Landing in Fes puts you close to some of Morocco’s most rewarding landscapes. Fes-Saïs Airport is around 12 kilometres south of the city, so once you pick up a rental car, you can head straight towards the Middle Atlas or the nearby countryside.
Within a few hours, you can reach cedar forests, mountain towns, Roman ruins, lakes, medinas, and quiet country roads. These road trips from Fes Airport give you plenty of choice without needing another flight. Our guide helps you choose the right route based on your time, interests, and travel plans.
The routes below take you in different directions from Fes-Saïs Airport. You can head into the Middle Atlas, follow roads towards historic towns, or continue north into the Rif Mountains. Each drive has its own road conditions, stopping points, and sightseeing pace.
Drive south towards Ifrane and continue into the Middle Atlas. The route from Fes Airport to Ifrane is around 47 kilometres and takes about 1 hour in normal conditions.
Ifrane is around 1,650 metres above sea level, with a cooler climate than the Saïss Plain. It has red-roofed buildings, green spaces, lakes, and cedar landscapes. Spend 1 to 2 hours walking around town before continuing towards Azrou. Around Azrou, stop near the cedar woodland and explore on foot.
Barbary macaques live across these Atlas cedar forests, so avoid feeding or touching them. Use proper parking areas or safe pull-ins. Never block narrow roads for photographs. During winter, it can be challenging to drive through secondary mountain roads. Check local road conditions before leaving the airport. Plan most of a day for Ifrane, forest stops, Azrou, lunch, and the return drive.
For road trips from Fes Airport centred on history, head west towards Meknes, a historic city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The journey is around 65 kilometres and normally takes about 1 hour. Key sights include Bab Mansour, the medina, Place El Hedim, and imperial buildings.
Parking can be limited, so park near the old town edge, then explore the centre on foot. Continue towards Volubilis, around 78 kilometres from Fes Airport. The drive from the airport usually takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The archaeological site covers around 42 hectares below Jebel Zerhoun. You can see Roman streets, columns, mosaics, public buildings, and homes. These remains show how Roman and local cultures influenced each other. Finish at Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, only a few kilometres from Volubilis. Its steep streets make parking and walking more practical near the centre.
The route to Sefrou and Bhalil is one of the shortest road trips from Fes Airport. Drive southeast towards Sefrou, near the Middle Atlas foothills. The airport-to-Sefrou route is around 25 to 26 kilometres and takes roughly 30 minutes in normal traffic. Sefrou offers a quieter medina experience than Fes, with old streets, local markets, a riverside area, and nearby countryside. The town is also known for cherry growing and its long-running cherry festival.
From Sefrou, continue a short distance to Bhalil, a hillside village known for traditional cave homes built into limestone. Some are still used as private homes, so enter only when residents or local guides clearly welcome visitors. Roads become narrower through Bhalil. Park where local signs permit, then continue on foot.
Among road trips from Fes Airport, Chefchaouen is the longest single-destination route here. The drive covers around 207 kilometres north towards the Rif Mountains. The journey usually takes around 3 hours and 45 minutes to 4 hours. Roads become hillier as you approach the mountains, with more bends, villages, and slower sections along the way.
Once you reach Chefchaouen, park near one of the medina entrances and continue on foot. The historic centre is mainly pedestrian-friendly, so you will not need your car while exploring the old streets.
The medina is the main reason to visit, with blue-painted lanes climbing through the mountain setting. Plaza Uta el-Hammam forms the heart of the old town, with the Kasbah, cafés, and Great Mosque nearby. Walk beyond the busiest streets, and you will also find wider views across the surrounding mountains.
Driving there and back in one day can mean around 7 to 8 hours on the road. An overnight stay gives you more time to explore without squeezing everything into one day. A day trip is still possible if you start early and check your fuel, daylight, and return route beforehand.
For longer journeys, book with Final Rentals and compare economy cars or SUVs with unlimited mileage, included damage cover, and third-party cover.
Drive east from Fes-Saïs Airport towards Taza, around 122 kilometres away. The journey usually takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Taza makes a worthwhile stop before you continue into the mountains. Its historic centre includes an old medina, city walls, gates, souks, and religious buildings. Spend around 2 hours here if Tazekka National Park is the main part of your day.
Among road trips from Fes Airport, this route takes you into a very different landscape near Taza. Inside the park, you will find cedar areas, oak forests, valleys, caves, and rugged mountain scenery. Friouato Cave is one of the best-known attractions in the wider park area, with an underground landscape beneath the surrounding mountains.
Caves may close for safety or maintenance, so check current conditions before planning your visit around them. Plan at least a full day for Taza and the national park. Staying overnight in Taza so you’ll have more time for walks, viewpoints, and nature stops.
Imouzzer Kandar is an easy mountain drive from the airport. The route is around 31 kilometres and takes about 30 minutes in normal conditions. Drive south towards the Middle Atlas and stop in the mountain town first. Imouzzer Kandar is much higher than the Saïss Plain.
Walk around town before continuing towards Dayet Aoua. The lake is around 12 kilometres from Imouzzer Kandar, with a drive of about 15 minutes. The lake is surrounded by rolling Middle Atlas countryside. Use the town parking in Imouzzer instead of stopping on busy road edges. Around the lake, choose legal parking away from soft ground.
Before starting road trips from Fes Airport, make sure your route matches the conditions you may face. Driving in the mountains often takes longer, especially when the weather changes or traffic slows down. You should also plan around the time you want to spend exploring each stop.
When you rent a car at Fes Airport, you can start your journey soon after collecting your bags. Picking up your car at the airport also avoids an extra trip into central Fes. Before driving away, check the bodywork, tyres, lights, fuel level, and rental documents. Take photos of any existing marks and confirm how much fuel should be in the car when you return it.
Make sure your luggage does not block the rear window. A smaller car can be easier to drive around Sefrou, Meknes, or Imouzzer when you are travelling lightly. For longer routes to Chefchaouen or Tazekka, extra luggage space may provide more comfort.
Your available time can help narrow down which route makes sense. Sefrou and Imouzzer Kandar suit a half-day drive when you want somewhere closer to Fes.
For a full day, you can spend more time around Ifrane and Azrou or combine Meknes with Volubilis and Moulay Idriss. These routes give you several stops without spending most of the day driving.
Chefchaouen is much farther from Fes, so an overnight stay gives you more time to explore without a long return drive on the same day. Tazekka also suits a full-day or overnight trip because mountain roads and outdoor stops can slow the journey. Check the total driving time before choosing your route. A destination 4 hours away can mean around 8 hours on the road for a same-day return.
Begin longer road trips from Fes Airport with enough fuel for the next major town. Do not rely on stations near remote attractions.
Download offline maps before leaving the airport because mobile coverage can weaken on remote roads.
Save your destination and planned parking point. This reduces last-minute turns near busy medinas or narrow village streets.
In historic cities, park outside the tightest old quarters. Medina streets are often too narrow for cars to access.
Check road conditions before journeys in the Middle Atlas or Rif during poor weather. Secondary and mountain roads can be harder to drive on.
Choosing among road trips from Fes Airport depends on how much you’ll drive. Short routes give you more time to walk, eat, and stop to take in the views, while longer journeys need more planning, especially in the mountains. Check the weather, daylight, and road conditions before leaving to safely explore northern Morocco.
Rent a car in Fes with Final Rentals to start your trip with clear rental terms and useful flexibility. You can drive using your domestic licence, and an International Driving Licence is not required. Optional Super CDW is available at the rental desk and can reduce your excess in the event of an accident. Book and manage your car rental at any time. Download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
The best road trips from Fes Airport include Ifrane, Meknes, Sefrou, Chefchaouen, and Tazekka National Park. Your best route depends on available time and preferred scenery. Ifrane and Azrou are good for mountain landscapes. Meknes and Volubilis are great choices for history. Sefrou is a good option for a short day trip, while Chefchaouen is better if you can stay overnight.
Yes. Sefrou, Ifrane, Meknes, Imouzzer Kandar, and Volubilis are practical day-trip destinations. You can reach each one without planning a multi-day route. Total driving time still depends on traffic, weather, and sightseeing stops. It is better to visit Chefchaouen overnight because the return journey can take several hours by car.
Usually, no. A standard car is practical for most main roads in normal weather. Consider an SUV for extra comfort on longer mountain routes. An SUV is not automatically required for Ifrane, Azrou, or Taza. Always check road conditions before driving into the mountains, especially during heavy rain, snow, or colder periods.
