MARMARIS GUIDE
Marmaris to Bodrum: Driving Distance, Route and the Datça Car Ferry
Last updated: 31 October 2026
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Bodrum looks close to Marmaris on the map, but by car it is about 164 km: the road goes round the Gulf of Gökova via the Sakar Pass, Muğla, Yatağan and Milas. There is no direct boat or bus from Marmaris to Bodrum. The other option is the car ferry from Körmen pier on the Datça peninsula; it is not faster, but it gives you a scenic way back by sea. In this guide you will find our measured distances and times, road versus ferry, a day-trip loop and what to do in Bodrum with a car.
At a glance: Marmaris to Bodrum
- Road distance
- 163–164 km (Marmaris centre – Bodrum Castle)
- Driving time
- About 2 h 10 min – 2 h 30 min without stops
- Toll roads
- None; no motorway on the way
- Ferry option
- Marmaris → Datça Körmen 72–73 km, then 105 min by sea
- Direct boat / bus
- None; by bus you change in Muğla
- Day-trip round trip
- About 330 km by road; about 240 km with the ferry loop
Quick Answer: How Far Is Bodrum from Marmaris?
Distances and times are one way by car, measured with two routing services; they differ by a few minutes, so we give ranges. Summer traffic and stops are not included. The 75–80 km you see on some sites is the straight-line distance; with the Gulf of Gökova in between, the road is more than twice as long.
| From → To | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Marmaris centre → Bodrum Castle | 163–164 km | 2 h 10 min – 2 h 30 min |
| İçmeler → Bodrum Castle | 171–172 km | 2 h 30 min – 2 h 40 min |
| Turunç → Bodrum Castle | 183 km | 2 h 50 min – 2 h 55 min |
| Marmaris → Milas | 119–121 km | 1 h 40 min – 1 h 50 min |
| Marmaris → Milas-Bodrum Airport | 131–133 km | 2 h – 2 h 20 min |
| Marmaris → Datça Körmen pier | 72–73 km | 1 h – 1 h 10 min |
If you are landing at or flying from Bodrum Airport, see our Bodrum Airport to Marmaris guide. This guide is for travelling to the town of Bodrum.
Bodrum by car
Pick up the car free of charge in Marmaris centre, at your hotel or in İçmeler. Choose your dates and see the price straight away.
By Road: Marmaris to Bodrum Step by Step
The road is paved and signposted all the way; there are no toll roads or motorways. You pass these towns in this order:
- Leave Marmaris north on the D400; after Çetibeli, about 26 km later, you reach the Gökova junction. Akyaka is a 4 km detour from here.
- After the junction the road climbs the Sakar Pass; it is winding, and at the top there is a viewpoint over the Gulf of Gökova.
- Pass Ula and Kızılağaç, join the Muğla ring road (D550) and carry on towards Yatağan without entering the city.
- At Yatağan turn onto the D330 to Milas; the road bypasses Milas.
- After Milas you pass the Bodrum Airport junction and Güvercinlik and enter the Bodrum peninsula; the town centre and the castle are at the end of the road.
The section that needs most care is the Sakar Pass; in summer lorries and coaches climb slowly, so do not rush to overtake. Muğla–Yatağan–Milas is wide and easy. Traffic slows down on the way into Bodrum, especially on summer evenings.
Open the Marmaris – Bodrum routeThe Datça–Bodrum Car Ferry: How It Works
There is no direct sea route from Marmaris to Bodrum; no such service appears in the sea lines listed by Muğla Metropolitan Municipality either. The car ferry runs between Körmen pier on the Datça peninsula and Kale Limanı, right next to the castle in Bodrum. Muğla Metropolitan Municipality sets the fares; tickets are sold on the operator's website and at the pier.
Körmen is not in Datça town but near Karaköy, on the north coast of the peninsula; it is 72–73 km from Marmaris, about 1 h – 1 h 10 min. According to the operator, the crossing takes 105 minutes.
- The number of sailings depends on the season: in summer 2026 there were 3–4 a day; in October 2026 there were sailings from Bodrum at 09:00 and 16:00.
- From November sailings become rare and some days have none; going and coming back the same day is usually not possible.
- Sailings may be cancelled because of wind or low demand; check the current time before you set off.
- Online sales close 2 hours before departure and there is no open return on vehicle tickets. Car places fill up in summer; buy your ticket in advance.
- The operator asks you to be at the port at least 30 minutes before departure; come earlier if you are bringing a car.
Road or Ferry? A Comparison
The ferry is not a shortcut: once you add the drive from Marmaris to Körmen, the wait at the port and the crossing, the journey takes longer than the road. What the ferry offers is the view and a different way back.
| By road | With the Datça ferry | |
|---|---|---|
| Total time | 2 h 10 min – 2 h 30 min | About 3.5–4 hours |
| Distance driven | 163–164 km | 72–73 km + sea |
| Flexibility | Any time you like | Tied to the sailing times |
| Season | All year | Frequent in summer, rare in winter |
| Weather | No effect | May be cancelled in wind |
| Costs | Fuel | Fuel + car and passenger tickets |
| Best for | Not losing time | The view and seeing Datça too |
If you also want to explore Datça, see our Marmaris to Datça by car guide; Old Datça is an easy stop on the way to Körmen.
Bodrum as a Day Trip: Staying Within 300 km
Driving from Marmaris to Bodrum and back the same way comes to about 330 km, plus whatever you drive in Bodrum. Our rental cars have a daily limit of 300 km and extra kilometres are charged. If you go as a day trip by road, take this into account or spread the rental over two days.
If you drive there by road and come back on the Bodrum–Datça ferry, you drive about 240 km; in the months when the ferry leaves Bodrum in the afternoon, this loop fits into one day.
Ready-Made Routes: Day Loop, Ferry Out, One Night
Routes start in Marmaris centre. Distances are what you drive; the ferry and stops are not included in the time.
Day loop: road out, ferry back
Marmaris → Sakar → Milas → Bodrum → ferry → Körmen → Marmaris
- Distance
- About 240 km
- Driving
- About 3–3.5 h driving + 105 min ferry
- Trip length
- A long day
Best for: Seeing Bodrum in one day in summer
Leave early and be in Bodrum before noon. See the castle and the bazaar, then take the afternoon or evening ferry to Körmen. Choose the earlier sailing so you do not drive the winding Körmen–Marmaris road in the dark.
Ferry out, road back
Marmaris → Körmen → ferry → Bodrum → Milas → Sakar → Marmaris
- Distance
- About 240 km
- Driving
- About 3–3.5 h driving + 105 min ferry
- Trip length
- One day or one night
Best for: Those who can make the morning sailing
To catch the morning sailing you need to leave Marmaris at dawn, so this direction suits people spending a night in Datça or Bodrum. The way back is by road, so you have no time limit.
One night in Bodrum: castle, Yalıkavak, Gümüşlük
Day 1: Marmaris → Milas → Bodrum · Day 2: Yalıkavak → Gümüşlük → Marmaris
- Distance
- About 380–400 km over two days
- Driving
- 2.5–3 h a day
- Trip length
- Two days
Best for: Those who prefer not to rush
On day one see the castle and the marina and spend the evening in Bodrum. On day two stop at Yalıkavak and Gümüşlük in the west of the peninsula and set off back before sunset.
Make it easy with a two-day rental
Kilometres add up quickly on the Bodrum road; a two-day rental gives you more time and more kilometres. Choose your dates and see the price straight away.
Stops on the Way
A few places on the road can be visited with a short detour. Opening times are from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism pages and may change with the season.
| Place | Where | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sakar Pass viewpoint | On the road | View over the Gulf of Gökova |
| Akyaka | 4 km from the Gökova junction | Azmak stream, seafront, breakfast |
| Gümüşkesen Monument | In Milas centre | Roman-period tomb monument |
| Euromos | 13 km from Milas | Temple of Zeus; daily 08:30–17:30 |
| Labranda | 15 km from Milas, mountain road | Sanctuary of Zeus; daily 08:30–17:30 |
| Iasos | About 30 km from Milas | Ancient city by the sea |
For Akyaka see our Akyaka and Cleopatra Island guide; for the other stops around Milas see our Bodrum Airport to Marmaris guide.
A Day in Bodrum with a Car: What to See
The heart of Bodrum is the castle, two bays and the bazaar, and these are easiest on foot. Leave the car in a car park and walk, then drive out to the bays of the peninsula.
- Bodrum Castle and the Museum of Underwater Archaeology: the castle was built by the Knights of St John between 1406 and 1522. According to the Ministry's page, in October 2026 the museum was open daily 08:30–17:30, with the ticket office closing at 17:00; summer hours may differ.
- The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus: the site and remains of the monumental tomb, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, are within walking distance of the centre.
- The ancient theatre: on the hillside near the Mausoleum, with a view over the town and the bay.
- The windmills: the old mills on the ridge between Gümbet and the centre show both bays at once at sunset.
- Marina and bazaar: the marina west of the castle and the bazaar just behind the castle are best explored on foot.
For rental cars and delivery options in Bodrum see our Bodrum page.
Open Bodrum Castle on the mapBays of the Bodrum Peninsula: Distance from the Centre
The real advantage of coming to Bodrum by car is the bays of the peninsula. Distances are by car from Bodrum Castle.
| Place | Distance | Time | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gümbet | 3 km | 5–10 min | Sandy beach, water sports |
| Bitez | 5–8 km | 10–15 min | Quiet bay, mandarin orchards |
| Yalıkavak | 18 km | 20–30 min | Marina, dinner |
| Turgutreis | 19–20 km | 20 min | Sunset, long seafront |
| Gümüşlük | 24–25 km | 25–40 min | Fish restaurants, ancient Myndos |
Practical Tips for the Drive
Without a Car: Bus and Taxi
There is no direct bus or dolmuş from Marmaris to Bodrum. According to Muğla Metropolitan's lines, you first take the Marmaris–Muğla (Menteşe) line to Muğla and then the line to Bodrum via Yatağan. Bodrum bus station is outside the town centre, on the Torba side; a minibus takes you to the centre.
With the change and the waiting, the journey takes clearly longer than driving, and a day trip there and back by bus is tiring. A taxi or private transfer is possible, but it is a long ride and the cost is high. If there are a few of you, a rental car is often the most practical option.
A Rental Car for the Bodrum Road
You can pick up the car free of charge in Marmaris centre, at your hotel or in İçmeler; the fee for other points such as Turunç is shown on the booking screen. See our delivery points page for all points.
If you want to leave the car on the Bodrum side, tick "I want to drop the car off somewhere else" when booking. Milas-Bodrum Airport is one of our delivery points and its fee is shown on the booking screen; for Bodrum town centre the fee is agreed with the office.
For the 300 km daily limit, licence and deposit rules, see our rental terms. To see prices in advance, our Marmaris car hire prices guide shows the current table.
Distances and times are approximate and vary with traffic and season.
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Frequently asked questions
How far is Bodrum from Marmaris?
By road it is 163–164 km from Marmaris centre to Bodrum Castle. The straight-line distance is about 75–80 km, but with the Gulf of Gökova in between, the road is more than twice as long.
How long is the drive from Marmaris to Bodrum?
About 2 h 10 min – 2 h 30 min without stops. In summer, with traffic on the way into Bodrum and a break, plan for 3 hours.
Is there a ferry or boat from Marmaris to Bodrum?
There is no direct sea route. The car ferry runs between Körmen pier in Datça and Kale Limanı in Bodrum; Körmen is 72–73 km from Marmaris.
How long does the Datça–Bodrum ferry take?
According to the operator, the crossing is 105 minutes. With the drive from Marmaris to Körmen and the wait at the port, the ferry route takes about 3.5–4 hours.
Is the ferry faster than the road?
No. The road takes about 2 h 10 min – 2 h 30 min; the ferry route takes longer. The ferry's advantage is the view and a different way back.
Does the Datça–Bodrum ferry run in winter?
Yes, but rarely. In October 2026 there were sailings from Bodrum at 09:00 and 16:00; from November there are fewer and some days have none. It may be cancelled in wind; check the current time.
Do I need to book the ferry in advance?
In summer car places fill up, so booking ahead is recommended. Online sales close 2 hours before departure and there is no open return on vehicle tickets.
Is there a bus from Marmaris to Bodrum?
There is no direct bus. You go to Muğla (Menteşe) and change to the Bodrum line; Bodrum bus station is outside the town centre, on the Torba side.
Are there toll roads between Marmaris and Bodrum?
No. The road is a state highway via Muğla, Yatağan and Milas; no motorway is used.
Can I do Bodrum as a day trip?
Yes, but it is a long day. There and back by the same road is about 330 km, which is over the 300 km daily limit. If you drive there and come back on the ferry, you drive about 240 km.
Can I take a rental car from Bodrum to Kos?
No. Rental cars may not leave Türkiye; you can go to Kos only as a foot passenger and must leave the car in Bodrum.
Can I pick up the car in Marmaris and drop it off in Bodrum?
When booking, tick "I want to drop the car off somewhere else". Milas-Bodrum Airport is one of our delivery points; for Bodrum town centre the fee is agreed with the office.
