Driving a rental car in Southern Spain

How difficult is it to drive in Southern Spain? We have rented cars in other countries and have found signage and toll roads differ greatly from one country to another.

I rented a car in Valladolid and drove throughout Andalucia and parts of Extremadura and had no problems at all with road signs, etc. Spain is a member of the 1949 Geneva Convention of Road Traffic and signed an agreement with most other European countries and the US to use consistent road signs, etc. to make it easier for travelers. You shouldn't have any problems.

If you've been to most of Andalucia, how about branching out to Extremadura? It's an incredibly beautiful area of Spain, and is not nearly as crowded as Andalucia is. I loved the town of Cáceres, and have been wanting to go back and explore more.

You didn’t say where in Andalucía you want to go or what constitutes a few days.

Of course one can rent a car in Sevilla. I always rent at Madrid’s airport so can’t speak to a good location in Sevilla.

Driving in Andalucía is just like in the states. Once away from the cities traffic is light. I always take back roads so avoid any toll roads. Remember to stay at in below the posted limit.

I won’t call them charming and in October many restaurants and shops will be closed for the season, but Rota, Chipiona, or San Lucar de la Barrameda are all on the coast. Further west, past Doñana National park is Mazagön. In that area are Dolmen de Soto de Trigueros, Niebla with a castle and Roman bridge, and El Rocio. Not a town, but a small city is Cádiz. It has a beach, is easy to walk around, and doesn’t shut down like the towns do.

Dropping the car off in Madrid would incur a one way drop charge. You can make a dummy booking to find out what it would be for different rental companies. If you had the time you could drive back to Madrid through Extremadura with a number of possible stops, such as, Zafra, Mérida, Cáceres, Trujillo, Plasencia, or Guadalupe. If driving back through Castilla Y La Mancha, there’s Almagro that is on the prettiest villages in Spain list and nearby Manzanares. Further north is Consuegra with a castle and windmills.

Where you go, the route you take, and the amount of time you have, will determine how much you get to see. Remember to get an International Driving Permit from AAA before your trip if you intend to rent a car. You cannot get one in Spain.

Not sure about late October but, in mid-September, Tarifa was lovely. And, driving in Andalucia was easy. Enjoy!

I've rented in Sevilla. The Santa Justa station is a good choice. I rented a car twice, both times to drive through the hills to visit some of the pueblos blancos. I found the driving quite easy and the roads in good condition. There are lots of pull-outs in the hills which allow you to stop for scenic views and photos, or to let faster traffic pass you by. While you can do a series of 1-night stays, I preferred to base in Ronda and day trip. It's been a few years, but both times, I dropped the car at a different location and there was no significant price difference.

I went to Cadiz on a day trip (sans auto) and I don't remember seeing any high rises.

Andalucia back to Madrid is a long slog--unless you have ample time to make stops, I would drop the car and take the train back (or even better, book your flight out of one of the cities). I hated driving around MAD. I would not think a drop off fee would be onerous though.
I have been to the region twice and traveled by bus/train, on return I would get a car and have these places bookmarked:
Donana park
Guacin
Vejer de la Frontera (visited as a day trip from Cadiz and the nearby coast is pretty)
I'd also like to get back to the Ronda area with a car (for Grazalema, etc.)
As jaime mentioned, there are some truly gorgeous places in Extremadura, and after exploring that area by car, I would have a hard time choosing between the two regions!

Driving in Sevilla and Cadiz provinces is easy. I rent a car and drive solo and have done so for the last few years with no problem, and I am a very anxious driver.

I love the area around Vejer. There are beautiful, unspoiled beaches, with no high rises, in El Palmar de Vejer and east toward Barbate and Zahara de los Atunes. For me it would be too cold to swim in late October but you can go to the beach and there are great restaurants in that area.

Its totally different than the Costa del Sol, which I do not like.

Valadelphia, I rented a place in Gaucin a few years back and do not recommend; it's full of expats, and tiny and very hilly. You'd be far better off in Vejer or one of the nearby "white towns." (Just my own opinion; I was disappointed in Gaucin and, in fact, we left a day early and spent that extra day in Malaga)

Jerez in an under explored jewel of a "white city." I fly into that airport en route to the Vejer area.
I've been going to Vejer every March for a few years now, and exploring that area.

Why drive back to Madrid when you can fly home from Sevilla or Jerez/Cadiz?

Long drive, unless you have time for stops in Trujillo, Caceres, etc.

Thanks for that tidbit about Guacin, eks--I have been following you for years (RIP Chowhound, and on Fodors [as Yorkshire]) and we have many of the same favorites. I agree, an expat village is not quite my jam, I just liked the quality of accommodations I spied in the town, and ease of hiking. If you know of other hill towns in that area, please share.
Because of our shared passion for seafood, it is probably more likely that I will end up in the Vejer region next time (that orange beach still calls me), but the mountains between Malaga and there look appealing and would make a break-up-the-trip kind of stop.
Sorry for that discursion, Gus, but you see there are so many draws in Andalucia, and limiting your selection will be the challenge.

Thanks so much for the helpful replies to my post about renting a car and driving in Andalucia. With so many interesting places to visit both there and in Extremadura, we will need to return for a second trip in the area!