We will be arriving in Frankfurt from Australia 6am 29th August and have arranged to pick up hire car at International Airport and travel to Rothenburg, where we are staying a Burg Hotel the night. As we have to drop off the car in Munich by 6pm on the 30th August (in order to catch a train to Venice early the next day), where would be the best point to pull off the Romantic Road to head up to Munich, as it looks like we will be going too far out of our way to go to Fussen with such limited time.

Follow the RR South to Augsburg and then turn off onto the highway A8 to Munich.

It's a pity that you have so little time - there is a lot more to see along the RR than Rothenburg (which is wonderful but an overcrowded tourist trap), the route could easily keep you busy for a week.

If you're on the road early the second day, stop for lunch at Dinkelsbühl or Nördlingen (don't try to "do" both, choose one). Both are as beautiful as Rothenburg but far less crowded.

I have to admit that your itinerary sounds like a real rat-race to me, especially taking into consideration that you'll be suffering from jet lag. Well, that's your choice. Enjoy...

From our experience, you can not and should not make it. Check the distance probably 1,000+ Km right upto Fussen and back.... not worth for hardly less than 2 days. Recommend, dont take car rather take a train ride to Rothenburg and enjoy hardly full 24 hours.... a nice small place.

Hi G,

I also suggest Rothenburg to Munich via Nordlingen (visit) and Augsburg (bypass).

You might be able to squeeze in Dachau if you start early.

See www.viamichelin.com for route.

Another vote for a stop in the wonderful town of Dinkelsbuhl. Check out the storks nesting on top of the Rathaus in the center of town.

If you really wanted to see Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles on your drive from Rothenburg to Munich, you could do it.

It's actually about 250 km. from Rothenburg to Fuessen (about 2 to 2-1/2 hours) and another 135 or so from Fuessen to Munich (between 1-1/2 and 2 hours). About 4 hours total on the road driving time covering just under 400 km. Of course driving times vary based on your driving style and road/weather conditions.

If you got a very early start in the AM and went by Autobahn most of the way with no stops along the way, you could be in Fuessen (actually Hohenschwangau village) by 9 or 9:30 AM, see both castles (if you make your reservations in advance by phone or on the internet) and easily be in Munich in time for your train--probably with a short stop to see the Wieskirche on the way.

But it would be a very hectic day. I wouldn't do it--unless there was a burning desire to see those castles.

We also enjoyed Dinkelsbuhl and Nordlingen.