Morocco Road Trip
Summary
Why travel to Morocco
Being European, Morocco is the closest country that offers the biggest differences in experience a tourist could hope for: climate, vastness of landscapes, culture, food, architecture, etc. Besides, it’s on a different continent.
The road trip appeal comes from Morocco having one of the most incredible series of hairpins and twisted mountain roads, desert straight highways and off-road opportunities. If you’re up for a challenging and rewarding drive, Morocco is the best destination for you.
When is the best time to visit Morocco
There are three types of climates across three different regions in Morocco. The coast has warm and dry summers and mild winters. The mountains can get extremely hot during summer and have harsh winters. Lastly, the rest of the country experiences a continental climate with hot and dry summers and cold winters.
The hottest months in Morocco are in summer between June and August with temperatures reaching 50 degrees. The heat is unbearable so I would avoid travelling during this window. Morocco being my country of origin from my Dad’s side I had the opportunity to visit every year since I was a baby. I have sampled every season and every region and by far the best time to visit for me is between September and December.
How many days do you need in Morocco
We spent two weeks driving across Morocco which felt like a good amount of time to sample the main sights and sceneries. The duration of your stay will vary depending on your availability and preferences.
How to travel around Morocco
Car hires are cheap – we recommend hiring a small van, for example a Renault Kangoo which you can squeeze a double airbed in the back. Campsites are a mix but are really cheap if you’re looking to road trip on a budget. Alternatively, you can hire any car of your choice (make sure it has air conditioning) and choose to stay in hotels or Airbnbs. We did a mix of both when we toured across Morocco a few years ago.
4 things to know when doing a road trip in Morocco
Driving
Morocco has one of the best road systems in Africa, with 1,420km of cheap toll motorways. The main autoroute runs from Tangier, along the Atlantic coast to Rabat, Casablanca and El Jadida. Get real time traffic information and toll prices from Les Autoroutes du Maroc website.
Be careful and drive sensibly in Morocco. Driving standards are poor and roads themselves can be dangerous because they are crumbly and dry.
The distances between places are quite vast so make sure you have enough petrol and water as you never know what might happen. We had to turn around after driving for over an hour to reach a petrol station which was out of fuel.
Petrol
Fill up when you can as most petrol stations outside of major cities are often out of fuel.
Car hire
All the major brands of car hire are easy to find so we would recommend sticking to them in case you need any support and their maintenance standards are much higher. You’ll most likely pick up your car hire at the airport – the additional fees are tiny.
Campsites
Campsites in Morocco are certainly not up to European standards but there are several hidden gems (contact me for a list). If you decide to road trip across Morocco on a budget I would recommend staying in campsites as they are extremely cheap. You can spend a night in a campsite for less than 5 euros.
Best Morocco itinerary – 10 days
Tangier
Akchour
Chefchaouen
Fes
Volubilis
Tinghir (Dades Gorges)
Ouarzazate
Ait Ben Haddou
Agadir
Essaouira
Ouzoud
Marrakech
Mohammedia
Rabat
