Amalfi Coast to Sicily
 

I will be on the Amalfi coast in December. We will have a car. Does it make any sense to drive to Sicily? We will have about 5-6 days once we leave the coast. Our return flight is out of Rome. I checked flights and they are out of our price range.

Sicily is wonderful, but IMO, it deserves at least 2 weeks. But it depends on what you want to see and experience.

Did you check budget flights?
www.whichbudget.com
www.skyscanner.net

There is also an overnight ferry from either Naples or Salerno(you could take the car on the ferry also).

and there is an overnight train from Salerno to either Catania or Palermo

As mentioned before, there are ferries from Naples and Salerno and trains from Salerno and discount airlines from Naples.

If you are renting a car, you must check that you are allowed to take a car on a ferry. Some contracts do not allow it.

Your best bet is to return the car and either take the ferry, train or plane and then rent another car in Sicily. We always take the ferry to either Catania or Palermo (you can call your hotel and have a taxi meet you there. Usually there aren't taxis meeting the ferry) We enjoy the ferry. You can walk around and have dinner and enjoy the water and view. You can reserve your own room (cabin) and have a private bath. We get up exceptionally early and watch the sun come up.

To me an overnight train is brutal. The planes just get you there. The ferry is an enjoyable overnight ride and gets you there early enough to enjoy the day.

From Palermo you can take a ferry back to Rome or fly. You will need your 5 to 6 days in Sicily. Even though the drive to Sicily is fabulous and you might want to stop in many towns like Scilla or other Calabria towns, you have to decide what you want to do with the 5 to 6 days.

Overnight ferry Naples/Palermo:

www.tirrenia.it
www.snav.it

Overnight ferry Naples/Catania:

www.tttlines.it

Overnight or daylight ferry Salerno/Messina:

www.carontetourist.it

Overnight or daylight ferry Salerno/Palermo:

www.grimaldi-ferries.com

Overnight or daylight trains:

www.ferroviedellostato.it

Airlines:

www.alitalia.it (Naples/Palermo; Naples/Catania, all using Air One aircraft)
www.windjet.it
www.blu-express.it
www.easyjet.com
www.meridiana.it
www.airitaly.it (Naples/Catania)

Thanks to everyone for such great advice. No, I did not check budget flights because I didn't know where to check. I knew there had to be something cheaper than $600+. With so little time the flight might be our best bet, but I really like the idea of the ferry.

The ferry leaves at about 7 pm and arrives at about 7 am depending on the ferry you take. By time you get to and from each airport and spend the night in the hotel, it's the same thing. With the ferry you have another enjoyable experience.