N1 (Accra–Cape Coast road)
Accra to Cape Coast by road
About 160 km west along the coast from Accra to Cape Coast — usually 3 to 4 hours, most of the delay at Kasoa.
- Distance
- 163 km
- By car
- 3–4 hours
- Main road
- N1 (Accra–Cape Coast road)
Going the other way? Cape Coast to Accra
Driving from Accra to Cape Coast
The road leaves Accra westwards on the N1 and reaches Kasoa, on the Central Region border, after about 30 km. Kasoa is the main bottleneck of the whole trip: at rush hour it can take longer to get through than to drive the rest of the way.
Past Kasoa the road runs inland of the coast through the junctions for Winneba and Apam, then Mankessim, a busy market town, and Yamoransa, before dropping down into Cape Coast.
Cape Coast is the base for the Central Region's best-known sights — Cape Coast Castle in town, Elmina Castle 15 km further west, and Kakum National Park about 30 km inland.
By bus or trotro
Intercity buses, minibuses and trotros for Cape Coast leave from Accra's Kaneshie station, and STC also runs coaches on the route.
Coming back, transport to Accra leaves from Cape Coast's main lorry stations in town.
New to trotros? Read how to ride a trotro. Fares change often, so check at the station before you travel. For live directions — by car, bus, motorbike, bicycle or on foot — open Cape Coast on the Lincoln Navigation map. It shows road hazards other drivers have reported and the weather along the way.
Tips for the trip
- Time your trip to avoid Kasoa at rush hour — early morning or mid-morning is usually best leaving Accra.
- Mankessim is a good stop for fuel and snacks.
- If you are heading to Kakum, go early in the day: the canopy walkway is quieter and cooler in the morning.