The quickest answer: the most popular way to get from central Casablanca to Marrakech is the ONCF intercity train from Casa-Voyageurs station, which reaches Marrakech in roughly 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours, with departures through the day. Driving the 240 km down the A3 toll motorway takes about the same, near three hours door to door. One thing to get right up front: the Al Boraq high-speed train does not yet run to Marrakech — from Casablanca it heads north to Rabat and Tangier — so the Marrakech leg is a standard intercity train for now. Here's how each option works, and when to pick which.
By train (ONCF intercity)
This is the way most independent travellers go, and for good reason: it is cheap, frequent, comfortable and entirely free of road traffic. Trains leave from Casa-Voyageurs, Casablanca's main long-distance station, and run the 240 km to Marrakech in about 2h40 to 3h. Carriages are air-conditioned, with a choice of second class (the cheaper everyday option) and first class (a reserved, roomier seat for a small premium). On a busy weekend or in high summer, a first-class reservation is the surest way to sit together.
One detail trips people up: Marrakech trains leave from Casa-Voyageurs, not the smaller downtown Casa-Port. If you are based near the Hassan II Mosque or the old medina, take the short shuttle train or a taxi out to Casa-Voyageurs first. Buy tickets on the official ONCF website or app, or at the station counter; fares are modest but move with class and demand, so check the current price when you book rather than trusting an old figure.
Where Al Boraq fits in
Al Boraq is Africa's first high-speed train, and it is a genuine marvel — but it currently runs Tangier–Kenitra–Rabat–Casablanca, so from Casablanca it whisks you north, not south to Marrakech. The high-speed extension onward from Kenitra towards Marrakech is under construction and is being built with the 2030 World Cup in mind; until it opens, the Casablanca–Marrakech run stays a standard intercity service. If you read an opening date, treat it as a target rather than a timetable, and confirm with ONCF. For now, Al Boraq is the train to catch from Casablanca if Rabat or Tangier is your destination.
By private transfer or car (the A3)
Casablanca to Marrakech is about 240 km and roughly a three-hour drive on the A3 toll motorway — one of the straightest, smoothest stretches of road in the country, with no mountain passes on this leg. A private car takes you door to door, from your Casablanca hotel straight to your Marrakech riad, with all your luggage in the boot and no station changes. A driver can run it non-stop or build in a coffee, a photo or a proper lunch on your say-so. It costs more than the train, but for families, groups, anyone with heavy bags, or travellers who simply want zero friction, it is the most comfortable and predictable way to bridge the two cities.
By bus (CTM & Supratours)
The two reputable national coach companies, CTM and Supratours, also link Casablanca and Marrakech, taking roughly 3.5 to 4 hours for a little less than the train. Buses are clean and reliable but slower than the train and tied to their depots rather than the central station, so they make most sense if a departure time happens to suit you or you want to shave a few dirhams. For most visitors the train wins on speed and convenience.
At a glance
| Option | Rough time | Leaves from | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intercity train | ~2h40–3h | Casa-Voyageurs | Frequent; book 1st class to reserve a seat |
| Private transfer / car | ~3 hr (240 km) | Your door | A3 motorway; door to door, stops on request |
| Bus (CTM / Supratours) | ~3.5–4 hr | Coach depot | Cheapest; slower, tied to the depot |
| Al Boraq high-speed | n/a to Marrakech | Casa-Voyageurs | Runs north to Rabat & Tangier, not south yet |
Which should you choose?
For solo and budget travellers who pack light, the train is the obvious pick: excellent value, no traffic, and a quick taxi at each end. For families, groups, anyone with heavy luggage, or travellers who want a stop along the way and a single seamless ride to the riad door, a private transfer wins on comfort and certainty — a fixed price agreed in advance and a driver who leaves when you do. The bus is the budget fallback if a departure suits you. And remember: if your next stop is Rabat or Tangier rather than Marrakech, that is exactly when the Al Boraq high-speed train comes into its own.
A few practical tips
- Leave from Casa-Voyageurs, not Casa-Port, for Marrakech — the intercity trains start there.
- Check the ONCF timetable and fares before you travel. Times and prices shift with the season and demand; book on the official ONCF site or app.
- Reserve first class on busy days. On weekends, holidays and in peak summer, a reserved seat means your group sits together.
- Don't fly this leg. Casablanca and Marrakech are too close for a flight to make sense once you count airports and check-in.
- Keep some cash for taxis at each station, even if you mostly pay by card.
Arriving by air first? Our guide from Casablanca Airport (CMN) to the city and Marrakech covers the leg before this one. For moving around once you arrive, see getting around Casablanca, and for the wider picture try driving in Morocco. Or browse our private tours and arrange a transfer.