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Google maps drive times Rome

How reliable are Google Map drive times in Rome given traffic? I know anything can happen on any given day, but wondering if they are generally ok. I'm departing from Rome Termini at 8:30 AM on a weekday morning in June. The night before, I'm staying in a hotel a 10 minute walk from Termini. But, I'll need to collect my daughter (15yo) from her group and they are staying out of the city center, a few km bus or taxi ride from the EUR Fermi station. I'm trying to decide if I should get her the night before and have her stay with me, or switch my last night to stay at her hotel and then we both travel to Termini in the morning.

If I stay at her hotel: Google map says its usually 25-45 minutes if we taxi from her hotel to Termini, departing at 7am on a week day. Does this sound accurate, or would you add an additional buffer? Or would you just take a taxi to EUR Fermi and then metro in? We'd each have a rollerbag and a back pack. Either way, I think I'm most concerned about reliability of the morning transfer time if I choose this option. And the earlier wake up time.

If I get her the night before: I need to be flexible on the time, as I don't know exactly when they'll return for the day. I figure I'll get there and wait, and ask the hotel to call a taxi when they arrive and it might be around 10:30pm. We'd taxi directly to my hotel. Google map says about 30 minutes, and then walk to Termini in the morning. I'm leaning to this option, but need to confirm her group will allow it. All else equal, she prefers the later wake up.

Am I missing any considerations?
Thanks!

Posted by
1796 posts

Where are you driving to after you pick up the car from Termini?

I'm also wondering if you'd be better off picking up the car from near where your daughter is staying, rather than the busy Termini area.

We've only driven a car in Rome once, but have driven all over Italy for 25 years including Sicily and in other large cities like Catania and Genoa. We add a big cushion to the Google times. Besides getting a little lost and taking extra time to find parking, Google sends you the very slightly faster way instead of the easiest way --- maybe the way locals would choose but not great for drivers new to the area. It really helps to have a good human navigator --- Google does things like mispronounce street names and use names different from what is on street signs and highway signs.

Posted by
8097 posts

It’ not clear if you are catching a train or picking up car in am?
I assume you are catching a train since you say “departung from”

I think i would get daughter nite before
Seems less of a hassle
No worries about missing your train

Posted by
16690 posts

I don’t fully understand if you are picking up your daughter with your own rental car.

If you are staying at a hotel near Termini and you don’t have a car then why do you need to pick her up to bring her back to Termini? Why can’t she take a taxi by herself from the EUR hotel and meet you at your Termini hotel or at the station?

There is traffic in the morning driving into the city center, although, if on a taxi, taxicabs can take bus lanes, which are forbidden to regular cars.

If you both need to catch a train that early, it would make sense for both of you to stay at the Termini hotel overnight and walk to the station in the morning. Why add to the stress?

Posted by
12 posts

To clarify, we are taking a train from Termini, not renting a car. My drive time question is about a morning taxi ride from her hotel to Termini. I can't send her in the taxi by herself to meet me because I need to "sign her out" from the group.

Posted by
8097 posts

Still seems simplest to go pick her up especially because you have to sign her out
No choice really
Evening before your train from Termini

Posted by
1590 posts

Or would you just take a taxi to EUR Fermi and then metro in?

Yes. Considering your daughter's schedule and sleep habits, consider staying at her hotel and take the Metro to Termini in the AM.