Rome airport to Lago del Salto: the short version
From a Rome airport you first travel into Rome, then on to Rieti, then to the shore you want. Lago del Salto and Lago del Turano lie in the province of Rieti, and neither airport has a direct rail or bus link to them. With a rental car you can drive straight from the airport. Without one, plan for several legs and check each timetable.
The trip needs planning, especially on Sundays and holidays, when timetables differ. If you would rather have someone else handle the route, look at the guided day trips from Rome to Rieti and the lakes. Details of the trains, buses and roads follow below.
Rome airport: Fiumicino and Ciampino
Both airports connect to the rail network, and neither connects to the lakes.
| Airport | Link into Rome | Time and fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiumicino (FCO) | FL1 regional train to Roma Tiburtina | 48 minutes; every 15 minutes on weekdays by day, every 30 minutes on Sundays and holidays | This is the useful one for Rieti, because Tiburtina is the station you want |
| Fiumicino (FCO) | Leonardo Express to Roma Termini | 32 minutes | Ends at Termini, not Tiburtina |
| Ciampino (CIA) | Airlink: airport bus plus train | Bus part €1.20 on top of the train fare, no discounts | A combined ticket is not automatically one contract with both operators |
For most travelers on public transport, Fiumicino with the FL1 to Roma Tiburtina is the most direct start. Do not expect an FL1 straight to Termini. If you arrive at Termini, you still have to reach Tiburtina, so check the local connections before you book onward tickets.
Our pick: a day trip with pickup in Rome
If you would rather not work out the trains and buses yourself, this day trip is offered from Rome with pickup at an agreed location. It goes to a vineyard near Rieti, the provincial town for both lakes.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Day trips from Rome to Rieti and the lakes
Guided options to the Sabine hills, Rieti and the lake area, with live prices and availability.
By train and bus from Rome to the lakes
COTRAL regional buses link Roma Tiburtina with Rieti. In the 2026 timetable (valid 14 June to 12 December), a direct train runs from Rieti to Roma Tiburtina, leaving at 06:12 and arriving at 07:59, with calendar exceptions. The Rieti station also serves the line to Terni, where a weekday example runs from 09:11 to 09:52, about 41 minutes. These are examples, not a regular pattern, and engineering works can replace trains with buses, as on the Terni to Rieti to L'Aquila line from 3 August to 6 September 2026. Check the current timetable for the direction and day you travel.
From Rieti you reach the Lago del Salto by bus or on demand. A local bus relation runs from Borgo San Pietro through Petrella Salto and Cittaducale to Rieti, but days, times and fares change, so confirm them before you plan around it. COTRAL also runs ChiamaBus, a demand bus, from Monday to Saturday between 08:00 and 19:00, except holidays. You book through the app or the call center, and the stops include Petrella, Varco, Castel di Tora, Colle di Tora, Ascrea, Paganico and Rocca Sinibalda. Single tickets are sold through the COTRAL app. A demand bus is not a guaranteed direct link from every beach to Rieti.
If you only want a base without driving, read the page on where to stay and pick a village with a ChiamaBus stop.
Driving to Lago del Turano and Lago del Salto
The two lakes need different last stretches.
Lago del Turano from Rome
Take the A24, leave at Carsoli-Oricola, then follow the SP34 toward Lago del Turano and Castel di Tora. A car park on the SP34 near Castel di Tora (Area sosta Guardaparco) serves as a meeting point for guided walks. Check fees and free spaces on arrival.
Lago del Turano →Lago del Salto
The lake is reached along the Strada Cicolana, about 20 km from Rieti, about 55 km from Avezzano and about 50 km from L'Aquila. The lake is long, so these figures do not apply to every shore. Borgo San Pietro and Petrella Salto sit at different points.
Borgo San Pietro →Drive times and costs
Use a live route planner for the day you travel. Traffic on the A24 and the lake roads varies, and a quoted time can mislead. Tolls and parking fees depend on your route and the place.
Weather and seasons →Summer rules in a village
Ascrea set up a restricted traffic zone in its center for August 2026 and moved the last COTRAL stop. If you visit in high summer, ask your host or the municipality about local rules before you arrive.
Where to stay →Compare rental car prices at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) for your travel dates on Economybookings.com.
Which route suits which trip
Choose by how much of the trip you want to organize yourself.
| Route | Good for | Main legs | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental car from the airport | Both lakes, several villages in one day | A24, then the SP34 or the Strada Cicolana | Parking and fees at your destination |
| FL1, then COTRAL to Rieti | Rieti as a base, one lake village by bus | Fiumicino, Tiburtina, Rieti, local bus | Calendar exceptions in the timetables, Sunday and holiday patterns |
| Train to Rieti, then ChiamaBus | Villages with a stop on the list | Rail to Rieti, demand bus to the shore | Booking required, not offered on holidays |
| Guided day trip | One day, no logistics | See the tours above | Check what the trip includes before you book |
For most visitors with a car or a driver, the A24 is the simplest way to the Lago del Turano. For most visitors without one, a night in Rieti or a lake village works better than a same-day round trip. You can also add Rieti or Terminillo to the trip: ASM bus line 513 links Rieti station with Terminillo.
Continue planning
Pages that help once you know how you get there.
Getting to Lago del Salto: frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from a Rome airport to the lakes?
No. From Fiumicino the FL1 takes you to Roma Tiburtina in 48 minutes. After that you continue to Rieti and then to the shore by bus or car. Plan the second part separately.
Which Rome airport is better for Lago del Salto?
Fiumicino has the FL1 to Roma Tiburtina, the useful station for Rieti. Ciampino has the Airlink bus and train combination, and the bus part costs €1.20 on top of the train fare. Both need onward legs to the lakes.
How long does it take to drive from Rome?
There is no safe fixed figure, because traffic and the exact shore change the time. For the Lago del Turano, take the A24 to Carsoli-Oricola and the SP34. Use a live route planner on the day you drive.
Can I reach the lake villages by bus?
Partly. COTRAL buses connect Roma Tiburtina and Rieti, and ChiamaBus serves villages such as Castel di Tora, Ascrea and Rocca Sinibalda on demand from Monday to Saturday, 08:00 to 19:00, except holidays. Book through the app or call center, and confirm times before you rely on a bus.
Can I visit the lakes as a day trip from Rome?
Yes, with a car or a guided trip, but the day is easier if you start early. By public transport, the legs add up, so many travelers stay a night in Rieti or at the lake. See the day trips page.
Is lago-del-salto.com the official site of the lakes or the municipalities?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the lake municipalities, the Lazio region, the dam operator, COTRAL, Trenitalia or any tour operator.