Car Travel

Pompeii is a short distance off the A3 Naples–Salerno Autostrada, but this major highway with only two lanes in each direction is often congested. A car can be useful for exploring the Campi Flegrei region, especially for sites like Cumae and Lake Avernus where public transportation is infrequent or nonexistent. From Naples, travel toward Pozzuoli on the Tangenziale—the Naples bypass—exiting at the appropriate junction.

Most archaeological sites are accessible by car. Use a parcheggio custodito (attended parking lot), particularly at Pompeii and Herculaneum, and avoid on-street unattended parking. Metered parking (look for the blue lines on the street) is scarce in most places.

Off the main highways, signposting is sometimes poor, with road signs competing with advertising placards. The westbound Tangenziale (Napoli–Pozzuoli) should be avoided on Saturday evening and on Sunday in summer (crowds heading out of Naples for nightlife or beaches). Road conditions are usually good, though surfaces near the top of Vesuvius can become icy in winter.