2 hours, and that does not include stops, getting lost, hunting for parking, etc. Realistically, this looks as if half of every day is going to be spent checking out of a hotel, loading the car, driving to the next hotel, unloading the car, and checking into the new hotel. So you're driving through parts of three beautiful countries for about a week and spending maybe six hours a day with your feet on the ground sightseeing. Of course, you'll probably want to have a few restaurant meals along the way, so that's even less time actually seeing the sights.

I urge you to turn this into an all-Switzerland trip on which you'll have a much more reasonable ratio of sightseeing time to sitting-in-the-car time. If there's an issue with the cost of staying in Switzerland (which would be understandable), I'd point the car straight toward the Italian border and divide my time between two bases in Italy.

Adding to acraven's points, think about whether your girls are going to enjoy being strapped to the back seat of a car for hours on end, no matter how nice the scenery.

Your plan is ill considered in several dimensions. Having a car in Cinque Terre or Florence or Venice is useless, expensive, and time consuming. Why would you drive past beautiful Swiss lakes to go to beautiful Lake Como? Why would you spend so much time in the car? Driving in Europe is quite intense on many roads, especially near cities, and you'll spend your downtime recovering not enjoying the destination. You should reconsider the whole trip.

The folks above have pretty much said it all. You are trying to do too much in too little time. Do you think your kids will remember much other than the driving? Why not visit one or two places and take them in detail. Give your kids a map of Venice and tell they’ll them that they are in charge of leading you around. You can’t get too far lost and I’m sure they’ll have a lot more fun and learn more than streaking from one place to the next for a few hours in each place. There is a difference between looking at a place and seeing it.

Zurich, Innsbruck, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Lake Como and back to Zurich in 7 days? If that's so, you won't see anything but the center line. I'll agree that a car is more hinderance than help for Venice (entirely pedestrianized), Florence and Cinque Terre.

To be honest, I will vote with acraven not to leave Switzerland if this is all the time you have to work with, or go directly to two close-together locations in Italy, and do you homework about traffic laws. That said, if your 7 days involves both arrival day in Zurich and needing to be BACK in Zurich the night before your flight, I wouldn't leave Switzerland.

(Edited)

Have you already purchased the airline tickets? If not, maybe a change would be in order to fly into one city and out of another.

What time of year are you going? Some of your stops may make more-or-less sense based on time of year.

If you have already committed to the tickets, you will have a much more memorable trip if you stay in Switzerland and ditch the idea of a car. The trains and lifts are the most fun in Switzerland, or maybe you dip your toes in Italy by spending 2-3 nights at Stresa then 3-4 in Lauterbrunnen.

Thank you to Everyone! I have the same concerns exactly. Our family that lives in Zurich actually recommended these sights, assuring me we have plenty of time yet I prefer to do less and have more time in each place, to meander, get lost, and explore.

So which to see? One option could be Lake Como and Cinque Terre..yet I feel I’m eliminating the “must-see” places (Venice and Florence).

Alternative could be Innsbruck, Venice, Lake Como.

The car is because husband loves to drive and we didn’t know where to drive partly and where to get the train.

Finally we have a total of 11 nights in Europe but factored the first 2 nights to visit family and recover from jet lag, and leaving at least 2 night to see family to say goodbye.

Advice is so appreciated because I want to make the right decisions.

Many thanks again!

A guide book would be helpful to you, especially in explaining why train is the way to go for traveling between cities. When visiting rural areas and villages, car is appropriate.
As far as what to choose--that is up to YOU. I do not believe in must-sees.

What time of year are you going? Some of your stops may make
more-or-less sense based on time of year.

Repeating Laurel's question as it can affect which choice to make.

The first post says "June", so weather probably won't be a serious consideration other than the fact that mountain weather can be flaky at any time of the year and I've had some disappointing June weather in Switzerland in general (though that was decades ago).

I absolutely agree that each traveler should decide on his own priorities. They need not include Venice or Florence on this trip.

I wouldn't try to make a definite decision about the car-vs.-train issue at this point, focusing on the "where" issue first. It might be useful to do an initial check of rental costs out of Zurich, though, just so you know. Unless your relatives have a different suggestion, you can check the consolidators AutoEurope, Kemwel and Gemut to see what price range you're looking at. Consider not just the number of people you'll be transporting but also the luggage. The trunks of European cars are not generous in size, and it's possible to rent a car that will accommodate four people but have a serious issue with four people's luggage. (Hope you're planning to pack light.)

I gather that the Cinque Terre and Lake Como are at the top of the family's want-list?

This might work, as it has you in the car an average of 3 1/2 hours for each move. But be prepared to lose at least a 1/2 day. Find lodging, check in, unpack.

You will need a Vignette for Switzerland €40 unless it's included with your Swiss rental. And one for Austria, €8,00 for 10 days.
Neither include tunnels, which are €8,50-26. There will be tolls in Italy.
Fuel will be €6,35-7 per gallon.

Zurich-Varenna. 185 miles. 3 nites.

Varenna -Venice. 177miles. 3 nites.
Parking is expensive. €25-40 day.
(IF )you must see Florence, do it as a day trip by train.

Venice- Innsbruck. 245 miles. Lunch break.

Innsbruck-Zurich. 184 miles.

Thank you again Everyone.

Venice is for the kids. Lake Como and Cinque Terre for me and husband. I’ve nixed Florence (for now) and decided we’ll stay in the northern most part of Italy. I’ll look in to Varenna and may consider an opera in Verona.

I’ll look in to the trains too! Thanks.

Florence is much easier to get to than the Cinque Terre. From Venice you'd go through Florence to get there. I'd skip the CT If you're there on the same day/s as the cruise ship hordes it could be unpleasant, and it's a lot of travel time. With a week, I'd keep to 3 destinations - Lake Como, Venice and either Florence or Verona. They are all connected by fast trains. Keep in mind that 2 nights in a location gives you only one full day of sightseeing. About half of the day before and after will be used in moving to the next location.

If you want to see an opera in Verona, the season begins on June 22. Here's the schedule. You need to book a hotel early as well as the tickets. Carmen is probably the best choice for the girls. The performances end quite late, so you need to stay overnight in Verona or have a car and drive to wherever you are staying.

Great advice thank you!

So change the itinerary to Venice 2 nights, drive to Verona 75 miles 1 night. Then Verona-Innsbruck 171 miles. This will shorten that last travel day.