Cinque Terre/Amalfi Coast
 

We are planning a trip for the last two weeks of October and have a 3 night stay in Sorrento. We also have a 3 night stay in San Gimignano. Would it be worth taking the time to drive to the Cinque Terre for a days trip, taking time away from Tuscany, or would having seen Sorrento be enough?

In my opinion there is little in common between Cinque Terre and the Amalfi coast other than the basic terrain. To me the Cinque Terre isn't about "seeing it", it's about experiencing it, meaning the hikes between the remote villages, and being in one of the tiny towns at night. I wouldn't do a day trip there, personally.

I wouldn't take away from your 3 nights (two days?) in Tuscany, particularly if that's all the time you have there.

I concur with Patrick, it would not make sense to go over to the Cinque Terre because not genuinely a day trip. from San Gimignano. You would want to spend more time there, a day trip is not enough time to fully explore the area.

However, another option might be to take a slight deter when you drive up N from Sorrento. You could stop in the CT for the afternoon, then head eastward to San G. You could stop in one town and just see that one (Riomaggiore for example, since closest to La Spezia and highway access). You could have lunch in town (in Riomaggiore....Ripa al Sole is a terrific seafood restaurant high above the town, with wonderful ocean views). That might further whet your appetite to come back to the CT again on another trip when you can do the area more justice in exploration.

I agree

Driving from Sorrento to the CT takes
an entire day; it wouldn't be worth it.
save the CT for another trip