Fly from Rome to Bari or private transfer

Have you priced a private driver?
I would guess at least 1000 euros

You can check here
Daytrip.com

You will not have to exit the airport
You will go thru passport control (not customs- that is really nothing and will be at Bari airport)
then get your luggage ( staying airside) and go thru security to your connecting gate and check in there

Could you clarify why the train is not an option?
I see 1:05 train from Termini arriving Bari 5:39

What time is your flight scheduled toarrive at FCO

Where are you flying from? Driving that distance after an overnight flight is something I would rule out entirely.
I would not fly because I would find it unpleasant to wait around in the airport for the flight when I could just get on a train and nap on the way. I believe the private driver is prohibitively expensive so would take train or fly.
Are you sure there is just the one train?

Thank you both for your reply. Our trip initiates from Columbus, OH at 4:25pm, Oct. 8, and arrives FCO on Oct. 9 at 7:30am. There is a train that leaves at 9:30am, there are concerns with making that on time due to potential air delays, customs, etc. I feel that the train arrives in Bari just way too late. However, I do plan to take the train back to Rome. Our advisor is saying that between the flight and the drive, both are approximately the same amount of time. They also want to recommend a stop for lunch, which would be add more time, but most importantly, there is a what appears to be a great deal of construction throughout the drive.

I made a mistake.... Our flight leaves Columbus, OH at 12:18pm for ATL. We leave ATL at 4:15pm. After all of that I feel that the drive seems treacherous. Does anyone know what the highway route is like?

Why would the drive be treacherous ?
It’s along major highways

Have you considered staying first night in Rome then taking early train in the morning?

I highly doubt you’ll make the 9:30 train on arrival day

That's what I am hoping to learn from your experience as to what the drive is like. There appears to be a lot of construction, the entire drive, and very heavy in one stretch.

Initially, the trip was to start in Rome. We reversed the trip to be able to accommodate other plans.

Have you checked flights & trains from Rome to Brindisi? Savelletri looks to be positioned about halfway between Brindisi & Bari.

Ok well “treacherous“ is a bit over the top
Why is some construction treacherous?
Construction might slow you down and you are talking about travel over a month from now
Some or all of that construction could be completed by then

Because of the length of your trip from US already I would still consider Rome for first night
Otherwise it’s over 24 hours travel to your final destination

Or take the train-at least you can get up and move around

There is nothing remarkable about the drive except the fact that you would be doing it on no sleep. If you have the budget to pay a driver, that would still be less pleasant to me than taking the train. Do check Brindisi though.
If you are arriving at 7:30 I would except to make a 9:30 train.

CharleneB...thank you. I didn't think of that option and will look into it.

Besides you just traveling for a VERY LONG TIME, that noon train gets in at a perfect time, after an hour drive at the end, you would still have an hour or two to get settled in before dinner. I think a night in Rome might be a good way to decompress if you're not looking forward to the long train ride. I frequently do the immediate train as soon as I land, but where I am going has more frequent trains to my destination and I can leave almost every hour.

My advisor is saying the simplest form of travel is to leave immediately from the airport via private transfer

Probably correct about being the "simplest". Likely not the cheapest.

October is still hurricane season so being delayed at Atlanta is possible, so the train or flight options from Rome to Bari are at risk of you being late into Rome.

As for driving, I found the roads in Italy to be as good or better than their US counterparts. I would not be concerned about them being 'treacherous' .

This is blunt ----- you are s.......... to consider driving anywhere, anytime, after your arrival. I don't understand why you would not just take the train. The trouble with a second flight is the possibility of simply missing the connection. Then what is the back up plan? You have none. What is this "advisor's" experience?

My advisor is saying the simplest form of travel is to leave immediately from the airport via private transfer

Sorry, to be blunt, your "advisor" sounds like someone who is not to be trusted, their advice seems terrible, clueless, and expensive.

Either the train or a flight should be fairly straightforward, reasonable, and not terribly expensive. The drive should be simple enough, too, except for you arriving exhausted and in no condition to drive. A private transfer would be both needless and costly - I'd rather spend that money on pasta and gelato.

Personally, I'd take the plane from Rome FCO to Bari BRI. It looks cheap, quick, easy. In fact, that's exactly what I'll be doing two weeks from today. Our flight from the US is scheduled to arrive in Rome around 8 am, our onward flight to Bari (on a separate ticket) departs after 1 pm, so we have over 5 hours to make our self-connection (and worst case, there are later flights and multiple trains we could switch to in a pinch).

When we arrive in Bari we have a car reserved, but it's a short drive in to town, I already have parking figured out and the route mapped. I'll be flying from the US in business class so I'm confident I'll get enough sleep on the long flight to arrive well-rested (rested enough to make the 20 minute drive, park the car, and take a taxi to our flat).

Others would opt for the train and that's also a perfectly reasonable choice. The flight was cheap.

Going forward, I would view any advice from your "advisor" with great skepticism.

Thank you all for the thoughtful replies... Frank, Joe, and Katherine, your perspectives were exactly what I needed to hear. This has been incredibly helpful and wraps up my questions. And David, it sounds like we'll be on a very similar flight plan. I agree that the five-hour layover feels like more than enough cushion in case of delays. I'm curious, do you already have something in mind for how you'll use your layover...
Thanks again everyone!

I'm curious, do you already have something in mind for how you'll use your layover...

I will go find a shop in the airport where I can buy Italian SIM cards for our devices (2 phones, 1 iPad), we will get them all installed and tested. That should kill an hour or so. After that, we will go find a lounge (I have a lounge pass that should get us into at least a couple of them). We will relax, grab a snack, and feel happy to have landed in Italy. Maybe take a shower if that's available, but not a problem, our flat in the old center of Bari looks comfy enough, and we will be there by late afternoon, well before dinner. We will go check in and check bags for the last leg, an ITA flight to Bari, we will drop our carry-on bags securely at one of the lounges and go for a walk to explore the airport terminal. We should be pretty well-rested from the flights (Seattle to Rome with one stop in Dulles), but will be a little jetlagged. I've already researched the drive from Bari airport to the cheap parking garage on the edge of the old historic center (I've "virtually driven it" on Google street view, so know what the roads, corners, and scenery looks like). I think I've got things pretty well dialed in. A nice dinner in the old historic center to finish the day, then deep sleep, followed by light sightseeing planned for our next day, before setting out on our plan for the next 3 weeks wandering around Puglia. We will be in Italy, so I'm pretty sure we will be happy.

Personally, I really don't mind burning a few hours in an airport. I find it relaxing, and way more fun that rushing and stressing over "will we make it?" I know our long travel day will end with a walk by the seaside in an old stone city full of history and echoing with character.

Hope your trip is wonderful and enjoyable.

Going to Lecce almost the same day you are, and our original plan was just to take the long train ride. 4-hour cushion. Buying the tickets at Termini, not in advance.

On some previous trips to Puglia, we took the train from Rome to Foggia, and took the plane Rome to Brindisi straight from FCO (I remember it as a 3 hour layover and we had the plane tickets booked already --- yes, we did have to get our bags and then walk outside to a different terminal and check them again). Both trips worked out fine, but both were seven years ago or more.

However, I have broken a bone in my foot, and so our new plan is to arrive at FCO, pick up our bags, and then decide right then whether buying plane tickets to either Bari or Brindisi makes more sense than the train and whether the timing is possible. The plane ticket to Puglia will be more expensive than buying it ahead of time, but with my foot, it might be worth it. ITA or Ryanair. The best train for Lecce leaves Termini around 10:00am, so that would be a 4-hour cushion for us, then the 5.5 hour train ride.

Just wanted to offer this "last-minute decision" idea as another option for you. Buying either plane or train tickets in advance means you are counting on your plane to Rome being pretty much on time. Still way cheaper than getting a driver!