Car Hire Pescara — From the Adriatic to the Apennines
Pescara sits on Italy's Adriatic coast, a modern city of beaches, seafood restaurants and the wide boulevards that come with being the largest city in Abruzzo. But Pescara's real value is as a gateway. Head inland and you reach the Gran Sasso mountains, home to Italy's highest Apennine peak, wild landscapes where wolves and bears still roam, and medieval villages that cling to hillsides unchanged for centuries. Head south and you find the Trabocchi Coast, a stretch of shoreline where traditional wooden fishing platforms stand on stilts above the water. A rental car is the only practical way to unlock both sides of Abruzzo — the modern coast and the wild interior that most visitors never see.
Abruzzo is called "the greenest region in Europe" — roughly a third of its territory is protected national park or nature reserve. The Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park lies inland from Pescara, offering hiking trails, high-altitude plateaus and ski runs that rival the Alps. The Trabocchi Coast stretches south from Pescara through fishing villages that have become known for seafood restaurants built on the original trabocchi platforms. Sulmona, inland to the west, is a medieval town famous for sugared almonds and religious processions. Scanno, further into the mountains, is a picture-perfect lake town where traditional dress is still worn for festivals. Public transport exists but is sparse and slow in the interior. A rental car lets you reach trailheads, villages and viewpoints that buses simply do not serve.
Abruzzo — central-eastern Italy
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Mountains, national parks, Adriatic coast
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Pescara Abruzzo International (PSR)
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Coastal motorway, winding mountain passes
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Airport Pick-Up
Pescara Abruzzo International Airport is only a few kilometres from the city centre, making it one of Italy's most convenient airports for a quick start. Collecting your vehicle here gives you immediate access to the A14 motorway along the coast and the A24 towards Rome and the mountains. Your voucher will confirm the supplier desk location and any shuttle details.
City or Coastal Pick-Up
If you are staying in Pescara itself or in one of the coastal resorts to the north or south, city-centre offices offer flexibility. Central Pescara is modern and grid-based — easier to navigate than most historic Italian centres — though beach traffic in July and August can slow things down.
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Abruzzo is Italy's best-kept secret. It has national parks larger than some countries, a coastline that rivals anything in the south, and medieval villages where the only foreign language you hear is the one you brought with you.
Pescara is the modern face — wide streets, beach clubs, seafood restaurants that fill with locals on summer evenings. But the real Abruzzo begins when you turn inland. The Gran Sasso mountains rise behind the city like a wall. The A24 motorway tunnels through them, emerging on the other side into a different world — high plateaus, shepherds' huts, and the kind of silence that only exists far from cities.
Drive south along the Trabocchi Coast, where wooden fishing platforms stand on stilts above the water like something from a fairy tale. Eat at one that has been converted into a restaurant — grilled octopus, fresh pasta with clams, wine from the nearby hills. Then drive back to Pescara as the sun sets over the Adriatic.
This is why you hire a car in Abruzzo. Not to get from A to B, but to reach the places that do not have bus stops. The ruined castle at Rocca Calascio, used as a film set for its impossible views. The bear sanctuary in the mountains, where Marsican brown bears still live. The villages where old men play cards in the piazza and nobody checks their phone. Abruzzo is wild Italy. A rental car is how you find it.
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Choose for people, bags and roads
A category normally represents a group of similar cars, not a promise of one exact model.
- Compact: convenient for couples and tighter parking.
- Intermediate: more room for bags and longer journeys.
- Family or SUV category: useful only when the required capacity justifies it.
- Transmission: select automatic explicitly if manual is unsuitable.
Practical planning before departure
Mountain Roads
The SS17 and SS80 climb into the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga. They are paved and well-maintained but narrow, steep and full of hairpin bends. Snow chains may be required from November to April. Drive slowly, use pull-outs to let faster traffic pass, and never rush.
Coastal Traffic
The A14 motorway handles most long-distance coastal traffic, but the SS16 and local roads through beach towns become congestated in summer. If you are driving south along the Trabocchi Coast, start early and plan for slow progress through popular resort areas.
Fuel and Supplies
Petrol stations are plentiful on the A14 and in Pescara itself. In the mountains, they are fewer and may have shorter hours. Fill up before heading into the Gran Sasso or towards remote villages. Many stations in Italy close for a few hours at midday.
Local access, road and operating conditions can change. Check current signs, your supplier instructions and the linked source before travelling: Italy official tourism information.
Build a realistic first journey
Pescara to Gran Sasso National Park
Take the A24 west towards L'Aquila, then follow the SS17 into the park. Campo Imperatore is a vast high-altitude plateau — stunning in summer, a ski destination in winter. Corno Grande is the highest peak in the Apennines at just over 2,900 metres. The road climbs steeply — allow extra time and check weather conditions before you leave.
Pescara to the Trabocchi Coast
Drive south on the SS16 or A14. The coast between Ortona and Vasto is dotted with trabocchi — traditional wooden fishing platforms on stilts. Many have been converted into seafood restaurants. The water is clear, the seafood is fresh, and the views across the Adriatic are uninterrupted.
Pescara to Sulmona
Head west on the A25 or the older SS17. Sulmona sits in a wide valley surrounded by mountains, famous for its medieval centre, the Roman aqueduct that runs through the main square, and confetti — sugared almonds that are still made here. The drive passes through increasingly dramatic mountain scenery.
Pescara to Scanno and the Sagittario Valley
Continue past Sulmona on the SS17. Scanno is a medieval village on a lake, with a reputation for traditional costume and photography-friendly streets. The Sagittario Valley nearby is a protected area of gorges and forests. This is deep Abruzzo — wild, beautiful and far from the tourist routes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Abruzzo safe for drivers unfamiliar with mountain roads?
Yes, but take it slowly. The main mountain roads are paved and signposted, but they are narrow and winding. If you are not confident on steep, twisting roads, stick to the A24 and A25 motorways and visit the mountain towns as day trips from the valley floor.
Do I need a 4×4 for Abruzzo?
No. A standard compact or mid-size car is fine for all paved roads, including mountain routes. A 4×4 is only needed if you plan to drive on unpaved forestry tracks or visit remote trailheads — and even then, many are accessible by foot from the main road.
When is the best time to visit Abruzzo by car?
Spring and autumn are ideal — mild weather, green hills and few crowds. Summer is perfect for the coast and high-altitude hiking. Winter brings snow to the Gran Sasso, making it a ski destination. Each season has its appeal, though summer beach traffic is heavy.
Can I combine Abruzzo with Rome in one trip?
Yes. The A24 motorway connects Pescara to Rome in roughly two hours, depending on traffic. Many travellers fly into Rome, pick up a car, and drive east to Abruzzo for a quieter, er alternative to Tuscany. The contrast between Rome's bustle and Abruzzo's mountains is part of the appeal.
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