Rome, Sorrento, Orvieto

Have you ever driven in Italy? Are you aware of the ZTLs that are in most towns? What is your complete itinerary. How many nights do you have? It's very hard to answer your questions without this information.
Help us help you.

are you planning to stay in Orvieto

It is kind of an arduous drive. Traffic can be awful between Naples and Rome and trains are faster. You can always have a nice lunch in Orvieto while waiting for the agency to open. The funicular and car rental office are near one another.

That is a good idea. Reservations are at an agriturismo an hour north of Orvieto. I'm excited about seeing Italy, but have filled our 14 nights with 2 nights in each location, which is beginning to sound exhausting. Finally spending 3 in Como with friends in their home and hoping to relax more so. Rome, Sorrento, Monteleone d'Orvieto, San Gimigmano area, CinqueTerre, Florence, Venice, Como.

Ok, I'm gonna pop your bubble. You have waay too many locations 😥
That being said, you need to think in terms of nights, realize that 2 nites=1
day.

For this trip, cut Sorrento, pick a central location in Tuscany so you don't have to change locations as often. See Florence, San Gimignano
and Umbria from this locale. Every time you move you use at least a half day. Try this path instead.

3N Rome. 4N Tuscany. 2N CT.
3N Como. 2N Venice.
You'll only need the car for Tuscany.

You're showing 17 nites, but have 14?
Rome 2 Sorrento 2. Monteleone d'Orvieto 2. San Gimignano 2 CT 2
Florence 2 Como 3 Venice 2

Hope this helps.

Thanks Gerri, I do realize I stated 14 which are hotels, the other 3 are w/ friends in their villa in Como. I won't need to be on my toes as much as they know the ropes there and it will be relaxing. So I didn't get an answer about Napoli driving vs train as I suspect you are expecting me to ditch Sorrento. Thanks anyway.

Driving vs train--- If you are unable to coordinate train schedule to suit your schedule, then driving becomes the default choice. The autostrada is similar to US Interstates, including traffic and the creep n crawl near major urban areas.

If you are comfortable driving interstates in major US urban areas you are fine. Just bone up on ZTL and the international signage.
Stay in the right lane and let all the cars with 4 rings or a tristar in the grille zip by. Those are the locals who know where the speed traps are, or tourists who will have a rude surprise six months after they get home. Be sure you know where the ZTL is or you may wander into it unknowingly.

My first day of driving was from Naples train station to Sorrento.; as Spock says, "Fascinating". By the 3rd day I realized they were not suicidal, just did things differently. Once accepting that, all went well. Be sure you have a GPS to guide you. Signage, especially on secondary roads is sparse by US standards.

Still think you should omit Sorrento, but here is info.

You can pick up a car in Sorrento, on Via Corso Italia. Have done the drive 4-5 times, most recent last fall. Follow directions to E45. Not much different than driving here. Kind of a nondescript trip other than some hill towns in the distance. Should take 3 1/2-4 hrs. Don't go over the speed limit. There are signs for the traffic tutor and the speed cameras. Tolls are pretty stiff, if you want to know what they are, use Via Michelin. I usually print out their directions so I know where the tolls are and the cost. Be prepared for fuel to be €6-7 per gal.

I'd still rethink your location in Tuscany. Here is one of my favorites.

http://www.borgorapale.it
Very centrally located for Chianti, Florence, and San Gim.

Once off the autostrada, roads are 2 lane, mostly curvy and as you hit the outskirts of towns expect to reduce your speed. Most have a ZTLs zone.

Waze works fine in most areas.

Edit: oops, forgot you will need an IDP ( international driving permit) for each driver available at AAA or online. $ 20+ w/ photos.

Good morning Gerri,

Thanks for the add'l info. I was going to take the Circumvesuviana (only) train from Sorrento to Naples and get the car there to drive north, but I see you suggest getting car in Sorrento. I remember Rick's talk about Amalfi being crazy for driving and was avoiding that. Am I wrong in that Sorrento may be easier. I will do some more research. Love the book by the way, but these forums are great for tips. Thanks again.

Driving from Sorrento towards Naples is not the problem Rick cautions about, it's the drive from Sorrento south to Amalfi.

If you leave Sorrento between 9&10 you should miss the heaviest traffic.
You will not drive into Naples, rather skirt it, then head straight north direction Roma. It will save some time.

Good spot to stop for lunch and pick up some wine, if so inclined, is the Auto Grill between Rome and the Montepulciano exit. There's also one between Naples and Rome. They're an adventure in itself.

Edit: read this and download their free booklet. Ignorance is no excuse.

https://www.italybeyondtheobvious.com/dont-mess-with-ztl-zones

mlcoop, I don't think you mentioned the month of the year. Much of Italy can be very hot and very congested in high season. Even if it's not congested, you will not be able to achieve the Google Maps estimated driving times. It's always pointless to try to talk posters out of changing hotels (with hours of searching and parking and packing overhead each time) every two days. Isn't it possible that your daughter may visit Europe multiple times in her life, and have a chance to do some of these things with more leisure?

Having driven it Italy myself, and also watched unlucky drivers there, I don't understand how you can give your list of destinations and just assert that you "will not be going to ZTL areas". Especially since you are searching for a free GPS service (when even the most expensive ones are not able to check a box that says "Avoid ZTLs"!) Every night walking to dinner in Sorrento, we watched dozens of cars, stationary, lining up for the underground parking garage, like in Los Angeles. Then we strolled through the central streets of Sorrento that are closed every single night for dinner and the Passeggiatta.

We stayed in the same place in Tuscany for four nights., and couldn't remotely exhaust the daytrip possiblities with our car. You also need careful planning for your final morning, depending on the departure time of your flight. Many people overlook the complete loss of the last day, as well as the unavailability of their hotel room until after lunch on the first day. You are not in control of this trip. Italy is in control!