How to get from Amman to Petra.
Updated October 2026
Petra is about three hours south of Amman by car on the Desert Highway, a little more from Queen Alia Airport. You can take the daily JETT bus, a minibus from the South Bus Station, a taxi, a rental car, or a private transfer to your hotel door.
The options at a glance
| Option | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| JETT bus | About 4 hours | One morning departure from Amman, comfortable, book ahead |
| Minibus | 3.5 to 4 hours | From Amman’s South Bus Station, leaves when full |
| Rental car | About 3 hours | Freedom to stop; easy roads |
| Taxi | About 3 hours | Agree a fixed price before you get in |
| Private transfer | About 3 hours | Driver at arrivals or your hotel, door to door |
The JETT bus
JETT, Jordan’s national coach company, runs a tourist bus from its Abdali station in Amman to the Petra Visitor Centre in the morning and back in the afternoon. It is comfortable and reliable, and the stop in Wadi Musa is a few minutes’ walk from Edom Hotel. Seats sell out in high season, so book at jett.com.jo and check the current times there.
Minibuses
Public minibuses leave Amman’s South Bus Station (Mujamma al-Janoob) for Wadi Musa in the morning. They leave when they are full, not on a timetable, and stop on the way. They are cheap and a real slice of Jordan, but slow and hard to plan around a flight.
Driving yourself
The Desert Highway (Highway 15) is a wide, straight road south. It is easy driving by day; at night, watch for trucks and unlit speed bumps in the villages. About two and a half hours from Amman, the road to Wadi Musa leaves the highway and climbs into the mountains. Edom Hotel has free parking at the door.
The King’s Highway is the beautiful alternative: through Madaba, across the canyon of Wadi Mujib, past the castles of Karak and Shobak. Allow a full day.
Taxi
Yellow taxis in Amman will drive to Petra, but on a long trip there is no meter: agree the full price, and whether it includes stops, before you leave. Airport taxis work the same way.
A private transfer
A private car with a driver is the simplest way from the airport after a long flight: the driver waits in arrivals with your name, follows your flight, and drops you at the hotel door. We arrange these for guests and anyone travelling to Petra. See Amman Airport to Petra and Amman to Petra.
When to leave
Leave Amman by mid-morning and you reach Wadi Musa for lunch, with the afternoon for a first walk to the Treasury or a rest before an early start. If Petra by Night is on that evening, it is an easy first night.
Short answers.
How far is Petra from Amman?
About 230 km, roughly three hours by car on the Desert Highway.
Is there a bus from Amman to Petra?
Yes. JETT runs a daily tourist bus from its Abdali station in the morning, and minibuses leave from the South Bus Station when full.
How long is the drive from Amman airport to Petra?
About three hours from Queen Alia International Airport.
Is it easy to drive from Amman to Petra?
Yes. The Desert Highway is wide and straight. Take care at night with trucks and speed bumps in villages.
Should I take the Desert Highway or the King’s Highway?
The Desert Highway takes about three hours. The King’s Highway takes most of a day with stops, and is the more beautiful drive.