Rent a car to drive from Pompei to Amalfi?

I don't know if a taxi would be more expensive than a rental car, but it would be faster because you wouldn't spend a lot of time looking/waiting for a parking place (plus the time for actually renting and returning the car to the rental agency). The road along the coast is mostly a narrow, hilly 2-lane road with lots of curves. If you plan to drive it in summer, you'll get lots of practice shifting gears (from 1st to 2nd and maybe occasionally into reverse to let a bus get around a curve). In the few places where the road has any shoulders to speak of, expect them to be full of parked cars. Traffic moves slowly because there are very few places where passing is possible and movement gets stopped for cars pulling in/out of parking places and at bus stops - except in the large villages, there's no place for the bus to pull over to load/unload passengers. According to google maps, it is possible to drive through the hills from Pompeii to Amalfi Town. My guess is that's also a 2-lane road with lots of hills and curves.

Do you want to spend the day seeing the coast and visiting the seaside villages? If you're staying in Pompeii, it might be best to take the train from Pompeii to Salerno, where you can then take the SITA bus or a ferry from place to place along the coast.

It is not easy driving so you will have to watch the road and not the scenery. If you are thinking of a leisurely drive where you can stop along the way, this will not be it. It is crowded and hard to find places to park.

Beth

Agree with Beth. It is a tricky, congested drive. What you save in money is probably not worth the aggravation and effort. The driver will not be able to take in the scenery, which is stunning. We hired a driver for our trip along the Amalfi Coast in April. It was pricey, but totally worth it. The traffic was considerable in April. If you are going in peak season, I can't even imagine how crowded the roads will be.

Chiani has given you the best and fastest option.

Train from Pompei-Salerno will take 45 minutes about €5 then ferry to Amalfi 35 min. €8.

Ferry schedule.

https://www.travelmar.it/en/hours

I mapped it out on Google and from Pompei, stopping at the Path of Gods trailhead to trek a bit of that, then on to our meeting spot for kayaking on the Amalfi Coast, we'll be driving SS366 the entire trip. It looks like a doable drive based on the satellite map, so we're going to give it a go. I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks for the suggestion for the train to Salerno and ferry to Amalfi. I appreciate the schedule too! That looks like a great option, though we'd like to stop at the Path of the Gods since one of the trail heads is on our way and we don't kayak until the afternoon. I'll post if the car rental and route along SS366 was a good choice for our plans or a bust. :) We're always up for an adventure!

If you're planning on using the 145-366, and you're leaving Pompei around 8-9, don't do it. You'll be stuck behind bus after bus heading to the AC. Use the alternate route, while a few minutes longer, it will save some time. Please be aware that the 366 is a narrow 2 lane with many blind curves so googles estimate is not accurate. I'd leave earlier than you planned to reach the trail head at Bormano before it gets too hot. Be sure to take a hat and plenty of water.

Thanks for the tip!

I have driven the coast road and some of the surrounding hills twice. Both times in December. Looking at a map does not show you all the turns and curves or the sudden steep changes in elevation or traffic. I enjoy driving In mountainous terrain but the Amalfi Coast is uniquely challenging even totally offseason with few tourists. Chani has provided you with excellent advice. Take it.

I can tell you, based on very recent experience, that Google Maps cannot accurately predict traffic conditions on SS366. The directions and estimated time of arrival look very straightforward when you map it from home but oh, it is a different story when you get there. It looks "doable" because you stay on the same road the whole way there but everyone (nervous tourists in rental cars, campers, buses, scooters, trucks, etc.) is on that same road with you. There is no way to get around these other vehicles and the inevitable accidents, you just sit and wait. GoogleMaps will just keep outdating with a new, longer arrival time. We were with a professional driver (Sorrento to Bomerano) and I would still never do it again.

Take the train/ferry! Get to Amalfi Town early and hike part of the Valle delle Ferriere. It's beautiful - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187780-d4135835-Reviews-Valle_delle_Ferriere-Amalfi_Amalfi_Coast_Campania.html

Thanks for all the feedback! We went for it with driving since we wanted to
stop at the Path of Gods trail along the way. It was no problem at all. The traffic wasn’t bad and we had no problem navigating the roads. I rented a small car, we left after high bus tour time (thanks for the suggestion!) around 9:15 and arrived to the trail parking lot in 35 minutes. We trekked for about an hour then drove for about 15-20 minutes to the coast for kayakimg. Google took us a different route on the way back, more along the coast and it was beautiful. You’re right, I wasn’t able to look in awe as frequently as my daughter, but she took some great pics, so I was happy we did it. It was a great day for us. I’m not saying everyone should do it...depends on your comfort level. I love that kind of driving and felt very secure. I’ve driven mountain roads where there are no wall barriers and that scares me. Today was great though. There were rock walls and I I never felt like I was on the edge of a cliff. Streets were narrow but no problem with a small car and I felt that google maps was accurate with the turns. I appreciated looking through the satellite view before our trip so I knew what to expect. You can zoom in to be at street level.
If I was going straight to Amalfi from Pompei without any stops, I’d recommend the train to Salerno and ferry. If you want to do other things along the way, experience the drive along the cost, and are a confident driver, go for it! Two suggestions...rent a small car and ensure you have plenty of daylight for the drive back.
Happy travels!

Glad your adventure went well.