driving to Pompeii

Yes, parking is available on a special lot very close to the entrance. Even nicely shaded. However, it's some of the most expensive parking we've experienced in Italy. I think we paid 20 Euro. But we couldn't find any parking on the street as signs were all for no parking or reserved for those with special permits (some for handicaps).

If you overnight in Sorrento, which is much nicer than Naples, you could take the Circumvesuviana commuter train to the front door of Pompeii for maybe 5 euros roundtrip.

It also goes to downtown Naples if you want to see the Naples Archaeological Museum, which is where all the treasures of Pompeii and Herculaneum are. Take the 'vesuviana to the Garibaldi station (Napoli Centrale) then go upstairs and follow the signs to the metro. You want the Cavour stop.

We parked in a lot that was very close, but not right up front. As I recall, it was "free" or very cheap as long as you ate lunch there. Of course the pizza & beer/wine we had at the little place was just great - or at least better than anything I'd get in Atlanta! It may have not been gourmet and I'm sure our parking was somehow included in the price but we were absolutely fine with that.

Karen,

that must have been the same parking lot. Yet, you get a discount if you have lunch there. But it would have been an expensive lunch for the four of us so we decided it was cheaper to pay the full parking fee. And it was certainly a much more memorable experience eating our picknick lunch (prepred already in the morning at our B&B) right among the ruins.

Gary: Thanks for your suggestion. I'll forget Naples. How about Salerno? Sounds interesting. than Naples. Now about returning rental car, any ideas to avoid driving into Rome? Guess I can always use Naples and take the train to Rome.

Couldn't you just return the car to the airport? This where we both picked up and returned our car the last few times. If you are staying in Rome then you can just take the train from the airport to the city.

I have experienced the same parking lot. We paid 20 Euro, it was behind a pizzeria (green building). We received a discount for our meal, which wasn't much, but was worth it after a long day of walking around the ruins. Do beware though of the crazy traffic going into Pompeii. It can be very hairy getting through town.

I did not buy a meal and paid 7 ;-) you can bargain with them if it's not too busy. I believe there's also an official lot at the site - I don't think it's much more. (we always return our car at FCO airport on the way back to Rome so we don't have to drive in the city)

Returning your car at the airport is probably a good suggestion. We returned to Termini and it was a big pain. We're still waiting for the ticket for driving through a ZTL.