french riviera by rental car

Your question is unclear.... are you planning on doing all this driving in one day?

Your itinerary is unclear. It appears you are driving west into France from Ventimiglia and then back east to Genoa.

I am a bit unclear also, but it appears that you wish to drive west to Cannes and then back east to Genoa (Nervi). If so, this is quite doable, but I am unclear about your question as to what to do during the day. If you intent is to see the coastline and take a quick walk-through of several of the towns, fine. I would drive west on A8 to Cannes and then back along the coast. It will be a pretty full day of driving with little time to explore Cannes, Nice, or Monte Carlo.

You don't say when this is happening, either. If from now through the summer you may find that you don't travel along the coast at quite the speed limit. Same on the A8. I agree that it sounds "ambitious" for one day's driving.

For all of those that are unclear, yes we are planning on doing this all in one day. Staying on cliff in Ventimiglia 1/2 hour away from monte Carlo. Planning on getting up early am and driving west to Cannes, and back tracking up the coast to Nervi. Is it worth going to Cannes and Nice knowing that we are that close and probably never go there again? Or should we just go straight down to Monte Carlo and east to Nervi? This is a sightseeing day trip and having lunch somewhere along our route. We do realize it is Saturday. :(
Anyone out there travel this area before if you could let us know what to see and where to visit that is worthwhile. Thanks for your advice.

Saturday... ok. Busy. When? Summer?

I would just plan to drive the route that Bets suggested and see how far you get and what intrigues you. I probably would not drive all the way to Cannes in that busy traffic. Its a beautiful drive when its not busy, but it is really frustrating when it is so congested. Eze and St. Paul de Vence are both amazing places to spend some time.

I'd second Eze-le-Village. You can park near the TI just over the road from the Petit Casino. Get some water and walk up the hill. Way, way closer than Cannes, unless you just want to say you drove through Cannes.

Have done the drive and been to the small towns mentioned. I think it depends upon what you want. If you want to see towns of which you have often heard, like Cannes and Nice, that is doable. I would not even consider museums. If your primary desire is to see familiar named sights, I would drive immediately on the A10/A8 to Cannes, then along the coast east. You could spend a short time in Cannes, drive to Nice, spend an hour or so in the old city and the Promonade, then through Monte Carlo and down the coast. I don't think I would stop in Monte Carlo, unless you want to take a turn by the palace. Eze is picturesque, but somewhat out of the way and time consuming given your primary mission. I would also suggest a short stop in San Remo. If you run short on time, you can always swing up to the A10 for a fast retreat to Genoa. So long as your stops are short, for a quick look and taste, this is VERY doable.