We're planning on staying 4 days in Sorrento, and will be going there from Rome (will have spent 3 days Venice, 4 days Florence/Tuscany, and 4 days Rome by the time we get to Sorrento). We had planned on a day trip from Sorrento to Pompeii, but we're thinking it might make more sense to stop off at Pompeii as we are travelling from Rome-Sorrento. I've seen posted here that you can check luggage at Pompeii Scavi, and that you can purchase a train ticket in Naples that allows a stopover in Pompeii, continuing on to Sorrento. This itinerary would allow us more time in the Amalfi coast area, with Sorrento as a base,using boat and bus to get various places.
Because we will be flying back to the U.S. from Naples at the end of this period, we plan on spending one day and overnight in Naples as well.

pemquid: I was in Italy in 2002. We rented a car and drove from Rome to Sorrento. Once there, we took the Cirumvesuviana to Pompeii. From what I remember, it was a pretty short trip, was cheap and all in all very easy to do. Personally, I would rather go directly to SOrrento, get checked in at the hotel, and then spend the rest of the day exploring Sorrento. Remember: Pompeii is a LARGE site, and to see it all you will need most of the day (IMHO).
We are leaving for Italy again 04/14/06, and will be spending 3 days in Venice, 2 in Florence, 6 in Rome, and 3 in Positano. This time, however, we are going to take the train to Naples, the local train to Sorrento, and then car service to Positano. I too thought about doing what you suggested, but because of the reasons stated above, decided agasint it.
Either way, hope you have a great trip!

Thanks very much for the advice. If we go directly to Sorrento from Rome, we're thinking of taking a bus, which I remember reading somewhere was direct and ended up taking less time overall than the train, since you have to change trains in Naples. We do love train travel, but will be doing train from Venice to Florence and the Florence to Rome, so will get our train "fix."

It is possible, and not especially difficult, to see Pompeii as a stop between Rome and Sorrento, but it makes for a very long day. The route would be train to Napoli Centrale, then go down to lower platforms for the Circumvesuviana, the regional commuter train, get off at Pompeii Scavi and check bags there or take them to check at the Scavi entrance plaza (equivalent to several city blocks, maybe 500 meters or a quarter mile). After Pompeii, back to the Circumvesuviana and on to Sorrento.
I made the stop en route from Sorrento to Rome and it was an exhausting trip, especially the late-afternoon slog through the Naples train station and the challenge of finding a seat on the packed train after walking all over Pompeii(less trouble in the other direction as you'd be doing it earlier in the day and your train would probably originate in Rome.)
Buon viaggio.

We were going to stop on the way from the airport in Rome, but it is a long trip. One of the things we noticed, driving, was there were no signs for Sorrento, when we got close. We actually went by the exit and had to turn around. This was a long drive after a long flight and not a lot of fun.
We ended up taking a train from Sorrento to Pompeii. It was great--no traffic and a relaxing ride.