Chicago to Marrakesh (ORD–RAK) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders enter Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days. No advance application is needed. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. At Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca, Marrakech Menara (RAK), or any Moroccan airport, immigration stamps your passport after you fill out an arrival card. The card asks for your name, passport number, accommodation address, and profession.

The 90-day stay cannot be extended without leaving the country. For longer stays, exit to a neighboring country (Spain is a 35-minute ferry from Tangier to Tarifa) and return for a fresh 90 days. Morocco spans from Mediterranean beaches in the north to Sahara dunes in the south. Marrakech, Fez, Chefchaouen, and Essaouira are the main tourist cities. The medinas of Fez and Marrakech are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Atlas Mountains between Marrakech and the Sahara reach 4,167m at Jebel Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak.

Direct flights from New York JFK to Casablanca run about 7 hours on Royal Air Maroc. Seasonal nonstop service operates to Marrakech from New York on Royal Air Maroc and other carriers. Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham (MAD), trading at roughly 10 MAD per $1. ATMs are common in cities and tourist towns. Card payments work at hotels and larger restaurants. Riads (traditional guesthouses) in the Marrakech medina cost MAD 400 to MAD 1,500 ($40 to $150) per night. ONCF trains connect Casablanca to Marrakech in 2 hours 30 minutes for MAD 149 ($15) first class and to Fez in 3 hours 30 minutes. CTM and Supratours buses cover routes not served by rail. A tagine at a local restaurant costs MAD 40 to MAD 80 ($4 to $8).

CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from downtown Loop stations to O'Hare (45 min, $5). Pace buses serve suburbs. Ride-shares cost $35–55 from downtown depending on traffic; add 30+ minutes during rush hour on the Kennedy Expressway.Economy parking lots E/F connect via ATS people mover. Terminal 5 (international) is separate from Terminals 1–3; allow extra time for inter-terminal transfers.