You can find out driving info using google maps and viamichelin websites.
I am all for exploring with a car, but if you don't have a lot of time allotted for wandering, then I don't see the benefit. You will have to stay in hotels that have parking, navigate through car-averse streets, etc.
I don't think it is worth it to go to Ronda unless you stay the night so you can see the sun set over the gorge. It also feels completely different at night when the day trippers depart.
Something to consider: since Madrid is not a priority on this trip and you'll only be there one night, you could take the train to Cordoba straight away, provided you arrive early in the day. It is a relatively short ride, and you'll be shaking off jetlag anyway. Then you could do two nights in Cordoba.
Arcos you can stop and see in between Ronda and Sevilla. You can visit Jerez as a day trip from Sevilla. Maybe someone else can describe its appeal because I did not find it.
Cadiz can also be visited from Sevilla, but I feel like it takes a couple days to pick up its charms.
If you are set on having a car, do some more reading and select a place that is really not accessible with the bus or train and make it worth your while. Antequera or Zahara would be my choice--places I have not been yet but if I returned to the area again with a car they are where I would head.
http://www.andalucia.com/ is a great resource

I have to second yorkshire's comments on a car. It's great if you have time to explore - but you don't really. You basically have 7 nights for Andalucia as you need to be back in Madrid your final night. I'd also agree that it's a good idea to take the train immediately on arrival in Madrid and head to Andalucia. You could spend 2 nights in Cordoba and 3 in Sevilla or all 5 in Sevilla with a daytrip to Cordoba. Then take the train or bus from Sevilla to Granada for 2 nights. From Granada to Madrid you could perhaps find an inexpensive flight or bus/train. You just don't have time to do much more then this and not time for exploring.

If you are absolutely set on a car then you could head immediately for 3 nights in Sevilla (by train), then rent a car for 2 nights and explore the white villages, drop off the car and spend 2 nights in Granada before heading to Madrid. You're no longer going to have time to visit Cordoba and your time in Sevilla is really down to 2 full days since the first day will likely be jetlagged.

If you were able to add 2-4 days to your trip then I'd consider my first recommendation with additional time for exploring.

Also I don't know your exact dates but definately try to be in Granada or better yet Cordoba during the May crosses festival (May 1-5). I'd opt for the 2 nights Cordoba, 3 Sevilla and 2 Granada especially if your visit coincides with this date.

Thanks for your helpful suggestions. Unfortunately our schedules don't allow for any longer time than this. I will definitely check out the website mentioned. Jerez and Cadiz are only thoughts, and I understand that our time is too limited. From what I've heard, Ronda is worth the time to visit, I only had not been sure whether it could be a day trip, en route, or if it's a must to spend the night. I also was hoping to avoid back-tracking, which we avoid if we go directly from Madrid to Cordoba ( 2 nights), drive to Granada ( 2 nights), drive to Ronda (1 night), drive to Sevilla ( 2 nights, or 3 nights if we take AVE train to Madrid early on the day of our flight home from Madrid). I explored flying from Sevilla to Madrid, but since I have already booked the tix from Boston- Madrid, a one-way ticket is quite expensive ($425pp). Is taking the AVE train from Sevilla to make a 14:00 flight from Madrid feasible? Technically, according to the schedule it looks possible, but is it risk? I saw some headlines about Iberia strikes, so maybe the train is better?
I very much appreciate the thoughtful and knowledgeable ideas.

sorry, another question I forgot to include: any tips on best time of day to visit Alhambra? I checked and saw some of the time slots are full, so I want to book as soon as we determine our itinerary.

Ronda is worth visiting - as is Cadiz (one of my favorite cities in Spain), Jerez, Malaga and numerous other places. I think the problem is you only have 7 days for Andalucia. Personally, I wouldn't shave Sevilla down to 2 nights in order to do a 1-nigher visit to Ronda. It would realistically mean just 1 full day in Sevilla - not enough time. If you must do an overnight in the white villages I'd cut the overnight from Cordoba and add it to Sevilla visiting Cordoba as a daytrip from Sevilla (or en route between Sevilla/Granada and Madrid).

You don't mention when you are arriving in Madrid so I don't know if the 14:00 AVE train is feasible. If you're arriving around 10 and especially if it's a weekend I'd feel comfortable with the 2pm train.

I think you'll be more than happy with 2-2-1-3. Luckily, time seems to slow down when one is traveling, I find anyway!

Can't advise on the morning train before a flight. I guess if a strike was to occur, you could rent a car--there would likely be notice.

If you do overnight in Ronda, there is a park where you can watch the sun set--one of my favorite Spain memories. People applauded! Also, check http://www.turismoderonda.es/indexeng.htm to see if any festivals are occurring.

And if you fall in love with the area, you can always return as so many here have.

The first AVE from Sevilla doesn't arrive into Madrid until 9 a.m. (10a.m. on the weekends). So if the flight is a morning flight it won't be possible to take the train from this won't work. If it's an afternoon flight then it's an option - although 4 overnight stops in a 8 day trip is a little much at least for me.

You also might try checking flights from Madrid to Granada and if there's a decent connection (and price) start your trip in Granada, then Ronda, Sevilla and finally Cordoba.

> Are these distances too far?

You can check the driving distances through viamichelin.com or mappy.com

> My husband really likes the freedom of driving and exploring. I understand having a car in the cities is not a practical idea.

I can understand that, but I'm not sure a car is particularly reasonable for this trip. As yorkshire said, you are trying to fit a LOT in, and the time you will lose to trying to navigate, park, perhaps taking a wrong turn or two, is IMHO worth considering.

> go directly from Madrid to Cordoba ( 2 nights), drive to Granada ( 2 nights), drive to Ronda (1 night), drive to Sevilla ( 2 nights, or 3 nights if we take AVE train to Madrid early on the day of our flight home from Madrid).

It really depends on what you want to do and experience, but:

I would hate to NOT be in the city from which I will be flying the night before a flight. If something went wrong, it would be a VERY costly problem!

and only 2 nights for Seville is really not much. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my 2 nights in Cordoba, I'd consider cutting that down to 1 night to give more time to Sevilla.

> any tips on best time of day to visit Alhambra?

You might want to consider visiting it twice, during the day and then again at night (for the Nasrid Palace). For your day visit, the time you book is your time to enter the Nasrid Palace; your ticket is for the entire morning or the entire afternoon. (I believe I've heard that the morning ticket allows you to be there all day, but I can't say for sure.)

BTW, I trust you know that many tourist destinations (museums, etc.) in Spain are closed on Monday and have planned accordingly?

You'll see some wonderful things no matter what you choose - enjoy!

Thank you so much for all your great thinking on this. We're currently thinking of taking the AVE directly to Cordoba for our first 2 nights, then train to Granada for 2 nights, bus/car rental to Sevilla , perhaps with a stop in Ronda, perhaps not, then 3 nights Sevilla. AVE back to Madrid for final night before flight home Sun. pm. This plan eliminates back-tracking and one night stays.. It does, however, put us in Granada on a Mon. so I need to check that the Alhambra is open-- thanks, kja, for the heads up on that. Do the Spaniards observe May 1 as a holiday as they do in Italy?

After mulling your comments, I have reconfigured our plan:
Sevilla 4 nights ( maybe a day trip to Ronda? Is that possible?)
Granada 2 nights
Cordoba 1 night AVE to Madrid
Madrid 1 night, flight home following day
We would likely skip a car, unless we choose to do a day trip to Ronda. Before I make hotel res., I am still toying with thought of 3 nights Sevilla, renting car and spending 1 night in Ronda, then to Granada for 2 nights, etc.
Those of you who know Ronda and the drive, which option is preferable? Should I just drop the idea of Ronda and stick to the train and the cities? We do like to drive and explore.I really do appreciate so much helpful thinking on this -- you guys are great!

> maybe a day trip to Ronda? Is that possible?

I believe it is possible, but that's not a day trip I'd want to take -- too far for a place that deserves to be seen in the evening as well as the day. But you don't need to rent a car to visit Ronda: Take a bus from Sevilla and then a train to Granada.

we'll consider that approach, too.

Ronda can be done as a daytrip by bus from Sevilla. It's about 2 hours each way. This is an option.

What about visiting Cordoba en route from Granada to Madrid? Then take this night and spend a night in Ronda between Granada and Sevilla. You could rent a car and do some exploring. I personally don't like 1-nighters but you had planned a 1-nighter anyways for cordoba and this avoids 2 in a row. Of course this gives up a night in Cordoba which would be a shame if this is during the May Crosses or Patio festival.

Just another thought....

Cathy's suggestion is kind of what we're planning now. We're going to take the AVE from Madrid to
Seville, 3nights ( or 4)
Granada 2 nights
Cordoba 1 night
Madrid 1 night
With the one night that's in play, we may just stay in Sevilla, or leave and go to Ronda for night en route to Granada. Each time I read about Ronda, it sounds like a place worth visiting, and as many of you have said, worthy of being there for the evening.

Sounds good - enjoy!

Do a circle.

1. land and stay overnight in Madrid.
2. Morning AVE to Cordoba. See sights. Take a later afternoon/eve AVE to Seville.
3. Spend a couple of nights in Seville.
4. Go to Ronda. Very, very nice place. I would try to fit it in.
5. Go to Nerja. The last nice place left on the Med. Stay at Balcon de Europe
6. Go to Granda. It's only worth one night since the Alhambra is the only reason to be there.
7. Return to Cordoba for the AVE

Jerez is not worth the visit, unless you are there on a Thursday for the horse show. Then go for sure. Sandeman has sherry tasting at their place next door for an added bonus.

I would also try to stay at a parador. They aren't just hotels - they are a real experience.The one at the Alhambra is hard to book. The one in Jaen is magnificent and the one in Carmon is beautiful. Ronda and Nerja have a nice one too, although the Hotel San Gabriel is just a great place.