Driving from Rothenburg to Salzburg...time to divert to Neuschwanstein Castle?
 

The only chance we'll have to see the Castle on our upcoming trip will be on the same day we have to drive from Rothenburg to Salzburg. Is this too much ground to cover in one day? It's not rreally on the way, and by appearances on the map, it may be impractical, unless we just wave to the castle on our way by. ;-)
Would appreciate insight from anyone familiar with this area.

It is doable--if you don't make a bunch of stops along the way. Depending on your driving style, it's only a 2-1/2 or 3 hour drive from Rburg to Hohenschwangau and a 3 hour drive on to Salzburg. Make advance reservations to see Neuschwanstein, and you'd be fine.

If you don't have any particular time that you have to be in Salzburg, you could even add Hohenschwangau castle or make a couple of short stops along the way; e.g., the Wieskirche. It would be a full day, but an interesting one.

Another alternative would be to visit Ludwig's Herrenchiemsee--it would be a shorter drive as it is southeast of Munich.

If you're REALLY pressed for time, there are numerous castles and cathedrals (each full of history as well as beauty) within 40 miles of Rothenburg---just get a map which illustrates the various attractions. The one I'm thinking of, whose name I forget, has the most interesting marked in green, the fairly interesting marked in yellow. Or simply inquire where some "schloss" are. Personally, my opinion of Neuschwanstein is that it's commercial, overrated, and suffers by comparison to others in the triangle between Wurzburg/Rothenburg/Lindau, but it's a ticket that requires punching since people will ask if you saw it, but won't ask if you saw Weikersheim or Schillingsfurst.

The palace at Herrenchiemsee is much more elaborately decorated than any of the others (except perhaps for Linderhof) but it is larger than the latter. It is truly the closest "Versailles imitation" of them all. However, it would probably take longer to visit than the others since you have to drive to Stock, then take a boat across the lake (20 minutes or so each way) to the island, etc.
A great place to visit but you may not have enough time this trip.

Thanks for your replies.