Picking up rental car in Rome at Stazione Termini - Advice?

Where is south? Termini is doable, but There are smaller cities where to rent a car.

After Rome, 3 weeks in Campania -> Calabria -> Puglia. A mix of vacation & family visits. Unfortunately, we’ll definitely need a car, and there are 5 of us. First stop after Rome is Pisciotta.

Our preference is to pick up a rental car at an airport i.e outside the city. I personally wouldn’t drive in Rome. It’s too stressful trying to get used to driving a car you’re not all that familiar with and in crazy traffic. Even crossing the street is a trial in Rome.

Check out the Tiburtina station, very easy access to the A1.

10-15m taxi ride from central Roma.

It's mostly a boring highway drive, so if you decide to not pick up in Rome, you could pick up in Salerno. From there it's a pleasant, breezy drive to Pisciotta.

Our preference is to pick up a rental car at an airport i.e outside the city. I personally wouldn’t drive in Rome. It’s too stressful trying to get used to driving a car you’re not all that familiar with and in crazy traffic. Even crossing the street is a trial in Rome.

Truth! We did it last time we were there, about 10 years ago, and my husband did the driving. I was navigator/translator. It was hairy getting out of the city, but we managed.

This turns out to be a moot point because I opted to rent from an office on Via Aurelia, west of the Vatican/Trastevere on the way out of town. I should say it's a moot point for now, anyway - I'm keeping an eye on prices & if I find something cheaper at a different office, I'll jump on it.

Thanks for the replies!

Picking up at Termini is pretty easy. Just make sure you don’t leave Rome in the afternoon at commute time and also around 12:30-1pm. Mornings around 10am is better. Take the Circonvallazione Tiburtina to the A24 freeway. If you prefer to save yourself some boring driving time, you can take a fast train to Salerno and pick up the car there. However for 5 people it will cost you more, because you need 5 train tickets.

Thanks, yeah that was also my calculation re: taking the train outside of Rome. Doesn’t make sense with 5 people. I appreciate the practical advice about Termini.