Rome to Abruzzo by Car

I was recently back in Abruzzo for a few days.  I think it was a lucky few days as the weather was great until the last day.  This time we broke with tradition and decided to fly to Rome, Fiumicino (Da Vinci) and drive to Abruzzo.  Now I’m sure there are experienced continental drivers reading this blog who won’t understand what I’m about to say, but I was apprehensive.  The thought of driving in the greater Rome area, then across Italy filled me with a little anxiety.  We did everything to reduce the chances of anything going wrong, and to minimise the chances of navigation based heated exchanges!  We brought a touring map, Google Map printouts and Sat Nav with the latest updates.  What could go wrong?!

To be fair, nothing much went wrong at all. We exited the airport, followed the signs for autostrada for Roma which brought us to the Roma ring road or GRA (Grande Raccordo Anulare).

Then we followed the signs for L’Aquila, which brought us on to junction 14 and an exit off the Roma GRA for the A24/E80 that took us east.  This is a toll road.  You grab your ticket going though the toll plaza, and when you exit the autostrada you pay based on the stretch of road you used.  Roma to Pescara costs about €13.

Now after about 70 km on the A24/E80 you need to decide which part of Abruzzo you are heading to, either the direction of L’Aquila/Teramo/Giulianova (A24) or Avezzano/Sulmona/Popoli/Chieti/Pescara (A25/E80).

We were heading to the more southerly part of Abruzzo so we took the Avezzano/Sulmona/Popoli/Chieti/Pescara (A25/E80) direction.

Overall we had three moments of driver/navigator semi-heated exchanges during the whole  journey.  The first was due to the Sat Nav not agreeing with the road signs.  We followed the instructions of the Sat Nav – that was a mistake, easily rectified, but a mistake all the same.   The second and third were due to hunger and not setting the Sat Nav to local time.  We put off eating because we thought we’d arrive an hour earlier than we were going to.  Big mistake!  If you feel hungry, stop, even just to grab a coffee and a pastry.  Trust me, it saves a lot of hassle!

If you have the time, consider stopping off at some of the towns you pass on route. We didn’t.  We wanted to get to our destination as quickly as possible.  But if where you’re aiming for brings you close to any of L’Aquila, Teramo, Sulmona, Popoli they are definitely worth a look.

For the return journey the weather had changed and there was a lot of rain.  Since the route takes you quite high up, through and around the Apennines, we had to drive though cloud!  Visibility wasn’t great at times but the road is good.

If you are driving back to get your return flight give yourself time to get around the Roma GRA and to Fiumicino or Ciampino airports.  Traffic can snarl up in cities and the ring-road around Rome is no different.  (This article from the english version of Corriere Della Sera gives you an idea of the extent of the Italian city traffic problem.)  Ciampino airport is worth considering as an alternative to Fiumicino (Da Vinci) as it is closer to Abruzzo along the Roma GRA and could (remember I have not tried this yet) save 30 minutes driving time.

The overall route itself is breathtaking.  You drive though some spectacular scenery.  This time of year there is snow on the mountains to add to the stunning views.

If driving is not your preferred option then you might want to try a bus service that a reader of this blog passed on to me (thanks CKC).  They are called Prontobus.  I have not used them myself but the service may work for you.  There is also the ARPA bus service from Roma Tiburtina.  And also a service that friends of mine used last year called Rosato.

Buon viaggio!

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