Getting there
Amman to Petra: bus, driver or day tour
Bus, minibus, taxi or a private day tour from Amman to Petra: timings, tickets and the Jordan Pass, checked against Petra's official visitor pages.
Book your Petra tour ↗Quick answer
Petra is about three hours from Amman by car on the Desert Highway, or about four on the King's Highway. You have three practical choices. The JETT tourist bus leaves Amman's Abdali station at 06:30, with the return listed at 17:00. A taxi or private driver goes when you want. A private day tour picks you up at your Amman hotel or the airport, takes about 11 hours in all, and gives you around five hours at Petra.
Three ways to do Amman to Petra
| JETT bus | Taxi or driver | Private day tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickup | Abdali station, Amman | Wherever you agree | Amman hotel or airport |
| Timing | 06:30 out, 17:00 back | Your choice | About 11 hours |
| Petra entry | Buy at the gate | Buy at the gate | Optional add-on |
| Site guide | Hire at Visitor Centre | Hire at Visitor Centre | Optional add-on |
| Best for | Solo, fixed timetable | Stops on the way | One day, no planning |
The road: Desert Highway or King's Highway
Amman to Petra is a road trip, and every option on this page uses one of two roads. The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority, which runs the site, puts the drive at about three hours on the Desert Highway, or about four on the King's Highway. Leaving Amman by car, follow the brown tourist signs from the 7th Circle. You arrive in Wadi Musa, the town 3.5 km from the ruins. The Visitor Centre there sells tickets, books licensed guides and hands out maps. So the real choice isn't the route. It's who drives, and what time you leave.
By JETT bus
JETT, Jordan's tourist coach company, runs buses to Petra from several stations in Amman. Abdali is one of the most used. The bus leaves at 06:30, and the return to Amman is listed at 17:00. It's the simplest independent option if you're travelling alone and don't mind a fixed timetable, but that timetable sets your whole day. JETT also has offices at 7th Circle and Tabarbour, so confirm which station your bus leaves from, and the current times, when you book.
- Departs Abdali at 06:30; return to Amman listed at 17:00
- Book online at jett.com.jo or call +962 6 5664141
- Petra entry isn't included: buy it at the Visitor Centre or use a Jordan Pass
By public minibus
Public minibuses leave from Amman's southern bus station, usually between 09:00 and 16:00. Going back, they leave Petra between 06:00 and 13:00. That timing rules out a same-day round trip, because the last ones head back in the early afternoon, about when you'd be arriving. Minibuses make sense only if you're spending at least one night in Wadi Musa. If you land at the airport, you can take a taxi to the southern station and pick one up there.
By taxi or private driver
A taxi or a pre-arranged driver takes you door to door, on your own timing. From the airport, a taxi can take you straight to Petra. This is the option to choose if you want the slower King's Highway, a stop on the way, or an earlier start than the bus allows. Agree the route, the waiting time at Petra and the time you'll head back before you set off. A driver who waits five hours for you is a different job from a one-way drop, and it's easier to settle that in Amman than in a car park in Wadi Musa.
The private day tour from Amman
The full-day tour we link to is a private trip run by R&H VIP Transportation Services. It's a driver-led day, not a guided group tour. An English-speaking driver picks you up at your hotel in Amman or at the airport and drives you to Petra and back, with Wi-Fi and water on board. The day runs about 11 hours. Petra entry, a local guide at the site, a full-day private guide and lunch are all options, so check what you've selected before you pay. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before, and you can reserve now and pay later.
- Always included: hotel or airport pickup and drop-off, private car, English-speaking driver
- Options: Petra entry fees, a local site guide, a full-day private guide, lunch
- Not included: tips and personal expenses
- Bring your passport or ID, comfortable shoes, sunglasses and a sun hat
How the day fits together
On the day tour, plan on roughly three hours each way in the car and about five hours at Petra. Lunch is optional, at an extra cost, and takes about an hour and a half. Opening hours change with the season. From 2 October 2026 to 1 March 2027, the site and Visitor Centre are open 06:30 to 17:00. In the summer season, which ran from 2 March to 1 October in 2026, it's 06:00 to 18:00. The park also asks visitors to leave before sunset. In winter, that makes an early pickup worth asking for, so your five hours aren't squeezed at the end.
Tickets: sort them before you leave Amman
Petra tickets are sold at the Visitor Centre, and you need your passport there. You can pay in cash in Jordanian dinars or by Visa card. The fee list splits foreign visitors in two: those staying overnight in Jordan, and a pricier one-day rate for visitors not accommodated in Jordan. A night in an Amman hotel counts as staying in Jordan, so a day trip from Amman doesn't put you in the higher bracket. Children under 12 get in free in the daytime. If your tour option includes entry fees, the ticket is covered. If not, buy it at the gate or bring a Jordan Pass.
Using a Jordan Pass on a day trip
The Jordan Pass, sold by Jordan's Ministry of Tourism, bundles Petra entry with more than 40 other sites. The Wanderer covers one day at Petra, the Explorer two consecutive days and the Expert three. Buy it before you arrive and stay at least two whole nights, and it also waives your tourist visa fee. Three details matter on a day trip. It can only be scanned at Petra's Visitor Centre. Print it, because the QR code may not read from a phone screen. And it doesn't cover transport or Petra by Night. If you hold one, choose the tour option without entry fees.
What five hours at Petra covers
You enter through the Siq, a gorge only 3 to 4 metres wide in places, and the Treasury stands at its end. Five hours is enough for that walk and the Main Trail, a 3.9 km route the authority rates easy, at a steady pace. To save your legs, golf carts run between the Visitor Centre and the Treasury. You buy them on arrival, with no booking needed, and can schedule the return when you pay. Licensed guides can be hired at the Visitor Centre, and your driver can help arrange one. The tour plan leaves the Monastery for another visit.
Day trip, or a night in Wadi Musa?
Wadi Musa has plenty of hotels, and a night there changes what you can do. Two-day and three-day tickets exist, but they must be used on consecutive days. Petra by Night runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 20:30 to 22:30. It needs its own ticket on top of a valid daytime ticket, and no Jordan Pass covers it, so it doesn't fit a day trip back to Amman. The authority names spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) as the mild seasons, and those are the months when a long day on foot is easiest.
Read next: Petra by Night
Who this isn't for
Skip the private day tour if anyone in your group has walking difficulties or uses a wheelchair: the ground is uneven, and the tour isn't suitable for them. Skip it too if the Monastery or the High Place of Sacrifice is why you're going, because the plan doesn't include the Monastery and five hours leaves little room for side climbs. If you want Petra by Night, you need a night in Wadi Musa. And if you're travelling alone and happy with a fixed timetable, the JETT bus covers the same road for less. Pets aren't allowed on the tour.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Amman to Petra?
About three hours by car on the Desert Highway, or about four on the King's Highway. The private day tour allows roughly three hours each way plus about five hours at Petra, so the whole day runs around 11 hours.
Is there a bus from Amman to Petra?
Yes. JETT buses leave Amman's Abdali station at 06:30, with the return to Amman listed at 17:00; book at jett.com.jo. Public minibuses leave Amman's southern station from about 09:00, but they head back from Petra by 13:00, so they only suit an overnight stay.
Can I visit Petra as a day trip from Amman?
Yes, but it's a long day. You get about five hours at the site, which covers the Siq, the Treasury and the Main Trail. The Monastery, the longer trails and Petra by Night are easier with a night in Wadi Musa.
Does the day tour include the Petra entry ticket?
Only if you pick that option. Entry fees, a local guide at the site, a full-day guide and lunch are add-ons. Hotel or airport pickup, the private car and the English-speaking driver are always included. If you already have a Jordan Pass, choose the option without entry.
Does the Jordan Pass cover Petra?
Yes, for daytime visits: one day on the Wanderer, two consecutive days on the Explorer, three on the Expert. It's scanned only at the Visitor Centre, so print it and bring your passport. It doesn't include Petra by Night or any transport.
What time does Petra close?
From 2 October 2026 to 1 March 2027, the site and Visitor Centre are open 06:30 to 17:00. In the 2026 summer season, from 2 March to 1 October, hours were 06:00 to 18:00. The park asks visitors to leave before sunset.
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