Is Morocco Good for a Road Trip: Guide to Driving in Morocco

Morocco is one of the best African countries for doing a road trip. Even though it may not feel so at first, if you love driving and you consider yourself a good driver, you should definitely go for it! I had the very same question is Morocco good for a road trip and upon some research, I decided I have to do it.

And honestly, it was the best decision ever made because the best way for exploring Morocco is at your own pace and freedom. Which is why in this blog post I am sharing my tips for driving in Morocco to help you decide if this is something you’d feel comfortable with doing.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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📖 Read my The Ultimate 1 Week in Morocco Itinerary blog post.

Why Choose Morocco for a Road Trip

I already mentioned this briefly in my introduction, but ultimately doing a road trip in Morocco will give you freedom to explore the country at your own pace.

While there are many great tours you can do, especially for the Sahara Desert, often they seem packed with activities which may be a lot to some.

With renting a car, you can choose how many days you want to spend in each location.

But for me, the best part is that you can come across many hidden gems while driving and then pull the car if you like it. For example, when we were driving from Fes towards Merzouga, we saw an oasis and decided to stop. Also, we did that when we were at the High Atlas Mountains.

For me, nothing beats that freedom when driving, so if you’re like me, then definitely rent a car.

Is It Safe and Practical to Drive in Morocco

I think safety and practicality of driving in Morocco is of the main concern for everyone (it was also my concern), so let’s go over it.

Road Conditions & Driving Culture

I must say that I was surprised how good the roads were in Morocco! They were actually even better than in some European countries. You can really see how the government is investing heavily in infrastructure development.

Having said that, you can come across many road works while driving, which can slow down your ride at times.

But otherwise, the main roads are really great and if you stick to them, you will find driving in Morocco quite enjoyable. If you’re driving from one major location towards another, Google Maps will point you to the main roads and highways, so follow these routes.

The only bad road we came across was in Merzouga, and that was because we had to enter the village to leave our car so we could be dropped off at the desert camp.

Small villages have dirt roads mainly, but again, if you’re sticking to the main roads, you’ll be fine.

📖 Check my How to Visit the Sahara Desert in Morocco – Travel Guide blog post.

Safety & Scams

In terms of safety, we were feeling very safe on our road trip (I travelled with my husband FYI).

Morocco is a very relaxed and laid-back country. Overall, I felt the safety was similar to driving in Europe.

That said, there is something important to be aware of – some drivers, including us, have experienced questionable traffic stops. In our case, we were once told we hadn’t stopped at a stop sign that wasn’t even on our side of the road. Another time in the High Atlas Mountains, the officers couldn’t explain in English what we’d done and eventually let us go.

From my experience, the best approach is to stay calm, polite and avoid arguing. Having small notes in local currency or euros can make the situation quicker to resolve if a “fine” is requested on the spot. In one case, we were first asked for €50, but after some back-and-forth, the amount dropped to €10.

It’s frustrating, especially when you know you haven’t done anything wrong, but it’s worth accepting it as a possible inconvenience and moving on so it doesn’t ruin your trip.

Tips for Renting a Car in Morocco

✅ My recommendation and the platform I’m personally using is DiscoverCars.

The reason why I love them is that they offer flexible cancellations and competitive prices. I often find better deals there than anywhere else.

So, when it comes to renting, the way I always do it, and what I would recommend to you as well, is to only book the car via DiscoverCars.

You will see that they will offer you full insurance as an add-on, but I prefer buying this directly with the rental car company when I’m picking up the car.

That way you are fully insured with the rental car company, so they won’t care if the car was returned scratched or something like that. If you buy the full insurance with DiscoverCars instead, then the rental car company will show you all the previous car damages when you pick up the car and they will check for the new damages very carefully when you return the car.

Often they may try to charge you for some scratch you may not have even done. Yes, DiscoverCars is then obliged to refund you the price you paid for the damage, but I would rather save myself from all that trouble of filing complaints and refunds, and get the full insurance with the rental car company directly.

So, for example, if you book a car with Sixt on the DiscoverCars platform, once you get to pick up a car at the Sixt office, then tell them you want to purchase the full insurance. The daily rate is usually between €10 and €50 (depending on the country, location and rental company) and they all charge for a maximum of 10 days. If your trip is longer, then you’re immediately covered for the rest of the trip, but you only pay for the first 10 days. If your trip is 5 days, you only pay the insurance for 5 days of course.

Also, if you get the insurance with a rental company directly, they usually decrease your deposit. What I do is, I always email the car company I booked the car with (let’s say Sixt in this case) and ask them what is the daily insurance rate and how much the deposit will be in that case. That way there will be no surprises when you get to pick up the car, especially if they would get to charge you more than what they said to you in an email.

Driving Rules & Etiquette

In Morocco the driving is on the right, so if you’re not too used to it, opt for the automatic car.

Moroccans often don’t indicate the signals, if they’re turning left or tight, so the best is to keep a reasonable distance between you and the car in front just in case.

Follow the traffic rules and don’t go over the speed limit, as tempting as it may be on the open road.

As EU Citizens, we only had to bring our driving licenses, but double check if you need an international driving permit, so you have all the valid documentation with you.

And obviously, don’t drink and drive!

Planning & Navigation

In terms of planning, I would advise not to plan a lot of activities on the day you’re arriving at the new destination, especially if you’re going to Merzouga.

No matter on which side of Morocco you are, if you’re driving to the Sahara Desert, know that this will be a long ride. From Fes or Marrakech the drive will be about 7h per one way. Obviously, you will need to make stops for food and toilette, so plan to be on the road for the whole day.

As for the navigation, I am always relying on Google Maps. While some people will advise you to download the map (which isn’t bad advice), I didn’t feel the need for it because even in the middle of the desert, we had the internet. I recommend Airalo for e-sim or you can get the physical sim at the airport.

When & Where to Travel

Here’s what you need to know about the weather in Morocco alongside my suggested road trip (the one I did).

Seasonal Considerations

Morocco is a diverse country with different climates. Generally, the best time to visit Morocco is in the shoulder season; from March to May and from October to December.

However, Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts are good to visit throughout the year, even in the summertime. But don’t go to Marrakech and the desert area in the summer because it gets really hot. Even in late October we had 35 C (95 F) temperatures!

Also, if you plan on driving through the epic Atlas Mountains, then the best is to avoid the winter months (December to March) as the passes can be closed due to snow.

Suggested Road Trip Itinerary

📖 You can read more about it in my The Ultimate 1 Week in Morocco Itinerary blog post.

Morocco Road Trip Challenges

One of the challenges of doing a road trip in Morocco is the urban traffic, especially in Marrakech. For that reason we decided to make Marrakech our last stop and leave the car at the airport and then take a taxi to the city centre, so we can explore it.

Even that little bit of driving we did just to leave the car was hectic, but it’s manageable, you just need to drive at your own pace and try not to behave like the locals. Ignore the honks too.

Another challenge is the hairpin pass at the High Atlas Mountains. Only do it if you’re an experienced driver!

Essential Tips for Morocco Road Trip

Is Morocco Road Trip Worth It

Personally, I would do the road trip again and again. It is in general my favourite way of exploring a country, but of course not all destinations are road trip-friendly.

But Morocco definitely is! The driving experience and nuances are a bit different than what we may be used to at home or in the West, but nevertheless, it is absolutely doable to road trip around the country.

You will have freedom to spend at a place however long you’d like and you can explore off the beaten track places.

With proper planning your road trip in Morocco can go as smoothly as possible and it can be one of your favourite travel experiences. It surely was mine!

So, doing a road trip in Morocco is definitely worth it despite the challenges.

✅ Check the car rental prices.

Where to Stay During Your Morocco Road Trip

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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