Morocco Road Trip with Kids: A self-drive itinerary and essential tips for 2025
Exploring Morocco by car is one of the best ways to experience the country’s diverse landscapes, rich culture, and hidden gems.
Even better? Doing it on a self-drive tour with your family!
We spent two months on a Moroccan road trip, with 7 weeks dedicated to a self-drive adventure that took us through the winding roads of the Atlas Mountains, along the sun-soaked coast, and into the magical Sahara Desert.
To our delight, Morocco’s road conditions exceeded our expectations, and the flexibility of having our own car made the trip not only easy but also budget-friendly.
Sure, we encountered the occasional police stop, but the freedom to explore at our own pace made it all worthwhile.
If you’re considering a self-drive trip in Morocco with your kids, here’s everything you need to know to make your journey safe, fun, and memorable.
Driving in Morocco
When we were first considering a road trip in Morocco, our main concerns were the state of the roads and corrupt police.
However, we were pleasantly surprised. At least with the roads!
Driving in Morocco is safe and not exceptionally hard, but it isn’t easy either.
Are the roads safe?
The roads in Morocco are generally well-marked and in good shape, with not many potholes to worry about.
The worst roads we came across were on the way to M’hamid for the Sahara trip and the Atlas mountains.
Both beautiful drives with amazing views but the route to the Atlas Mountains were filled with hairpin turns, rockfall and huge trucks there to fix the roads, whereas the sheer boringness of the desolate roads to the desert made it a tricky drive.
The toll highways were a dream. In general the condition of the roads in Morocco were great.
In the towns and cities the biggest risk on the road, is other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and animals.
Signs and speed limits
Make sure you follow the signs. Speed limit signs are a bit scarce, but in general:
60 km/h in towns and cities although a road may alternative between different speeds at very small intervals. 100 km/h on open roads and 120 km/h on toll highways
Stop signs, at junctions, look out for a stop sign and STOP.
Sometimes these signs may seem a little hidden, but stop anyway.
It is often reported as a police scam, but if there is a stop sign, you need to stop…plus there might be a hidden police man, just down the road waiting for you.
Police stops
There is a very big police presence on the roads in Morocco. In general, if you are following the rules, you should be fine.
We approached a junction, paused, turned and was stopped 50m down the road for not stopping at the stop sign.
This sign was hidden by a tree, but no amount of arguing would convince the police man otherwise.
This was an official fine. 400DH, a piece of paper documenting the fine or you can take your license to the police station.
This is what a genuine police fine looks like;
- Driving in Agadir, we were pulled over for going over the speed limit. We were supposedly going 80km/h in a 60 zone.
Not sure how that was possible with the traffic we were stuck in but this was a non official fine.
The police man wanted 100DH, we pleaded poverty, we were on our way to the airport, we had no cash.
Jak got out of the car, we managed to ‘find’ 50DH and this was enough to send us on our way.
Drive carefully, wear seat belts, follow the signs but have a small amount of cash available should you need to persuade someone that you were doing as you should.
Many Moroccan drivers will give you a heads up of an oncoming police stop with a flash of the headlights as a warning.
Hiring a car in Morocco
We hired two different cars in Marrakech (due to a time limit). Both companies were easy to deal with.
The car was… functional… but we don’t mind a car with a few rough edges. We knew we would be driving a few different terrains and didn’t want to worry about any potential damage.
Both cars were delivered and picked up from our accommodation in Marrakech. We always start our car hire search with Discover cars and have never had any issues with them.
Car Insurance in Morocco
Both companies we choose included fully comp insurance. We generally avoid airport pick ups if possible as we find they have a much harder sell on their insurance.
Our Morocco travel budget
Our Morocco travel budget for the self-drive trip was quite reasonable. Here’s a breakdown of our costs:
Food (Restaurants and Groceries): £16.25 per day.
Car Hire: £19 (GBP) per day, totaling £969 for 51 days.
Petrol: £100 for the entire trip, averaging £1.80 per day.
Accommodation: £16 per day.
Our basic daily costs for the family were approximately £53.05
We keep track of all our spending on an app called TravelSpend and Psst! 🤫 … use this discount code OFFER2024 to get 50% off the first year of the annual Travelspend Premium subscription.
Our route
In total, we had almost 2 months in Morocco so we were able to take our time travelling around the country to explore.
In you are on a tighter schedule, see our recommended itineraries here for one week in Morocco, 10 days and a 2 week itinerary.
Arrive in Rabat
We flew from Malaga to Rabat. We always use Kiwi.com and Skyscanner to find flights. For flights from Europe, Skyscanner usually wins and it includes more low cost carriers.
We looked at the ferry from Tarifa in Spain but the additional costs meant a flight was much quicker. Rabat is a great city to arrive to, I would definitely recommend it to fly into.
It has a very European feel and is a gentle introduction to Morocco.
Marrakech
We took the train to Marrakech and spent 5 days exploring. You can read our Marrakech itinerary here.
Imlil and the Atlas Mountains
After our hire car was delivered, we headed out of the city and through the hairpin turns of the Atlas Mountains for our stay in Imlil.
We hiked and cuddled goats for a few days before heading to the coast. The weather up here was pretty chilly!
Detour to the Donkey Sanctuary
On the way from Imlil, we made a stop at the Jarjeer Donkey Sanctuary. Run by a retired British couple, they have a beautiful donkey and horse rescue centre. It was here we learnt about emotional support donkeys and now we all need them in our lives!
Essaouira
Essaouira was one of our favourite stops and would be a great place to base yourself if you were just staying for a week. With an easy going vibe, you can wander around the medina or head to the beach for a range of water sports.
Tamraught and Taghazout
Heading south, we based ourselves in Tamraught but would move between the two places.
With long surf beaches, skate parks and a relaxed vibe, this place is definitely edging towards being hip and trendy.
The kids took a skateboarding lesson with Skate Taghazout and both quickly learned, it’s much harder than it looks 😊
Mirleft
We headed to Mirleft for a longer stay. There were a few worldschooling hubs based around the area and usually that is a good sign that there are lots of things to do with kids. Check out our guide to Mirleft here.
Ait BenHaddou
Ksar Ait Ben Haddou is a village in the High Atlas Mountains and is a perfect mid way stop to the Sahara Desert.
Ksar Ait Ben Haddou has been around since the 17th Century and it feels pretty special. It’s been used in lots of TV series and films too.
The tip here is to stay a night. Tour groups visit during the day on the way back from the desert so everywhere is really busy, but after 2pm, the place is yours.
We stayed at the Etoile Filante D’or but there are lots of good budget friendly options.
Sahara Desert (Erg Chigaga)
We debated about taking a trip to the Sahara with kids and the main reason for this was the difficulty of getting there.
But, we sucked it up and said ‘how often do you get to the Sahara desert and sleep on a sand dune?’ and that was how the decision was made. It was an epically long journey but it was worth it. Sleeping under the stars and waking up on a sand dune was pretty magical but in a cool way and not at all cliched.
Marrakech
After our trip to the desert, we headed back to Marrakech via an overnight stop in Zagora to rest tired eyes and numb bums from the long drive. We spent a night in Marrakech before flying to our next destination.
Marrakech airport has to be one of our worst airport experiences. From arrival at the airport, 3 hours in advance, we were in a continuous queue all the way until we boarded the plane. I would avoid flying in and out of Marrakech when I return to Morocco.
Hiring a driver in Morocco
If the idea of a self-drive tour of Morocco doesn’t appeal, it is worth looking into hiring a private driver.
As mentioned earlier, road conditions were generally great but driving through the Atlas mountains and Tizi n’ Tichka are not for everyone.
The hairpins turns of the Atlas Mountains are not for the faint hearted.
We limited our driving at night, the daytime madness of others seem to double when the sunset. We also had to navigate being stuck behind donkeys, big lorries and sudden switches to one lane. If you have a limited time and a long list of places to visit, consider hiring a driver.
It will definitely be cheaper to use public transportation or rent a car and self-drive than to hire a private driver.
You can find recommendations from other families on facebook groups
Using Public Transport in Morocco
Trains in Morocco
Morocco has well linked national rail lines; we used the train to travel from Rabat to Marrakech. It was easy and comfortable. We bought tickets from Rabat station the day before travel, alternatively you can book in advance using Trip.com.
Rabat and Casablanca both have modern and efficient tram services. You can buy your tickets from the kiosks and machines at the station and validate them on the tram.
Buses in Morocco
CTM and Supratours cover most of Morocco, both companies offer a reliable, comfortable service – you’ll even get wi-fi and extra leg room if you go for the “luxe” option a little like the GoBus in Egypt.
Using Taxis in Morocco
Taxi’s are the easiest way to get around cities. They’re metered, so you shouldn’t need to haggle or fix a price before you set off, get out if your driver refuses to use the meter.
A short ride is Dh7 during the day and Dh10 at night – remember to carry small change.
You can take a shared grands taxis are for longer journeys. These large vans run a fixed route and generally wait to be filled before setting off.
You can often offer to pay more to take the taxi yourself.
Final thoughts on a self drive road trip of Morocco
Morocco is a fantastic destination for a family road trip.
While driving in Morocco can be challenging, the freedom it offers to explore at your own pace and discover the country’s many hidden gems is well worth the small bumps in the road (get it?).
Morocco is a fantastic place for exploring, whilst it’s more challenging than driving in Europe, it is great place to take yourself on an adventure!
What’s the best time to take a family road trip in Morocco?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal. The weather is milder (although it is definitely heating up earlier. Summer is extreme heat and winter in the mountains is cold!
Are there any cultural tips for traveling with kids in Morocco?
Dress modestly (generally shoulders and knees covered) and respect local customs. Moroccans are family-friendly, so your kids will be welcomed warmly.
What do I need to know about currency and visas for a Morocco road trip?
The local currency is the dirham (MAD). ATMs are easy to find. For visas, most Western travelers don’t need one for stays up to 90 days, but it’s wise to double-check the latest entry requirements before you leave on the official website.
Our Favourite family planning tools
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site with the widest selection of budget accommodation. It’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss.
- Kiwi– We use Kiwi for our destination inspiration, and to help find those routes which are a little cheaper. It has a very flexible search option for finding flights.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is the place to go for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A great travel insurance option that offers load of flexibility.
- Genki – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel, gap years and digital nomads (including those who have already left home).
- Wise– Our go to for all international spending and transfers. Get a fee free transfer of 500GBP with our link
- ESim– We always set up an esim for arrival into a country to help navigate our way around.
- Discover Cars– Our go to for rentals, internationally. We always find the best deals here
- 12go– Our go to for booking buses, trains, coaches and boats
- TravelSpend– Helps us to keep track of our budget
