Morocco road trip from Casablanca: a 7-day loop

Seven days is enough for a fine loop by car from Casablanca: Rabat, the blue town of Chefchaouen, the medina of Fes, then Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis before heading back. It's about 880 km in all. Most of it is on motorways, and the longest driving days take around 3½–4 hours. The two things to plan for are the mountain roads of the Rif, best driven in daylight, and parking, because you leave the car outside every medina and walk in. Here is the route day by day, checked in October 2026.

The loop at a glance

Driving distances and times are Rome2Rio's estimates; allow extra for stops, traffic and checkpoints.

Before you set off

• The car. Pick it up in Casablanca on the morning of day 1. Choose unlimited mileage and check the deposit and excess before you sign. Our guide to renting a car in Casablanca explains how. Compare cars in Casablanca.
• Tolls. Count roughly 115–170 MAD in motorway tolls for the whole loop. That's our sum from ADM's class 1 grid (October 2026), and the exact figure depends on where you join and leave the motorway. Keep cash in dirhams for the toll booths.
• Daylight. Both Canada and France Diplomatie advise against driving at night. Leave early on the two long days (2 and 4).
• Papers. Checkpoints are frequent. Carry your ID and the car's papers, and keep a blank accident report form (constat amiable) in the car (Canada).
• Season. In the mountains, conditions change with the weather, especially in the rainy season from November to March, when flash floods are possible (Canada).

Day by day

Day 1: Casablanca to Rabat

Take the motorway north: about an hour and a 25 MAD toll (ADM). Canada asks for extreme care on the Rabat–Casablanca motorway because of the heavy traffic. In Rabat, Wikivoyage advises against driving around the city yourself. Park at your hotel and get about on foot, by tram or by taxi.

Start with the Kasbah of the Oudayas, the oldest part of the city, with Andalusian gardens and views over the ocean. Entry is free. Then walk to the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, open 8 am to 6 pm and also free. If you have time, the Chellah combines Roman remains, a ruined Islamic complex and a large colony of storks (70 MAD). Wikivoyage's prices and hours date from 2017–2025 updates, so check on the spot.

Day 2: Rabat to Chefchaouen

This is the first long day, about 245 km and 3¾ hours. The first part is on the motorway north. Tolls there depend on your exit: Rabat–Kénitra is 14 MAD, and Kénitra Nord–Larache 41 MAD (ADM). The last part runs on national roads into the Rif. France Diplomatie says national roads are generally well maintained but sometimes narrow and busy. It also warns about unpredictable grand taxis, lorries and animals on the road.

In Chefchaouen the car stays outside the medina. Several small car parks ring the old town. They aren't signposted and are run by guardians, and Wikivoyage gives about 10 MAD a day, paid when you leave. Spots it lists include Plaza el-Majzen, a small lot near Bab El Ounsar and a larger area outside Bab El Mahrouk. End the day with sunset from the Spanish Mosque on the hill above town.

Day 3: Chefchaouen

Leave the car parked. Wander the blue lanes, have mint tea on the main square, Outa el Hammam, and visit the Andalusian-style kasbah (80 MAD for foreigners). Then walk up to the spring at Ras El Ma. The Grand Mosque is closed to non-Muslims.

For something more active, Akchour is about 30 minutes' drive away. Easy trails lead to the small waterfalls (about 2 km, 40 minutes each way) and to God's Bridge, a natural rock arch (around 1½ hours' walk). The big waterfall is 6 km each way. Rooms are scarce from mid-July to September, so book ahead then. For the full picture, see our two days in Chefchaouen.

Tip: Buying, carrying or smoking cannabis is illegal, even though you'll be offered it in the Rif (Wikivoyage). Say no politely and keep walking.

Day 4: Chefchaouen to Fes

Allow about 195 km and 3½ hours, again leaving in the morning. Cars can reach the Fes medina at only a few points. Wikivoyage names parking at Aïn Zleten, on the north-east edge, and an open-air lot near Batha at about 20 MAD a day. Bab Boujloud, Place Batha and R'cif are the usual drop-off points. Ask your riad which one is closest, and whether someone can meet you there to help with bags.

Unofficial guides are persistent rather than dangerous. Some will tell you the road ahead is "closed" in order to steer you somewhere (Wikivoyage). Smile, say no and follow your own map.

Day 5: Fes on foot

Spend the day in Fes el-Bali, the old medina. Enter through Bab Boujloud, then see the 14th-century Bou Inania madrasa (20 MAD). Look into Al-Qarawiyyin from its doorways, since non-Muslims can't go in, and visit the Chouara tannery early in the morning, as Wikivoyage suggests. Wikivoyage reported the Marinid Tombs closed for works in 2026. For three days' worth of ideas, see Fes in three days.

Day 6: Meknes and Volubilis

Fes to Meknes takes about an hour on the motorway (14–17 MAD toll, by exit). In Meknes, start at Bab Mansour, the city's largest and most striking gate, facing Place el-Hedim. Then visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail: free, open daily 9 am to 6:30 pm, and closed to visitors on Fridays. Wikivoyage says the Heri es-Souani granaries are under reconstruction.

In the afternoon, drive 28 km (about 30 minutes) to Volubilis, the ruins of a Roman-era town. Wikivoyage lists entry at 100 MAD, though some reports give less, and opening from 8:30 am until an hour before sunset. There's hardly any shade, so bring a hat and water. The small town of Moulay Idriss is about 3.5 km away and has a viewpoint terrace over the town. Wikivoyage warns that "guides" offering to show you the way up often expect large tips.

Day 7: Meknes to Casablanca

Meknes sits on the Rabat–Fes motorway, and France Diplomatie lists Rabat–Fès among the sections where traffic flows well. Count about 235 km and 2 h 40 back to Casablanca. Tolls are 36 MAD from Meknes Ouest to Sidi Allal El Bahraoui near Rabat, then 25 MAD on to Casablanca (ADM). If you fly out, the motorway to Mohammed V airport adds 7 MAD.

Where to sleep

Browse stays in Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes and Meknes. Wherever you book, ask in advance where to park and whether the riad can meet you.

Roads, the Rif and staying safe

• The Rif. France Diplomatie asks for particular care in the Rif, a hashish-producing area. Avoid secondary roads at night. By day, don't stop when people try to wave you down, because dealers may try to provoke a stop. It describes the main Al Hoceima–Chefchaouen–Tétouan road as flowing well.
• Motorways are the easy part. National roads are slower and narrower, so allow extra time and overtake only with a clear view.
• Medina parking. Agree the price with any guardian first, pay when you leave, never hand over your keys, and leave nothing on view.
• If there's an accident. With damage only, fill in a constat amiable with the other driver. If anyone is hurt, don't move the vehicles until the police arrive (Canada).
• Emergency numbers (sources differ, so both are given): police 190 (or 19 in towns), ambulance and fire 150 (or 15), gendarmerie outside towns 177. Canada lists 190 and 150, and France Diplomatie lists 19, 15 and 177.

The 10-day version

With three more days, slow down instead of driving further:

Checklist

• Car booked with unlimited mileage, deposit and excess known
• Licence, passport and the car's papers, plus a blank constat amiable
• Cash in dirhams for tolls (about 115–170 MAD) and medina parking
• Long days (2 and 4) started in the morning, to arrive before dark
• Riads asked where to park and whether someone can meet you
• Hat and water for Volubilis
• Emergency numbers saved: 190/19, 150/15, 177

Ready to go? Start with cars in Casablanca, then book your nights in Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes and Meknes. More ideas in all our guides.