So you are in Amman and want to get to Petra.
The good news is that this is one of the easiest major routes to plan in Jordan.
Petra is roughly 235 to 240 km south of Amman, and the fastest route takes around 3 hours by car. Your main options are the JETT bus, public minibus, rental car, taxi, private driver, or an organized Petra tour.
But there is something most transportation guides do not explain.
The best way to get from Amman to Petra depends heavily on whether you are returning to Amman the same day or continuing south toward Wadi Rum and Aqaba.
As locals, we would plan those two trips completely differently.
Here is how.
Quick Answer: What Is the Best Way to Get From Amman to Petra?
For budget travelers, take the JETT bus.
For maximum flexibility, rent a car.
For couples, families, or anyone who does not want to deal with transportation logistics, book a private driver or private tour.
If you are visiting Petra as part of a larger Jordan trip, do not automatically return to Amman afterward.
Continue south toward Wadi Rum and Aqaba.
Zoor Tours can arrange the entire route privately, including hotel pickup in Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, the Dead Sea, and your return or airport transfer.
That usually makes much more sense than booking every transfer separately.
How Far Is Petra From Amman?
Petra is approximately 235 to 240 km from Amman.
Using the Desert Highway, expect roughly 3 hours of driving under normal conditions. The official Petra tourism website gives approximately 3 hours via the Desert Highway and around 4 hours via the King’s Highway.
Traffic leaving Amman can affect your journey, particularly depending on where your hotel is located and what time you leave.
If you are visiting Petra as a day trip, leave early.
Very early.
Petra is not somewhere you want to arrive at lunchtime.
Option 1: Take the JETT Bus From Amman to Petra
For independent travelers on a budget, JETT is probably the simplest option.
The official Petra tourism website states that JETT buses operate from Amman, with Abdali being one of the commonly used stations. It lists a 6:30 AM departure from Amman and a 5:00 PM return from Petra.
That schedule is designed quite well for a Petra day trip.
You leave Amman early.
Arrive around the morning.
Explore Petra for several hours.
Then return to Amman in the evening.
Advantages of taking the JETT bus
It is affordable.
You do not need to drive.
The departure and return times work for a day trip.
You know where you are going before leaving.
Disadvantages of taking the JETT bus
You are tied to the schedule.
You cannot stop along the way.
You have a fixed departure time from Petra.
And if you decide you want another hour inside Petra, the bus is not particularly interested in your feelings.
For budget conscious solo travelers, however, it is difficult to beat.
Check the current schedule directly with JETT before traveling because schedules and fares can change.
Option 2: Take a Public Minibus
There is an even more local option.
Public minibuses operate between Amman and Petra.
According to the official Petra tourism website, minibuses generally leave from Amman’s southern station, with services listed between approximately 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
This can be cheaper than tourist transportation.
But there is a catch.
Public minibuses are generally much less convenient if you are trying to visit Petra and return to Amman on the same day.
Departure times can be less predictable, and the later start means you lose valuable time inside Petra.
Our local advice?
Use the minibus if you are traveling slowly and spending the night in Wadi Musa.
If Petra is one of the highlights of a short Jordan trip, saving a little money is probably not worth sacrificing several hours inside the site.
Option 3: Rent a Car and Drive From Amman to Petra
Renting a car is one of the best ways to explore Jordan independently.
Once you are outside Amman, driving becomes considerably easier.
For Petra, you have two main routes.
The Desert Highway.
And the King’s Highway.
They provide completely different experiences.
The Desert Highway: The Fast Route
If your goal is simply to get from Amman to Petra, take the Desert Highway.
The journey takes around 3 hours according to official Petra tourism information.
The road takes you south toward Ma’an before turning toward Wadi Musa and Petra.
It is not the most exciting road trip in Jordan.
But it gets the job done.
If you are visiting Petra as a day trip, this is the route we would choose.
Leave Amman early.
Spend your time where it actually matters.
Inside Petra.
The King’s Highway: The Beautiful Route
Now things get interesting.
The King’s Highway is slower, but it passes through some of Jordan’s most beautiful landscapes and historical destinations.
Depending on your exact route, you can incorporate places such as Madaba, Mount Nebo, Wadi Mujib viewpoints, Karak, and Shobak.
The official tourism information estimates roughly 4 hours from Amman to Petra via the King’s Highway without turning the journey into a full sightseeing day.
Once you start stopping, however, it can take much longer.
And you should stop.
That is the entire point.
Our local recommendation
Do not take the King’s Highway if you are doing Petra as a same day trip from Amman.
You will waste the best hours of the day sitting in a car.
Instead, do this:
Leave Amman in the morning.
Visit Madaba.
Continue toward Mount Nebo.
Drive south along the King’s Highway.
Stop at viewpoints or Karak.
Arrive in Petra in the evening.
Sleep in Wadi Musa.
Visit Petra early the following morning.
That turns transportation into part of your Jordan experience.
Zoor Tours can organize this as a private route from Amman to Petra with stops along the way rather than simply transferring you from hotel to hotel.
Option 4: Take a Taxi From Amman to Petra
You can also take a taxi directly from Amman to Petra.
The advantage is obvious.
Door to door transportation.
No bus station.
No rental car.
No driving.
The disadvantage is that you need to agree clearly on the price and what exactly you are booking.
Is the driver simply dropping you in Petra?
Are they waiting?
Are they returning you to Amman?
How many hours will they wait?
Are stops included?
Do not leave these questions until you are already halfway to Petra.
Agree on everything before departure.
Option 5: Book a Private Driver
For many travelers, this is the easiest option.
Your driver picks you up from your hotel in Amman.
You drive directly to Petra.
You explore.
Then either return to Amman or continue to your next destination.
This works particularly well for couples, families, older travelers, and groups.
It also gives you much more control over your itinerary than the bus.
Want to leave at 5:30 AM?
Fine.
Want to stop for coffee?
Fine.
Want to sleep in Petra rather than return?
Also fine.
The biggest advantage is flexibility.
Option 6: Book a Private Petra Tour From Amman
There is an important difference between booking transportation and booking a tour.
Transportation gets you there.
A tour plans the day around you.
If you are only visiting Jordan for a few days, a private Petra tour from Amman can save considerable planning.
Zoor Tours can arrange pickup from your Amman hotel, private transportation to Petra, and the rest of your itinerary according to whether you want to return to Amman or continue through southern Jordan.
This is particularly useful if Petra is not your final destination.
Can You Visit Petra From Amman in One Day?
Yes.
Absolutely.
But prepare for a long day.
You have roughly 3 hours of travel each way using the fastest road.
That means approximately 6 hours of transportation before you even consider the walking you will do inside Petra.
And Petra involves a lot of walking.
The Siq alone is just over 1 km long before you reach the Treasury.
Continue deeper into the archaeological site and your walking distance increases significantly.
A same day Petra trip from Amman is therefore possible.
But it is not relaxing.
What Can You See on a Petra Day Trip From Amman?
If you arrive early enough, you can see a substantial part of Petra.
Start at the Visitor Center.
Walk through the Siq.
See the Treasury.
Continue past the Street of Facades.
Explore the Royal Tombs.
Walk toward the theatre and Colonnaded Street.
Continue deeper into Petra according to your available time and fitness level.
The Monastery is also possible for fit travelers with enough time, but adding it makes your day considerably more demanding.
Do not make the mistake of thinking the Treasury is Petra.
The Treasury is basically the beginning.
What Time Should You Leave Amman for Petra?
Earlier than you probably want to.
If you are driving privately, leaving around 5:30 AM to 6:00 AM gives you a much better day than leaving at 8:00 or 9:00.
The official Petra ticketing information lists daylight opening from 6:00 AM, with seasonal closing times that vary.
Opening hours can change seasonally or under special circumstances, so check the official Visit Petra website before your trip.
Arriving early has another benefit.
Petra feels completely different before the busiest part of the day.
Should You Stay Overnight in Petra?
If your itinerary allows it, yes.
This is what we would recommend to friends visiting Jordan.
Instead of:
Amman
Petra
Amman
Do:
Amman
Petra
Wadi Rum
Aqaba
Or:
Amman
Petra
Wadi Rum
Dead Sea
Amman
The exact route depends on your flights and how many days you have.
But geographically, returning north immediately after Petra often creates unnecessary driving if you also want to see southern Jordan.
Where Do You Actually Stay When Visiting Petra?
This confuses some first time visitors.
You generally stay in Wadi Musa.
Wadi Musa is the town surrounding Petra and contains hotels, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, and other tourist services.
If you want to enter Petra early, choose accommodation relatively close to the Petra Visitor Center.
That way you can wake up, have breakfast, and walk toward the entrance instead of arranging transportation first thing in the morning.
How Much Is Petra Entrance?
For international visitors staying at least one night in Jordan, the official Petra website currently lists a one day ticket at 50 JOD, a two day ticket at 55 JOD, and a three day ticket at 60 JOD.
A one day ticket for a visitor who is not accommodated in Jordan is listed at 90 JOD.
Children under 12 receive complimentary admission during daylight visiting hours according to the official Petra information.
If you have the Jordan Pass and meet its conditions, Petra admission may already be included.
Always check current ticket rules before your visit.
Is the Jordan Pass Worth It for Petra?
For many international visitors planning to see Petra and several other attractions in Jordan, the Jordan Pass can make sense.
But do not buy it automatically without checking the conditions.
Your nationality, length of stay, visa situation, and attractions you plan to visit all matter.
Also note that Petra by Night is not included in the standard Jordan Pass.
Can You Go From Amman to Petra and Wadi Rum in One Day?
Technically?
Yes.
Should you?
Usually no.
You would spend too much of the day moving between destinations.
Petra deserves several hours.
Wadi Rum deserves more than arriving, taking a quick photo, and leaving.
A much better itinerary is:
Day 1
Amman to Petra
Explore Petra
Sleep in Wadi Musa
Day 2
Petra to Wadi Rum
Jeep tour
Sunset
Sleep in Wadi Rum
Day 3
Continue to Aqaba or return north
That is a trip.
Trying to squeeze Petra and Wadi Rum into a few hours each is transportation with occasional sightseeing.
Can You Go From Amman to Petra Without a Tour?
Yes.
You absolutely do not need a tour to reach Petra.
Take JETT.
Take a public minibus.
Rent a car.
Hire a taxi.
All are possible.
The reason to book a private tour is convenience rather than necessity.
If you are comfortable arranging transportation yourself, Petra is completely possible independently.
If you prefer someone else to organize the route, stops, timing, and transportation, a local tour operator makes more sense.
Is There a Train From Amman to Petra?
No.
There is no practical passenger train connecting Amman and Petra.
Your realistic choices are road based transportation.
Bus.
Minibus.
Rental car.
Taxi.
Private driver.
Or tour.
Is It Better to Visit Petra From Amman or Aqaba?
Aqaba is closer.
Official Jordan tourism information puts the drive from Aqaba to Petra at roughly 1.5 hours, compared with around 3 hours from Amman using the Desert Highway.
But most international Jordan itineraries naturally begin around Amman because of Queen Alia International Airport.
Rather than choosing one city purely based on distance, plan Petra according to your complete route.
If you are already in Amman, go south.
If you are already relaxing in Aqaba, visit Petra from Aqaba.
Simple.
Our Favorite Route From Amman to Petra
If you have enough time, we would not drive directly.
We would turn the journey itself into a travel day.
Start in Amman.
Continue toward Madaba.
Visit Mount Nebo.
Take the scenic road south.
Stop at Karak if your schedule allows.
Continue toward Petra.
Check into your hotel in Wadi Musa.
Eat.
Sleep.
Then wake up early and enter Petra before the day gets busy.
After Petra, continue toward Wadi Rum.
That route gives you a much better sense of Jordan than racing from Amman to Petra and back on the same highway.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting From Amman to Petra
How long does it take to get from Amman to Petra?
Approximately 3 hours by car using the Desert Highway. The King’s Highway takes longer but provides a much more scenic journey.
What is the cheapest way to get from Amman to Petra?
Public transportation is generally the cheapest option, with JETT offering the easiest tourist friendly bus connection.
What is the easiest way to get from Amman to Petra?
A private driver is usually the easiest because you can be collected directly from your accommodation and travel according to your own schedule.
Can I take a bus from Amman to Petra?
Yes. JETT operates services between Amman and Petra, and public minibuses are another option.
Can I drive from Amman to Petra?
Yes. The Desert Highway is the fastest route, while the King’s Highway is the more scenic option.
Is Petra a good day trip from Amman?
Yes, but it is a long day. Expect around six hours of total driving plus several hours of walking.
Should I sleep in Petra?
If you have the time, we recommend spending at least one night in Wadi Musa rather than immediately returning to Amman.
Can I continue from Petra to Wadi Rum?
Yes, and this is one of the routes we recommend most strongly. Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba fit naturally into the same southern Jordan itinerary.
Getting From Amman to Petra: Our Final Advice
If budget is your priority, take the JETT bus.
If independence is your priority, rent a car.
If convenience and flexibility matter most, book a private driver.
But if you are planning to see more of Jordan, stop thinking about Amman to Petra as an isolated transfer.
Think about your entire route.
Amman to Petra.
Petra to Wadi Rum.
Wadi Rum to Aqaba.
Then work out how the Dead Sea, Madaba, Jerash, and your airport fit around that route.
Zoor Tours can arrange a private Jordan itinerary around your actual arrival and departure dates, with transportation between destinations handled by one local team.
Because the best way to get from Amman to Petra is not necessarily the cheapest or fastest.
It is the one that makes the rest of your Jordan trip better.
