Naples’ volcanoes, Herculaneum and the Royal Palace of Caserta
Greek Cuma and the Phlegraean Fields, Herculaneum and the crater of Vesuvius, then the Bourbon palace of Caserta and Roman Benevento.
- Distance
- 148 km (92 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 03 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- Italy
- Updated
- July 10, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 148 km (92 mi) with 9 stops, from Naples to Benevento. About 2 h 03 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Italy
Route description
West of Naples lie the Campi Flegrei, the Phlegraean Fields, a volcanic area where the ground still rises and falls. Take the Tangenziale, a short toll road, to Pozzuoli, then continue to Cuma, one of the earliest Greek colonies in Italy, with the rock-cut Cave of the Sibyl. On the way back, stop at Pozzuoli’s Flavian Amphitheatre, whose underground passages are almost intact. Traffic is heavy; avoid rush hours.
Drive east through Naples on the Tangenziale and the A3 to Ercolano. Herculaneum was buried under metres of volcanic material in AD 79, which preserved upper floors, wooden beams and even food. From Ercolano, a road climbs Vesuvius; cars park at about 800 metres, and a shuttle bus or a 30-minute walk brings you to the path entrance, from where a gravel track reaches the crater rim in about 30 minutes. Tickets are sold online only, for a time slot.
Take the A1 north to Caserta, where the Bourbon kings built a palace to rival Versailles, with a park that runs three kilometres to a great cascade. Allow a full day; bikes can be rented. In the hills above, Casertavecchia is a medieval hamlet around a 12th-century cathedral, best explored on foot from the car park at its gate, and good for an evening walk.
Finish on the SS7 Appia, which heads east through the hills to Benevento, about 50 km away. The city’s Arch of Trajan is one of the best-preserved Roman arches anywhere, and the Roman theatre and the Lombard church of Santa Sofia, a UNESCO site, are close by. Parking in Naples is difficult and risky for loaded vehicles; stay outside the city.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Naples
Italy - 223 km
Archaeological Park of Cuma
HistoryPozzuoli, ItalyOne of the earliest Greek colonies in Italy, with a trapezoid rock-cut gallery known as the Cave of the Sibyl and temple ruins on the acropolis above the sea. Quieter than Pompeii; there is parking at the entrance.
- 38 km
Flavian Amphitheatre, Pozzuoli
HistoryPozzuoli, ItalyOne of the largest Roman amphitheatres, whose underground passages and animal lifts survive almost complete. It sits in the middle of Pozzuoli; street parking is hard, so use a car park by the port.
- 424 km
Herculaneum excavations
HistoryErcolano, ItalyA Roman town buried by Vesuvius in AD 79 and preserved under deep volcanic deposits, with multi-storey houses, wooden beams and mosaics. It is smaller and better preserved than Pompeii; allow two to three hours.
- 58 km
Mount Vesuvius crater path
NatureErcolano, ItalyA gravel path of about 30 minutes climbs from the park entrance at 1,000 metres to the crater rim, with views over the Bay of Naples. Cars park lower down, with a shuttle up; tickets are sold online only and the path closes in bad weather.
- 636 km
Royal Palace of Caserta
HistoryCaserta, ItalyThe Bourbon kings’ 18th-century palace by Luigi Vanvitelli, with 1,200 rooms and a formal park three kilometres long that ends in a great cascade. Rent a bike or take the shuttle bus up the park.
- 76 km
Casertavecchia
HistoryCaserta, ItalyA medieval hilltop hamlet of grey tuff houses around a 12th-century cathedral that mixes Norman, Arab and Romanesque styles. Park at the entrance and walk the lanes; it lies about ten kilometres by road above modern Caserta.
- 843 km
Arch of Trajan, Benevento
HistoryBenevento, ItalyA marble triumphal arch from AD 114, one of the best-preserved in Italy, carved with scenes from the emperor’s reign. It marks where the Via Traiana left the Appian Way; the old town nearby also has a Roman theatre.
- 90 km
Benevento
Italy
FAQs
How long is Naples’ volcanoes, Herculaneum and the Royal Palace of Caserta?
3-day road trip of about 148 km (92 mi) with 9 stops, from Naples to Benevento. About 2 h 03 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Naples’ volcanoes, Herculaneum and the Royal Palace of Caserta?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 03 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Naples’ volcanoes, Herculaneum and the Royal Palace of Caserta start and end?
It starts in Naples and ends in Benevento.
Which countries does Naples’ volcanoes, Herculaneum and the Royal Palace of Caserta pass through?
Italy.
