Staying in Casablanca but want to see more than office towers and the Corniche? With a rental car, Rabat, Mohammedia, Azemmour and El Jadida all become easy day trips, as long as you understand real drive times, toll roads, and where to park.
This guide is written for travelers who want practical, time-based planning: how long each route really takes, what the roads are like, and how to build a realistic day trip without turning it into a 10-hour driving marathon.
Table of Contents (Checklist)
1) Why Casablanca works as a day-trip base
2) Real drive times: Rabat, Mohammedia, Azemmour & El Jadida
3) Rabat by rental car: capital city in a day
4) Mohammedia: easy half-day coastal escape
5) Azemmour & El Jadida: heritage, beach and Atlantic light
6) Tolls, police checks, and documents you need in the car
7) How to plan your day with a rental car
FAQ
1) Why Casablanca works as a day-trip base
Casablanca is a transport hub: from here, motorways and coastal roads link quickly to other Atlantic cities. With a rental car you get:
Flexibility to start early or late depending on meetings or flights.
Freedom to combine work in Casa with quick escapes to beach towns or the capital.
Easy access to A1 (Casablanca–Rabat) and A5 (Casablanca–El Jadida), plus short runs along the coast to Mohammedia and Azemmour.
Instead of checking out and changing hotels every night, you can sleep in Casablanca and treat these cities as out-and-back drives.
2) Real drive times: Rabat, Mohammedia, Azemmour & El Jadida
Let’s start with the numbers. Actual time depends on traffic, departure point and stops, but online distance/time tools give solid ballpark figures.
Casablanca → Rabat (A1 motorway)
Distance: ~90–95 km
Typical drive time: about 1h15–1h30 in normal traffic.
A driving-time calculator gives around 1h22 for this route.
See: Casablanca–Rabat drive time example
Casablanca → Mohammedia (coastal / A3 segment)
Distance: ~25–30 km by road.
Real drive time: 25–40 minutes, depending on traffic leaving Casablanca.
Casablanca → Azemmour (coastal/A5)
Road distance: about 85–90 km; tools like ViaMichelin and Rome2Rio put it in that range.
Expect roughly 1h–1h15, more if you hit slow trucks or make photo stops.
Casablanca → El Jadida (A5 motorway)
Distance: around 95–105 km by road.
Typical drive time: about 1h20–1h30 in normal conditions.
You can see this range on distance/time tools such as this Casablanca–El Jadida distance calculator
Use these as planning baselines: if you only have a half day free, Mohammedia or Azemmour make more sense than a long Rabat + El Jadida combo.
3) Rabat by rental car: capital city in a day
Best for: culture lovers, people who want to see the political capital, embassies, and a calmer vibe than Casablanca.
Route & timing
Take the A1 motorway north from Casablanca toward Rabat:
Allow 1h30 door-to-door, including city traffic at both ends.
Add buffer at peak times (morning entry to Rabat, evening return to Casablanca).
What you can realistically do in one day
With a full day and a car, you can usually fit:
Kasbah des Oudayas and old medina wandering
The Hassan Tower & Mausoleum area
A coastal or riverfront lunch stop
One more neighbourhood (Agdal, Souissi or the administrative quarter) if you have meetings
Parking tips
Look for official car parks or guarded parking near the medina / Oudayas area.
Around ministries and embassies, follow local signs and attendants; streets can be busy during office hours.
Rabat is compact enough that once parked, you can walk a lot, then return to your car to head back to Casablanca before dark if you prefer not to drive at night.
4) Mohammedia: easy half-day coastal escape
Best for: quick break from Casablanca, seaside lunches, short drives on a tight business schedule.
Route & real drive time
Take the coastal road or motorway segment toward Mohammedia.
With only ~25–30 km of driving, it’s usually under 40 minutes each way in normal traffic.
How to use a Mohammedia day (or half-day)
Because it’s so close, Mohammedia is perfect when you:
Have meetings in the morning in Casablanca and want a relaxed afternoon by the sea.
Don’t want to commit to a long return drive late at night.
Need somewhere quieter for a business lunch with less city noise.
You can:
park near the beachfront / corniche,
take a walk along the coast,
have a slowly paced lunch with the Atlantic in view,
and still be back in Casablanca in time for evening calls.
Parking is usually simpler than in central Casablanca; just stick to official or clearly supervised areas.
5) Azemmour & El Jadida: heritage, beach and Atlantic light
Best for: people who want a scenic coastal day, mixes of old medina architecture, ramparts, and beach time.
You can visit Azemmour alone, or combine Azemmour + El Jadida in a longer loop.
Casablanca → Azemmour
Approx. 1h–1h15 drive south along the coast.
Azemmour has a small historic medina on a hill above the Oum Er-Rbia river, with views over the estuary and Atlantic.
Plan to:
Park just outside the old town,
Walk the medina streets and ramparts,
Have coffee or lunch with river views, then continue to El Jadida or return to Casablanca.
Azemmour → El Jadida
Short hop further down the coast (roughly 20–25 minutes driving).
You can either park near the Portuguese City (Cité Portugaise) or on the more modern seafront.
El Jadida’s UNESCO-listed Portuguese fortified city offers ramparts and ocean views; combined with modern beaches and cafés, it’s an easy afternoon destination after Azemmour.
El Jadida → Casablanca (return)
Expect about 1h20–1h30 on the A5 back to Casablanca, depending on when you leave and how you drive.
This makes the Casa → Azemmour → El Jadida → Casa loop a full but doable day: leave in the morning, enjoy both towns, and be back before very late.
6) Tolls, police checks, and documents you need in the car
Tolls
On the A1 (Casablanca–Rabat) and A5 (Casablanca–El Jadida), you’ll encounter toll booths. Keep:
cash in dirhams, or
a card accepted at Moroccan tolls,
ready before you reach the barrier so you’re not searching while other cars wait.
Police checks
On intercity roads, it’s normal to see police or gendarmerie checkpoints:
slow down early,
follow instructions,
have your documents ready.
Documents to carry
Make sure you have:
your driving licence (and IDP if recommended for your country),
passport or ID,
vehicle registration (carte grise),
insurance papers and rental contract in the glovebox.
This is standard for driving anywhere in Morocco, not just around Casablanca.
7) How to plan your day with a rental car
To keep your day trip smooth:
Choose your direction
Only one “long” destination per day: Rabat or Azemmour/El Jadida.
Mohammedia is ideal for half-days.
Fix your latest return time
Decide when you want to be back in Casablanca (before dark, before a dinner, before calls) and work backwards.
Add buffer time
Add 30–45 minutes to whatever any app says, especially if you’re leaving during rush hour.
Plan your parking strategy
For Rabat and El Jadida: aim for guarded or clearly marked car parks.
For smaller towns (Azemmour, Mohammedia): follow local signs and avoid blocking narrow streets.
Keep fuel topped up
Fill up near Casablanca before you leave, or right before leaving your day-trip city, so you’re not hunting for fuel late at night.
Treat each drive as part of the experience: coastal light, bridge views, and different city skylines all change the feel of your day, not just the time on the clock.
FAQ
Is Rabat too far for a day trip from Casablanca?
No. Around 90–95 km and roughly 1h15–1h30 each way, Rabat is very realistic as a full-day trip by car from Casablanca if you start early and avoid peak-hour entries/exits.
Can I do Azemmour and El Jadida in the same day?
Yes. Many drivers visit Azemmour in the late morning, continue to El Jadida for afternoon and early evening, then return to Casablanca via the A5 in about 1h20–1h30.
Which is best for a short afternoon only?
Mohammedia is perfect thanks to its ~25–30 km distance and 25–40-minute drive time each way. You can grab a sea-view lunch and still get back to Casablanca quickly.
Are the roads safe for first-time visitors?
Main routes (A1, A5 and primary coastal roads) are paved and well-used. As always, drive defensively, respect speed limits, and be ready for lane changes, scooters and slow vehicles.
Do I need an SUV for these day trips?
No. A standard sedan or compact is enough for these paved routes. SUVs are more about comfort and trunk space than necessity here.
Is parking easy in these cities?
Rabat and El Jadida can be busy near historic centres, but guarded or municipal car parks are usually available. Mohammedia and Azemmour are generally easier, just choose safe, legal spots and avoid blocking narrow residential streets.
