I could use help on my Italy itinerary!!!

What do you think is wrong? I like longer in fewer places, but this is certainly not a terrible plan.
1) I know plenty do it, but I would not drive more than roughly an hour on arrival (depends on where you are flying in from though).
2) When do you plan to drop the car?
3) I would not enjoy the days 5-6 diversions, but you should plan for what you enjoy. I have always found Google Maps fairly reasonable for driving estimates (just round up). We need to know the dates to better advise (for example, will you have a long day of daylight to complete this without inclement weather)

Looks like a fun trip. Many would like one more day in each place, but you need to work within the constraints you have. We spent two nights in Varenna and CT, and it worked out fine. Where are you returning the car? From Varenna, the rest of your trip is easily done via train.

We will either drop the car near Lake Como or maybe park it while we are there and drop it in Cinque Terre. From there we will definitely travel by train.
So...you think Day 5 & Day 6 are doable if we aren't really stopping to hike (though I would like to take a cable car on the morning of Day 6.
And of course, all of this is dependent upon the Stelvio Pass being open on October 6, but it looks like it is typically open, so I'm crossing my fingers.

Hello ritabtripp,

It seems like you have a clear idea of what you want to do and see although you don't mention season or time of year.

Personally I consider a car in Italy an expensive burden so I try and concentrate all the car based activities to things that require a car. You might consider taking the train to Chiusi and renting a car there so you don't need to drive near Rome and are already almost in rural Tuscany at that point. Montepulciano is about 30 minutes away by car. Wherever you rent a car you will need to use a company that has locations at both ends so you can drop it off. Personally I would try and drop it off before lake Como if possible since you won't need it there, but Varenna is quite small so the chances of being able to drop it there seem slim. Also driving to La Spezia (where you would drop the car for CT) is actually faster than the train so it may be worth it to you just to hang onto it.

Make sure you have parking in Lucca sorted out before you go - it is a walled city and the ZTLs are extensive. Also check in Varenna - there is a large parking structure all the way through town if your lodging doesn't offer parking. Be careful you don't cross into Switzerland as many car rental places don't allow cross border trips without permission. Also ferries are generally prohibited so don't take it on the Como ferry unless you've looked into it. Also research ZTLs for any small Tuscan town you plan to visit including Montepulciano. Don't leave your luggage in the rental car unless absolutely necessary - like the museum - and then be careful and smart about it.

I don't know if that is the kind of help you were looking for, but i hope it helps.
Have a great trip,
=Tod

drive from Lucca to Maranello (Ferrari museum - spend an hour) and then drive up to Cortina d' Ampezzo and start the Great Dolomite Road; spend the night around Ortisei

googlemap has it about a 400 mile drive and an estimated 8 hrs of driving.( I have found googlemap to be a bit optimistic on their drive time estimates). So the stop at the museum and an other stops you choose along the way and it seems reasonable to expect hotel departure to hotel arrival to be 10.5-12 hrs apart. If that's OK with you then its 'doable'.

I'd recommend checking viamichelin.com to see whether its driving-estimates align with Google's.