Rental Car or Train? Ronda to Granada then Granada to Toledo

If you are renting car(s) keep the rental at least until you reach Granada. There are several places in Andalucia you can swing by, including Nerja. You won't need a car in Granada, so it's up to you if you want to keep it to go to Toledo. From Granada to Toledo is a long and boring journey, no matter if you drive (freeway mostly) or if you take the train (via Antequera and Madrid).
I would consider driving back to Córdoba, so you visit there too, return the car and take the train from Córdoba

Thank you! I was afraid that drive might be a bit boring! The Córdoba idea is a good one!

6 adults in one car or two? If it's 2 cars, that sounds fine. A single vehicle that would seat 6 adults comfortably and allow ALL to enjoy the scenery and have enough room to store all the luggage out of sight when you park - you'd need a very large car and that would be difficult to drive in the very narrow, sometimes very steep streets of the hill towns.

There are indeed many scenic views and lovely towns to visit on the way to Ronda and between Ronda and Granada.

Thank you Chani! I was thinking of a mini van type of car so luggage could go in back. We will all be traveling "Rick Steves" style with carry on bags. Our plan was to park in a lot at the edge of the towns we visit rather than driving to the center. I know this will limit where we a can go but renting two cars wouldn't work for us. Do you ( or anybody else?) have any suggestions for 1 or 2 towns or sights we might visit on the way to Ronda and then from Ronda to Granada, then Granada to Toledo? I was thinking of Arcos and the Pileta Caves to Ronda, no ideas yet for Ronda to Granada, then stopping to see windmills from Granada to Toledo. We will return the car in Toledo.

I don't believe you can return rental cars in Ronda. You would have to drive to Marbella or on to Granada to return your rental car

The town of Almagro is just off the direct driving route from Granada to Toledo. It would make a nice stopover for a meal and/or a walk through the historic district. But there's no question that Toledo is of considerably greater interest, so if your time there is short, I'd skip Almagro and get to Toledo faster.

Susan,

We didn't have a car on our trip to Spain last October, but if I had had a car, I'd have visited Arcos de la Frontera, Zahara & Grazalema, on the way to Ronda.

You may consider returning your car in Granada, then traveling to Córdoba via bus or train.

After visiting Córdoba, you can easily take the train back to Madrid, then on to Toledo.

Have a wonderful trip!

Make sure you book your Alhambra tickets way in advance--3 months before your trip ;-)

Thank you everyone for all the wonderful ideas!

First of all, when you're looking at rental cars, they show the number of passengers and the luggage capacity. I just looked at europcar.com - they offer 2 larger cars, one seats 7, the other 9. Both say 3 suitcases.

Arcos is a good choice. There's a parking lot near the bottom. From there you can walk or take the minibus up to sightsee. In Ronda, some of the streets are very narrow with sharp corners. Be careful to stay on the main streets and you should be okay. Also make sure that your hotel has parking for a large vehicle. You could stop at the "Pink Lagoon" (Fuente de Piedra), El Torcal (hiking) and/or the dolmens outside Antequera on the way to Granada.

We are currently on a three week trip in Spain. We stay 4 nights in Ronda with a day trip to Malaga. Tried to see caves but couldn't fit tour in. Looked pretty cool. Then on to Granada (wonderful) and then two nights at a Parador in Ubeda on way to Toledo and Madrid. Cannot recommend Ubeda highly enough. Unesco World Heritage sight and very few tourists except for Spainards. You will love it. Car will give you greatest flexibility. Yes, just park on outskirts of towns if you don't like downtown small street driving. Have fun!!!! We sure are.

We are currently on a three week trip in Spain. We stay 4 nights in Ronda with a day trip to Malaga. Tried to see caves but couldn't fit tour in. Looked pretty cool. Then on to Granada (wonderful) and then two nights at a Parador in Ubeda on way to Toledo and Madrid. Cannot recommend Ubeda highly enough. Unesco World Heritage sight and very few tourists except for Spainards. You will love it. Car will give you greatest flexibility. Yes, just park on outskirts of towns if you don't like downtown small street driving. Have fun!!!! We sure are.

We are currently on a three week trip in Spain. We stay 4 nights in Ronda with a day trip to Malaga. Tried to see caves but couldn't fit tour in. Looked pretty cool. Then on to Granada (wonderful) and then two nights at a Parador in Ubeda on way to Toledo and Madrid. Cannot recommend Ubeda highly enough. Unesco World Heritage sight and very few tourists except for Spainards. You will love it. Car will give you greatest flexibility. Yes, just park on outskirts of towns if you don't like downtown small street driving. Have fun!!!! We sure are.