Vigo to Santiago - Sevilla and onwards

I don’t see any benefits to this plan over just flying (Porto to Sevilla). If you had upwards of a week to explore, that would be different. Obviously that just a personal preference, so if you really want to do it, look at Plasencia, Caceres. Check the cherry blossom season dates in Plasencia, as that could be a game changer.
Where are the rest of the 12 days?

Santiago - 1 night

Sevilla - 3

Marbella - 2 (Day in Ronda)

Gibraltar - 1 (have family history)

Granada - 3

If we could break up the trip from Santiago to Sevilla for a night, I’m trying to figure out what is halfway between the cities but interesting to see.

The last day and night could be spent in Madrid (after leaving Granada) to fly home following day.

This is not my ideal way to travel, but lots of time constraints and family issues prohibiting a longer stay.

To have 12 days is wonderful no doubt! I would try to cut what you can, so even though I hate to fly in the middle of a vacation, I’d consider it so you can have more time in Andalucia, but that said, the area I recommended is really lovely and would make a great stop if you have to do the long drive. Be sure to check the cherry blossom bloom time if you like that kind of thing!
I considered Plasencia when I visited a few years ago but settled on Caceres.

We did consider flying to Sevilla, but didn’t want to miss Santiago even though it just one night. Thank you. I will google the areas you mentioned. I love Cherry blossoms!

If you want to include Santiago, you might see if you can take train from N.Portugal to Santiago, bypassing Vigo.
You won't have enough time to sightsee between Vigo and Santiago, and you would not have to worry about parking overnight in Santiago.

For April I would strongly urge booking in Santiago as soon as possible, as the city attracts so many pilgrims in spring...

I'[d look into flying direct from Santiago to Sevilla....it's about a ten hour drive!! Vueling and Ryan Air both fly directly.

Looks like the most direct routing by car tracks ;mostly through Portugal, so you'd do a lot of backtracking...
Caceres is a big detour, I think. Badajoz is on the route but again, I would fly, and add the time saved to a second night in Santiago..it's a great, very lively small city with a lot to see and do..

Not a trip I’d make considering the amount of time you have and the amount of driving involved.

A mid way point between Santiago de Compostela and Sevilla is Salamanca, but it isn’t the most direct route. The most direct route takes you back through Portugal to Cáceres or further down to Badajoz as ekscrunchy stated. You’d be using a good deal of time just to visit Santiago for one night.

In 2024 I spent 11 nights in the area between Plasencia and Mérida (Plasencia, Cáceres, Trujillo, Guadalupe, Mérida).

Thank you both. I’m not very good with directions or road trip planning, but I began to see that it’s not an easy thing to do by car.

You could just take the train from Porto to Santiago. For that route you would change trains in Redondela de Galicia. Its not a fast route, but a nice trip. There are also coaches, which take about the same time, and are more frequent, but not as comfortable.

(Sometime in the future there will be a high speed railway from Porto to Vigo, but we are not there yet...)

Ftioving from Santiago to Sevilla is going to take up a day, and you will arrive exhausted. And interestingly the fastest driving route has you heading back to Port...

In fact this gives me another idea...

Just rent a car in Porto for a day and just drive out and back to Santiago to see it. Then drop the car at the airport and fly to Sevilla.

Santiago to Seville may be a 10 hour drive, and then partly though Portugal, but it is 7 hours by a two train ride several times a day, and all through Spain- so far less backtracking.
The only slight caution is that you have to transfer by suburban train in Madrid between Chamartin station (where you arrive after a 3 hour 20 minute journey) and Puerta de Atocha where you depart for a 3 hour journey.
Looking for today it is about 55 Euro on the RENFE website for a through ticket. Looking into the future there is little varaiation of fares ranging between 40 and 75 Euro.

I agree with those who are urging you to fly, given your limited time. Three nights in Seville with probably a somewhat late arrival on the first day is less than the minimum time I would want.

If you do decide to drive, you may find ViaMichelin.com helpful in determining the best route for your purposes.

I heard that the airport in Santiago will be closed during the time we will be there.

Thanks again for the other suggestions and ideas. I am almost tempted to squash the idea of traveling south and instead, staying in the north the entire time.

Thinking of spending four days in the north, staying maybe 5 days in Santiago and taking 3 day trips? Don’t care if we can’t see more.

Could overnight somewhere in the north halfway to Madrid as we move down from the north.

That should leave me enough time to at least have a few days in Granada before heading home.