Photo: Jerzystrzelecki, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsChefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes
Chefchaouen to Fes is about 193 km and 3½ to 4 hours direct. Going via the Roman ruins of Volubilis and a night in Meknes turns that drive into two easy days.
- Days
- 2
- Driving
- about 266 km
- Starts
- Chefchaouen
- Ends
- Fes
- Quote
- Free, in writing
Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis: the stops
Chefchaouen to Volubilis and Meknes (day 1)Photo: José Luis Filpo Cabana, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Meknes to Fes (day 2)Photo: Daemon11, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Day-by-day itinerary
Most people do this road in one go and see nothing. You leave the Rif, cross olive country, walk a Roman town, and sleep in an imperial city. Fes is one hour on.
Day 1: Chefchaouen to Volubilis and Meknes
- Chefchaouen to Volubilis · 165 km · 3¼ to 3¾ hours
- Volubilis to Meknes · 28 km · about 35 minutes
Photo: José Luis Filpo Cabana, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Leave Chefchaouen after breakfast. The N13 drops south out of the mountains to Ouezzane, then crosses wide farmland and olive groves.
Volubilis is a Roman town on a low ridge, listed by UNESCO. Give it two hours: the mosaics are still on the floors where they were laid.
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun sits on the next hill. It is a holy town built around the tomb of Idris I. You drive through it on the way to Meknes.
Overnight: Meknes
Day 2: Meknes to Fes
- Meknes to Fes · 73 km · about 1 hour
Photo: Daemon11, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Meknes was the capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail in the late 1600s. See the Bab Mansour gate, the old granaries and the square of El Hedim before it gets busy.
The motorway to Fes takes about an hour. Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon in the medina, or go straight to your riad.
Overnight: Fes
Your free quote
Private and custom, so there is no fixed price: we shape this route to your dates, your group and your budget (the car, the nights, where you sleep, a local guide in the medinas or not). Tell us what you have in mind and we send a free written quote.
Drive times and distances
| From → to | Distance | Drive | Road |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chefchaouen → Volubilis | 165 km | 3¼ to 3¾ hours | N13 via Ouezzane |
| Volubilis → Meknes | 28 km | about 35 minutes | Through Moulay Idriss |
| Meknes → Fes | 73 km | about 1 hour | A2 motorway |
Distances and times from OpenStreetMap routing, checked November 2026, rounded up. They leave out stops. Mountain roads in the Rif are often slower.
Tips before you go
- Doing it in one day also works: leave early, give Volubilis 1½ hours, skip Meknes, and reach Fes around dark.
- Volubilis has very little shade. In summer go in the morning and bring water and a hat.
- Fes has an airport (FEZ), so this route ends well before a flight home.
FAQ
How long is the drive from Chefchaouen to Fes?
About 193 km. Direct, it is 3½ to 4 hours on the N13 via Ouezzane. With Volubilis and Meknes on the way it is about 200 km of driving spread over one long day or two easy ones.
Is Volubilis worth the stop between Chefchaouen and Fes?
Yes, if you like history. It is the best-kept Roman site in Morocco, with mosaics still in place, and it is close to the road you are already driving. Plan about two hours there.
Should I sleep in Meknes or go straight to Fes?
Sleep in Meknes if you want to see it. The town is quieter than Fes, and the morning is the best time for Bab Mansour and the granaries. If you only care about Fes, drive on: it is an hour away.
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