Rabat to Meknes: Trains, Buses, Times and Onward to Fes

Rabat to Meknes is an easy inland hop, and the direct ONCF train is the natural way to make it. Services run several times a day, covering the 140 km in about one hour fifty to two hours ten for around 70–95 MAD in second class. The trains are comfortable and air-conditioned, and Meknes sits on the main line that continues to Fes, so the connection is well served. For most travellers, this is the obvious choice — turn up, buy a ticket, and go.

The alternatives are a CTM or Supratours coach, a little cheaper but slower and less frequent, and a private car, which is quickest door to door and worth it for groups or heavy luggage. Meknes's position is a bonus: it is only 40 minutes short of Fes by rail, so you can continue straight on, and it is the launch point for the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the hill town of Moulay Idriss. Our day-trips from Meknes guide lays out the options once you arrive.

This leg is a natural part of a car-free imperial-cities trip — the Morocco by train itinerary strings Rabat, Meknes and Fes onto the network, and the short Casablanca–Rabat hop connects the capital corridor at the other end.

Over 140 km on a well-served line, the train is the sensible default, but each mode has its place. The train is fastest, most frequent and comfortable. The bus is a touch cheaper but slower and runs to a sparser timetable. A private car is quickest door to door and takes the whole group at once, at several times the train fare. The table sets the realistic 2026 figures side by side. Note the train's advantage is both speed and the frequency that lets you travel when it suits.

For solo travellers and couples, the train is the clear pick. For a family or group with luggage, or accommodation far from either station, a private car saves the transfer at each end and is reasonable split between a few people. The bus makes most sense on a tight budget or when a departure lines up with your plans and you do not mind the extra half-hour or more on the road.

The Rabat–Meknes rail leg is part of the main line running from the coast inland to Fes, so it is served by frequent, comfortable trains through the day. Second class costs around 70–95 MAD and is perfectly comfortable; first class, at 105–140 MAD, buys a reserved seat and a little more space, worth considering on a busy service. Trains leave from Rabat-Ville or Rabat-Agdal and run direct to Meknes in about two hours, crossing the fertile plains east of the capital.

Buy your ticket at the station counter or on the ONCF app. On this route it is worth checking the timetable, as departures are frequent but not quite as constant as the short Fes–Meknes hop, and a first-class reservation guarantees a seat at peak times. Because Meknes lies on the way to Fes, many services continue there, so the same train can carry you onward if you wish — just confirm it calls at Meknes if that is your stop. Some departures run via Kenitra on the fast line before joining the conventional track east, but the practical difference for this pair is small, so simply take the next direct service shown for Meknes rather than trying to engineer a high-speed connection.

At the Rabat end, you have two stations to choose from: central Rabat-Ville, close to the medina and main sights, and Rabat-Agdal, the flagship station in the Agdal district. Both serve the Meknes line, so pick the one nearest your accommodation. A petit taxi covers the last stretch cheaply if you are staying away from the station.

Meknes has two stations, which catches people out. The central El Amir Abdelkader station is closer to the ville nouvelle and a shorter hop from Place el-Hedim, Bab Mansour and the medina sights, while the main Gare de Meknès sits a little further out. Most trains stop at both, so aim for El Amir Abdelkader if your accommodation or sightseeing is near the centre. From either, a cheap petit taxi covers the last stretch to your riad. The table summarises the key points and onward connections.

Meknes's position makes it a natural pivot. It is only about 40 minutes short of Fes by train, so many travellers treat this leg as part of a longer journey — Rabat to Meknes for the imperial monuments, then straight on to Fes, or the reverse. Our Fes–Meknes transport guide covers that short onward hop in detail, and the Meknes imperial monuments guide covers Bab Mansour, the Moulay Ismail mausoleum and the Heri es-Souani granaries.

The other draw is Volubilis. The best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, together with the sacred hill town of Moulay Idriss, lie about 30 km from Meknes and make a superb half-day or day trip. The catch is that no train reaches them — from Meknes you take a grand taxi, either shared or hired for the round trip with waiting time. Our Volubilis and Moulay Idriss day-trip guide covers the logistics, and the 2-day Meknes itinerary shows how to fit the ruins around the city if you are staying over.

For most travellers, the direct ONCF train is the answer: fast, frequent, comfortable and cheap, with the bonus that many services continue to Fes. Take it in second class and buy a ticket at the counter or on the app. Reach for the bus only on a tight budget or when a departure suits you, and hire a private car if you are a group with luggage or plan to head straight out to Volubilis on arrival.

Because Meknes sits so conveniently between Rabat and Fes and so close to Volubilis, this leg is less a journey in itself than a link in a wider imperial-cities trip — plan your onward move before you arrive. All fares here are approximate 2026 figures and shift a little with season and demand, so confirm on the day. Whichever mode you pick, Rabat to Meknes is a smooth and low-fuss run.