Casablanca to Marrakech: Train, Bus, Taxi or Private Driver?
Casablanca and Marrakech are 240 km apart on the A7 motorway: about 2 h 30 to 3 h by car, door to door, and 2 h 40 to 3 h 20 by train from Casa Voyageurs, depending on the train. The train is the cheapest comfortable option if you travel light from the city centre; a private driver is the easiest one if you land at Mohammed V airport, travel with family or luggage, or are staying in a riad in the medina.
Below you will find every option side by side, with what each one really involves on the day.
A taxi at each end, no direct train from the airport
Bus (CTM)
About 3 h 30 to 4 h
About 90 to 160 MAD per person
Tight budgets with time to spare
The slowest option, a taxi at each end
Shared grand taxi
Like a car, plus the wait until it is full
About 80 to 120 MAD per seat
Short notice, no reservation
Leaves when full, little room for suitcases
Private driver
2 h 30 to 3 h, door to door
1,800 to 7,000 MAD for the whole vehicle, depending on the vehicle
Airport arrivals, families, groups, riads
Book ahead so the vehicle fits your group
By train: the Al Atlas from Casa Voyageurs
The national railway, ONCF, runs Al Atlas trains from Casa Voyageurs station to Marrakech station in Guéliz, the modern part of the city. The direct trains take 2 h 40 and others up to 3 h 20, with about ten departures a day from early morning to late evening. Tickets are sold on the ONCF website and at the station, in first or second class. Second class costs about 90 to 150 MAD: ONCF fares follow demand, so booking early pays.
The train is comfortable and good value. What it does not cover is the beginning and the end of the trip: a taxi to Casa Voyageurs, another one from Marrakech station to your hotel, and your luggage on and off the train in between. If your riad is inside the medina, the last part is on foot.
About the high-speed train. The Al Boraq high-speed line does not reach Marrakech yet. The Kenitra to Marrakech extension is under construction and planned to open in 2029; until then, Casablanca to Marrakech runs on the conventional line.
By bus: CTM
CTM, the national coach company, runs air-conditioned buses between the two cities several times a day. Count about 3 h 30 to 4 h and about 90 to 160 MAD per seat, depending on the departure and the class.
It is the most economical option, and the slowest. Neither bus station is at the door of your hotel, so add a taxi at each end.
By grand taxi
Shared grand taxis leave when every seat is taken and charge about 80 to 120 MAD per seat; agree the fare before you get in. You can also hire the whole car, at a price agreed before you leave.
They are useful at short notice. On a three hour drive, though, a full shared taxi is tight, and there is little room for luggage.
By private driver: door to door
A private driver picks you up at your hotel, your apartment or the airport and takes you to the door of your hotel in Marrakech, or to the closest point to your riad, where its porter meets you. The 240 km of the A7 take 2 h 30 to 3 h, with stops whenever you want them.
What makes the difference:
No connections and no waiting. One vehicle and one driver from start to finish.
Space for luggage and children. A Mercedes Vito or V-Class takes up to 7 passengers and a Sprinter up to 12. Child seats are free on request.
Privacy. Only you and your companions on board, so you can talk, work or rest on the way.
A driver who knows the road and speaks your language: Arabic, French, Spanish and English are always available.
A private driver from Casablanca to Marrakech costs from 1,800 to 7,000 MAD for the whole vehicle, not per person, depending on the vehicle: a sedan and a luxury van are not the same price. The price includes the driver, fuel, tolls, insurance and bottled water, and the exact quote follows your date, your pickup point and how many passengers and suitcases you are. To compare it with the train for a family of four, add the four train tickets and the two taxis.
Many travellers land in Casablanca and go straight on to Marrakech. There is no direct train from the airport to Marrakech: the airport train goes into Casablanca and you change at Casa Voyageurs, with your luggage, after a long flight.
With a private driver the trip is 225 km and takes 2 h 45 to 3 h. The driver follows your flight, waits for you at arrivals, and up to one hour of waiting after landing is included. See our Casablanca airport transfer page for the details.
Worth a stop before you leave Casablanca
The A7 crosses farmland and small towns, so the drive itself has few sights. The best stop is before you leave: the Hassan II Mosque, built over the Atlantic, is one of the few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslim visitors can enter, on a guided visit, at set times outside prayer hours. With a private driver you can see it on the way out of the city and still reach Marrakech in the afternoon.
If you want to see more of Morocco between the two cities, our Imperial Cities Tour starts in Casablanca and ends in Marrakech after Fes and Meknes, in 4 days.
Which option should you choose?
You travel alone or as a couple, with light bags, from the city centre: the train.
Your budget is tight and you are not in a hurry: the bus.
You land at Mohammed V airport, travel with children or a group, have several suitcases or are staying in a riad: a private driver.
You are travelling on business: a private driver, so the trip becomes working time.
How long does it take to get from Casablanca to Marrakech?
By car, 2 h 30 to 3 h for the 240 km of the A7 motorway, door to door. The Al Atlas train from Casa Voyageurs takes 2 h 40 to 3 h 20 and the CTM bus about 3 h 30 to 4 h. From Mohammed V airport, a private driver needs 2 h 45 to 3 h for 225 km.
Is there a direct train from Casablanca airport to Marrakech?
No. The airport train goes into Casablanca, where you change to a Marrakech train at Casa Voyageurs. With the connection and the waiting, the trip from the terminal takes longer than the drive.
Is there a high-speed train between Casablanca and Marrakech?
Not yet. The Al Boraq high-speed line does not reach Marrakech today. The Kenitra to Marrakech extension is under construction and planned to open in 2029; until then the trip runs on the conventional line.
How much does a private driver from Casablanca to Marrakech cost?
From 1,800 to 7,000 MAD for the whole vehicle, not per person, depending on the vehicle you choose and on where we pick you up and drop you off. The price includes the driver, fuel, tolls, insurance and bottled water. Send us your date and your number of passengers and suitcases and we send you the exact quote.
Can we stop on the way between Casablanca and Marrakech?
Yes. With a private driver you stop when you want: for a coffee, for photos, or for a visit before you leave Casablanca, such as the Hassan II Mosque. Tell us when you book and we plan the timing; a longer detour is priced into the quote.
