taking a main road to verona instead of autostraus

That will be quite a challenge, Liz. Unlike many parts of Italy, there is not a convenient nearby SS road which allows easy avoidance of tolls. Have a look at ViaMichelin for an alternative which involves following the road along the lagoon, nearly to Chioggia, head west through Monselice, many many slow speed limits, until you can swoop back up towards Verona after Legnago. It will take ages. Count on nearly 4 hours (or more) to go 156 km. If you take the Autostrada you're looking at just about 2 hours, €7.70 in tolls, and and under 120 km. I don't know of a better way. Is the detour worth it?

Nigel has given great advice. After driving all over the Veneto in May/June I would definately spring for the small amount charged for the autostrada from Venice to Verona. Travelling on the SS roads through that area is a very time-consuming and frustrating exercise - there are villages seemingly every 500 meters with the attendant round-abouts that slow everything down to a crawl - it's a very very traffic intense area of Italy. The autostrada is faster, safer and inexpensive...why not take advantage
of it?

Hi posters just thought wouldnt be as fast and dangerous as we come from small island only two lanes hwy thanx for info liz

Have you committed to renting a car? The trains are excellent in Italy and you don't have to worry about driving on the wrong side of the road. And you certainly don't need a car in Venice. :-)

Yes already have hired car. DRIVING FROM VENICE TO VERONA TO LAKE COMO for 3 days then onto to Milan to fly out iM sure well be fine just be careful bye

Liz I wouldn't go driving if your experience is limited anywhere Much less anywhere in Italy. Google or utube some some autostrada travels To see the level of traffic you will be in for.
Regard

Hi
We surviived in USA driving from Los Angeles to Grand Canyon so fingers xd we will stay safe Mind you we did have our teenage son with us to navigate thru Pheonix tho.

Get a good GPS and have a nice trip :) Bear in mind highway exists in Italy don't have numbers like in Australia or US, but names written in extremely big overhead panels.

Your experience driving on LA freeways will stand you in good stead on the V to V autostrada. The truck traffic is amazing and a little intimidating - even if you are in the 'slow' lane they will get right up to your bumper and honk if they think you aren't going fast enough... but just ignore them and stick to your guns (so to speak) - it's like a bumper car game to them! Still better than the SS roads IMO. Try to either avoid Milan (difficult) or get through it in whatever non-rush-hour time you can - do not go through around 5 pm on a weekday. I speak from recent experience as we tried to get to Malpensa... it's a long long way out of Milan and no Tipperary in
sight.

Mimi - how could I have forgotten the trucks? Its been a while since I wrote about them. I've driven to Mestre to park to take the train into Venezia Santa Lucia so many times, yet once there were so many trucks formed into such a tight wall after the toll plaza that even with the satnav and my own personal knowledge I completely missed the exit for Mestre and had to drive to the next exit and backtrack... that was a grim day. BTW - there are excellent trains from Venice to Verona to Como.

Thank you all for wonderful replies. Its is nerve wracking for sure and as for Milan we will head there early as to drop the car then before flying to Istanbul. Just by chance anyone know what currency is needed to get visa in Turkey we will only have Euros. Or do we find an ATM and get Lira?? many thanx again liz

Euros are good - cash not cards.

Liz, thanks to you I now know that the currency in Turkey is the lira. For a split second I thought you thought the Italians were still using the lira. :-) And I'll repeat my refrain: Train train train. Why do you want a car?

@Michael: she can enjoy lake Como much better with access to a vehicle. At least not be stuck with Varenna or cities served by filthy local buses. It is really no big deal if someone wants to drive in Italy AND is willing to fork the money for gas/parking in the outskirts of cities. The trains from Venezia SL to Verona are good, but far com the "excellent" label given to them IMO. They are more than 15 years old, and lack some amenities I now consider essential like wi-fi, and some use horrendous toilets that drain the waste right onto tracks, which is wrong and dirty.

Then a year after she returns, we'll get a new posting complaining about a ticket she got for driving in a ZTL. :-) Just kidding, Liz. I hope it all goes well for you.

Awh you are funny posters. We not taking train cause of luggage. Want to detour to Verona and we will probably use the ferries once at Lake Como. Staying at Tremmezzo. Thanx for reminding me about the Ltz zones. I thought you werenot allowed to park in those zones didnt realize no driving eekk!! It will be an experience Im sure after coming from Latrobe with 4500 ppl. Tasmania is beautiful..try and see it one day cheers Liz