Seville to Grenada to Tarifa

Sevilla-Granada...bus or train. Each takes about 3 hours and costs about the same.
Granada-Tarifa....bus, via Malaga and Algeciras...about 5.5 hours.
You likely won't find anyone who will let you drop a car in Tarifa. The closest spot would be Algeciras or, more likely, Cadiz.
You can check some of the bus schedules (Sevilla-Granada-Malaga) at www.movelia.es. FOr Malaga-Algeciras-Tarifa-Cadiz, check http://www.tgcomes.es/servicios_conbinados.htm

I should also add there are 3 trains/day between Granada and Algeciras...about 5 hours running time at about 20 Euro. It's just a short "local" bus ride over to Tarifa from there.

Wow! Thanks for the quick & comprehensive response. Based on your feedback, I am going to rent a car in Seville & drive to Grenada then on to Algericas. From there, I will take the ferry to Tangier. Do you have any experience with the ferry from Algericas, or in hiring a guide in Tangier?

The ferries from Algeciras to Tangiers aren't very frequent, slow, and expensive. The fast cat ferries from Tarifa are a far better option, and the company that offers those runs provides a free bus transfer from Algeciras for those with tickets. See schedules and fares at http://www.frs.es/en/home-area/home.html . I would suggest booking an overnight in Tarifa...it's quite a nice place.
I've never booked a guide for Tangiers....just consulted several travel books and done it myself.

You have been a great help. I have a limited amount of time & would like to see Tangier. I am considering skipping the Grenada leg & going from Seville to Tarifa. Do you know if there is a bus or a train that will go from Seville to Tarifa? Also, do you suggest that I book my train travel in advance, or is it safe to just show up? As part of this trip, I am taking the train from Bareclona to Madrid...

You have been a great help. I have a limited amount of time & would like to see Tangier. I am considering skipping the Grenada leg & going from Seville to Tarifa. Do you know if there is a bus or a train that will go from Seville to Tarifa? Also, do you suggest that I book my train travel in advance, or is it safe to just show up? As part of this trip, I am taking the train from Bareclona to Madrid...

In checking movelia.es, you'll find four buses/day from Sevilla to Tarifa for about 17 Euro. And, yes, I would book train tickets ahead of time, especially for Barcelona-Madrid. You can get savings of up to 60% off at www.renfe.es up to 62 days in advance. The website is in Spanish, but we can help you navigate it...these'll be print at home tickets.
As an aside, I wouldn't go all the way to Spain and not see Granada, the most popular attraction in the country. If you can, see if you can slip a day or two away from other destinations to see it....for me, I'd even drop Tangiers to make sure Granada was included.

Norm -
In your last response you offered to assist with tickets. Are you a professional travel planner? If so, are you independant or do you work for a firm?

No....and no. But I've purchased many tickets on the RENFE site, and can help anyone who needs it, navigate it successfully.

thanks, that would be great. I would also like to run the intinerary past you, if you are willing. Can I call you?

Art, I was lucky one day and found a link to the RENFE site in English! Here it is.........

http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html

This is sooo much easier than struggling to make sense of things with my poor, long-ago high school Spanish. Booking tickets in advance does get you a very nice discount, even better than using the "Golden Card" for the 65+ crowd. My research also recommends booking 62 days in advance, if possible, for the best schedules & fares. Renfe only does complete schedules for 62 days or less; some trains are listed >62 days, but more schedules are released at the majic 62 day mark. There are also discounts for booking 7 and 15 days in advance.... the website will give you complete fare and schedule info also.

I'm also planning on going from Sevilla to Granada by train at the end of October. Let's both have a good trip!