We will have a car for our time around tuscany. I would like to drive to Rome instead of train. Is this crazy? How long would it take?

According to mappy, it will take close to 3 hours. What will you do with the car when you get to Rome?

Will you actually be in Florence or somewhere in the countryside? You can't drive in Florence as it's restricted (as is much of Rome).

I hired a private car and driver to take some clients from hotel in center of Florence to hotel in center of Rome as they did not want to deal with the train. I took the train to arrive earlier and be on hand to meet them.

It took me less than 2.5 hours door to door and them over 5 hours. Traffic was very heavy and this was in late October.

thank you all. I don't want to spend 5 hours in the car with 3 kids and arrive in Rome for only 2 days. I will take the train.

Further to earlier answers, we have driven in many countries in Europe and in the USA; no problems. We have also driven in and around Rome and frankly it's a nightmare. Having driven from London to Tuscany last year we jumped at the chance of revisiting Florence by coach, and that trip was a success! In the past we have arrived in Florence by train, and the station is very central, as is the Terminus in Rome.

Sorry to piggyback on this but what would be the best way to take a car out of Rome? Is there a pick up point one can take a train to that avoids the local Rome traffic?
We're driving into Puglia but are taking a round about route.

If you are in Tuscany (not Florence itself) drive, but only if you want to leave car at airport.
welch -Where are you picking car up at? You should have no problem from there.

We could pick up the the within the city limits of Rome. That had been our intention. We've driven in London and Paris but I would prefer not ot spend hours trying to get out of Rome!

what about picking up a car at the florence airport? is that ok?

Florence airport is good. Not far from town, easy public transportation.

By the same logic, welch could pick up his car at Fiumicino. It's on the ring road/highway that encircles Rome. Fiumicino is a bit out of the way for Puglia, depends on how round about his route is. Others have picked up in the garage underneath the Villa Borghese in central Rome. If you're confident in finding your way easily out of Rome.