Casablanca to Marrakech: Train, Bus, Car or Private Driver, Plus What to Do

Casablanca is where most international flights to Morocco land, and Marrakech is where many travellers actually want to be. Between the two lie roughly 240 km of motorway across the Chaouia plains and the Rehamna plateau. This guide compares the ways to make the journey, from central Casablanca or straight from Mohammed V Airport, then sets out a realistic two to three day plan for Marrakech.

If you are just landing, our Casablanca airport arrival guide covers immigration, cash and getting out of the terminal before you hit the road.

How long does it take to get from Casablanca to Marrakech?

By car, allow 2.5 to 3 hours on the A7 motorway, depending on where you start and how heavy the traffic is leaving Casablanca. The direct train takes about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours. Coaches take 3 to 4 hours, depending on the departure terminal and the number of stops.

On top of that comes the last mile: getting to the station in Casablanca, then from Marrakech station to your riad or hotel. That is often where the real difference between the options lies.

Train, bus, car or private driver: an honest comparison

Train and coach fares change with dates and class, so check the operators' official websites before you travel.

Taking the ONCF train

This is the go-to option for independent travellers. Al Atlas trains run from Casa Voyageurs to Marrakech several times a day, from early morning to evening, with first and second class. Marrakech station sits in the Hivernage district, around 15 minutes by taxi from Jemaa el-Fna.

There is no direct train from Mohammed V Airport to Marrakech. You take the airport rail shuttle into Casablanca and change there, and with the connection the whole trip often runs past four hours.

Taking the coach

CTM and Supratours are the two main operators. Their coaches are air-conditioned and generally punctual, with a small charge for checked luggage. In Marrakech, both terminals are outside the medina, so you will still need a taxi to reach your riad.

Driving yourself on the A7

The motorway is in good condition and well signposted, with regular service areas. The toll for a standard car is around 80 to 90 MAD for the full run, depending on where you join. The real challenge starts in Marrakech: busy traffic around the city walls, scooters everywhere, and a medina you cannot drive into.

When does a private driver make sense?

A private transfer is worth it in a few clear situations:

• you are a group: the price is per vehicle, so with seven people it works out at about 260 MAD each;
• you are travelling with children, older relatives or a lot of luggage, golf bags included;
• you are coming off a long-haul flight and do not want to juggle a shuttle, a connection and a taxi;
• you want to stop along the way or be dropped as close as possible to your riad.

For a solo traveller with a light bag, the train is the better-value choice, and we would rather tell you so.

Casablanca airport to Marrakech: going direct

Many long-haul flights land in Casablanca even when Marrakech is the real destination. A direct road transfer from the airport skips central Casablanca entirely, since the airport is south of the city and already on the way. At Alfa Evasions, airport to Marrakech transfers are priced on request, with a driver waiting in arrivals holding a sign with your name.

If you would rather spend a night or two in Casablanca first, see our guide to things to do in Casablanca.

Stops on the way

To be straightforward: the Casablanca to Marrakech road crosses mostly farmland and phosphate country, with no major sights right off the motorway. Stops are mainly practical.

• Settat: the main town of the Chaouia region, roughly an hour from Casablanca. The service areas around Settat are a good place for a coffee and a stretch.
• Benguerir: a phosphate town now known for Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and its planned green city. It is an architectural curiosity rather than a sightseeing stop.
• The Jbilet hills: as you approach Marrakech, these dry hills mark the final stretch, and on clear days the High Atlas peaks appear on the horizon, snow-capped in winter.

With a driver, you can stop at whichever service area you like, with no timetable to keep.

What to do in Marrakech in 2 to 3 days

The Medina of Marrakesh has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Most of the highlights are walkable, and two to three days lets you see the main sights without rushing.

Day 1: the heart of the medina

• Koutoubia Mosque: its 12th-century minaret, about 77 metres tall including the spire, is the landmark you will navigate by. The mosque is open to Muslims only, but the surrounding gardens are open to everyone.
• Jemaa el-Fna: the square's cultural space is recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage (proclaimed in 2001, inscribed on the Representative List in 2008). Quiet in the morning, it comes alive in the late afternoon with storytellers, musicians and food stalls.
• The souks: north of the square, each lane has its own trade, from leather to spices. Bargain with a smile and take your time.

Day 2: palaces and monuments

• Bahia Palace: zellige tilework, painted cedar ceilings and planted courtyards. Entry is about 100 MAD for foreign adults, with indicative hours of 9am to 5pm.
• Saadian Tombs: the royal necropolis of the Saadian dynasty, next to the Kasbah Mosque. Prices and hours are similar to the Bahia. Arrive early, as the queue builds quickly.
• Ben Youssef Madrasa: a former Quranic school with some of the finest decoration in the city. Entry is 50 MAD for adults, with advertised hours of 9am to 7pm.

Day 3: gardens and the new town

• Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum: tickets are sold only online, through the garden's official ticketing site, with no sales at the gate. Book a few days ahead in high season. The YSL Museum is closed on Wednesdays.
• Menara Gardens: a large basin and olive grove about 3 to 4 km south-west of Jemaa el-Fna. The gardens are free to enter; only the pavilion charges a fee.
• The Palmeraie: north of the city, a calm place for a late-afternoon drive or a camel ride.

Monument prices and opening hours change from time to time, especially during Ramadan, so check them the day before.

For golfers

Marrakech has plenty of courses. Palm Golf Palmeraie, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., offers 27 holes (an 18-hole and a 9-hole course) set among the palm trees. Alfa Evasions runs golf transfers with room for bags, between your hotel and the courses.

Day trips from Marrakech

• Ourika Valley: about an hour's drive into the foothills of the High Atlas, with Berber villages and waterfalls.
• Agafay Desert: a stony desert about 45 minutes away, popular for sunsets and dinners at desert camps.
• Imlil and the High Atlas: around 1 hour 20 minutes by road, the starting point for hikes towards Toubkal.

These excursions are priced on request. For a day with a driver around Casablanca, full-day chauffeur hire is 1,800 MAD with 200 km included, then 10 MAD per extra kilometre.

When is the best time to visit Marrakech?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) bring the most comfortable temperatures. In July and August, afternoons often go above 40°C: sightsee early, rest through the hottest hours and save the evening for Jemaa el-Fna. Winter days are mild and sunny, but nights are cold and some riads have limited heating.

Getting to your riad by car

This catches many visitors out. The medina is largely closed to cars, and most riads sit at the end of narrow lanes. Your driver will drop you at the nearest gate (bab) or car park, and a porter with a handcart usually takes your bags the rest of the way.

A few tips:

• ask your riad for the name of the nearest gate or car park and pass it to your driver;
• tell the riad your arrival time so someone can meet you;
• keep a few coins for the porter.

Practical tips for the journey and your stay

• Leave Casablanca before 8am or after 10am to avoid the morning rush.
• Carry water and some cash: several monuments do not take cards at the ticket desk.
• Dress with shoulders and knees covered for the medina.
• If you are heading to the coast next, see our Atlantic coast road trip from El Jadida to Essaouira.

How Alfa Evasions can help

Alfa Evasions is a private tourist transport company based in Quartier Florida, Sidi Maarouf, a few minutes from the airport. Our licensed drivers use air-conditioned Hyundai Staria and Renault Trafic vans, with free on-board Wi-Fi and a welcome basket of water and treats.

The Casablanca to Marrakech transfer is 1,800 MAD per vehicle (about 172 euros) for 1 to 7 passengers on our 2025 rates. If your driver needs to stay overnight outside Casablanca, there is a 400 MAD supplement. We are the transport partner of Casablanca Suites & Spa in Sidi Maarouf and we work around the clock.

You can book Casablanca to Marrakech online, or message us on WhatsApp at +212 641 99 11 13 (phone: +212 522 97 20 52) for an airport, golf or day-trip quote.