Amman, the Rose City, red desert and salt sea
This is leg 1 of 3, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea
Amman to Petra & Wadi Musa
Amman and Petra & Wadi Musa sit about 186 km (116 mi) apart in a straight line, with Petra & Wadi Musa to the south. It is leg 1 of 3 on our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea itinerary, an 8-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 186 km · 116 mi
- Est. road distance
- 223–261 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h 15 min – 4 h
- Direction
- Heading south
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 223–261 km (139–162 mi) of road and 2 h 15 min – 4 h behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
A rental car is easy on Jordan's good highways; the Desert Highway is fastest and the King's Highway is the scenic route. JETT buses link Amman, Petra and Aqaba, and Wadi Rum camps arrange pickups from the visitor center.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends, plus 4 places near the straight-line path.
When you arrive in Petra & Wadi Musa
The Nabataean rock-cut city and its gateway town. Stay 2–3 nights.
The Siq and Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
A 1.2 km slot canyon opening onto Petra's carved Treasury facade.
Monastery (Ad Deir)
Climb about 800 rock-cut steps to Petra's largest facade and nearby viewpoints.
Petra Kitchen
Evening cooking class where you make and eat a Jordanian mezze and main course.
Cave Bar
Bar set inside a 2,000-year-old Nabataean tomb at the Petra Guest House by the gate.
High Place of Sacrifice
Ridge-top Nabataean altar reached by a stepped trail, returning past tombs via Wadi Farasa.
Royal Tombs
Row of grand tombs carved into the cliff, with swirling colored sandstone inside.
Near the way
These places from our other itineraries sit within about 25 km of the straight line between Amman and Petra. The road may not pass them directly, so check how far off your route they are.
Kempinski Ishtar sunset bar
Resort terrace bar facing the Dead Sea and the hills across the water at sunset.
Amman Beach
Public beach complex with pools, showers and Dead Sea access at day-pass prices.
Panorama Dead Sea Complex
Cliff-top viewpoint and small museum above the Dead Sea.
Wadi Mujib Siq Trail
Wade and scramble up a sandstone gorge to a waterfall in the Mujib reserve.
Before you leave Amman
Hilly capital with Roman ruins, souks and Levantine food. Stay 2 nights.
On this curated route
Where Amman → Petra sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Petra & Wadi Musa to Amman is the same 186 km in a straight line, heading north. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
Average daytime highs at both ends stay within 1°C of each other all year, so you can pack the same way for both.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amman high | 13° | 15° | 18° | 23° | 28° | 32° | 34° | 33° | 31° | 27° | 20° | 15° |
| Petra high | 13° | 15° | 20° | 24° | 29° | 33° | 34° | 34° | 32° | 27° | 20° | 15° |
| Amman rain | 63 | 58 | 32 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 29 | 52 |
| Petra rain | 45 | 36 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 26 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Petra & Wadi Musa month guides.
Amman to Petra: questions travelers ask
How far is Amman from Petra & Wadi Musa?
Amman is about 186 km (116 mi) from Petra & Wadi Musa in a straight line, with Petra & Wadi Musa to the south. By road, we estimate 223–261 km (139–162 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Amman to Petra & Wadi Musa?
An estimated 2 h 15 min – 4 h, assuming 223–261 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
What is there to see between Amman and Petra & Wadi Musa?
Near the straight-line path we have 4 places from our curated guides, including Kempinski Ishtar sunset bar (Dead Sea), Amman Beach (Dead Sea), Panorama Dead Sea Complex (Dead Sea), Wadi Mujib Siq Trail (Dead Sea). The road may not pass them directly, so check the detour.
Which itineraries include the trip from Amman to Petra & Wadi Musa?
Our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea itinerary includes this leg. Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea runs about 8 days across 4 stops, best in Mar – May, Sep – Nov.
Onward from Petra
Guides for both ends
- Amman travel guide
- Amman weather best time to visit
- Petra & Wadi Musa travel guide
- Petra & Wadi Musa weather best time to visit
Petra by month
- Petra & Wadi Musa in January
- Petra & Wadi Musa in February
- Petra & Wadi Musa in March
- Petra & Wadi Musa in April
- Petra & Wadi Musa in May
- Petra & Wadi Musa in June
- Petra & Wadi Musa in July
- Petra & Wadi Musa in August
- Petra & Wadi Musa in September
- Petra & Wadi Musa in October
- Petra & Wadi Musa in November
- Petra & Wadi Musa in December
Plan Amman → Petra with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.