Marrakech to Fes: How to Get There and What to See Along the Way
There's a direct road between Marrakech and Fes, but the more rewarding version of the trip takes a few extra days and goes through the desert instead.
Marrakech and Fes are Morocco's two biggest draws for first-time visitors, and how you get between them matters almost as much as the cities themselves.
Is there a direct train or road between the two?
There's no direct train — despite both being major cities, the rail line between them runs via Casablanca and Rabat, which makes the train a long and roundabout option rather than a practical one for this specific route. By road, a direct drive is roughly 8-9 hours, which is doable in a single long day but not an especially enjoyable one. Most travelers either fly the direct route, a short domestic flight, if they just need to get from one city to the other quickly, or take several days to drive it via the desert instead.
Why the desert route is the better version of this trip
Instead of driving Marrakech to Fes directly, our marrakech-to-fes tour and similar itineraries route through the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades and Todra gorges, and Merzouga's dunes, before looping up to Fes. It turns a single dull driving day into a multi-day journey where the road trip is the point, not just the means of getting to Fes. This is by far the more common way travelers actually make this connection, and it's worth doing this way if your schedule allows 3 days or more.
How long should you allow?
A one-day direct drive is possible but not recommended unless time is genuinely the only constraint — it's a long day with limited stops. Three days is the minimum to do the desert route properly, including at least one night near Merzouga; our marrakech-to-fes-via-merzouga-3-day tour is built around exactly this. Four days or more gives more breathing room at each stop, particularly the desert camp and the gorges, and is the more comfortable version if you can spare the extra day.
Can it be done in one day?
Yes, by flying or by a long direct drive, but neither is the recommended way to experience this leg of a Morocco trip. The direct drive has genuinely less to see than the desert route, since it largely bypasses the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara entirely, and flying skips the landscape altogether. If you only have one day to connect the two cities, flying is the more comfortable option; if you have three or more, the desert route is worth the extra time.
Related tours
4-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour via the Sahara
A private, one-way route from Marrakech to Fes over the Atlas mountains and into the Sahara — real passes, real kasbahs, and a night under the dunes at Merzouga.
View Details
3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour via Merzouga
A one-way desert crossing from Marrakech to Fes — kasbahs and canyons on the way down, a night in the Merzouga dunes, and cedar forest on the way in.
View Details
4-Day Marrakech to Fes Tour with a Full Day in Merzouga
The one-way Marrakech-to-Fes crossing with a full extra day built around Merzouga — time with a nomadic family and a Gnawa-music stop in Khamlia, not just a night in the dunes and a drive on.
View DetailsRelated guides: Ait Ben Haddou, Merzouga
Planning where to start? See tours from Marrakech, tours from Fes.
Related reading: Ouarzazate to Merzouga: What's on the Road Through the Dades and Todra, Kasbahs of the Dades Valley: Morocco's "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs", Can You Take a Train From Marrakech to Fes?.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from Marrakech to Fes?
No — the rail line runs via Casablanca and Rabat, making it a long and roundabout option rather than a practical direct route.
How long is the drive from Marrakech to Fes?
A direct drive is roughly 8-9 hours. Most travelers instead take the multi-day desert route through the Atlas Mountains and Sahara instead of driving straight through.
Is it worth routing via the desert and Ait Ben Haddou?
Very much so — it turns a long, dull direct drive into the highlight of the trip, with the Atlas Mountains, Ait Ben Haddou, and the Sahara along the way.
Can Marrakech to Fes be done in one day?
Yes, by flying or a long direct drive, though both skip most of the scenery that makes this route worth doing in the first place.
How many days does the desert route between Marrakech and Fes take?
3 days is the minimum to do it properly with a night in the desert; 4 days or more gives a more comfortable pace.
Is flying between Marrakech and Fes a good option?
It's a reasonable option if time is genuinely short, but it means missing the Atlas Mountains and Sahara scenery that the overland route offers.
What are the main stops between Marrakech and Fes by road?
Typically the High Atlas Mountains, Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades and Todra gorges, and Merzouga's dunes, depending on the exact route chosen.