Amman, the Rose City, red desert and salt sea
This is leg 2 of 3.
Travel leg · Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea
Petra & Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum
Petra & Wadi Musa and Wadi Rum sit about 84 km (52 mi) apart in a straight line, with Wadi Rum to the south. It is leg 2 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
- 84 km · 52 mi
- Est. road distance
- 100–117 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min
- 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 50–80 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 100–117 km (62–73 mi) of road and 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min 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.
When you arrive in Wadi Rum
Red sand desert of sandstone mountains and Bedouin camps. Stay 1–2 nights.
Wadi Rum jeep tour
Half- or full-day 4x4 trips to dunes, canyons, rock bridges and inscriptions.
Khazali Canyon
Narrow cleft with Nabataean and Thamudic rock carvings.
Um Fruth Rock Bridge
Small natural arch you can climb onto for photos over the sand.
Zarb dinner at a Bedouin camp
Chicken, lamb and vegetables slow-cooked in a pit under the sand, served at most camps.
Burdah Rock Bridge
Guided scramble to one of the desert's highest natural arches.
Red sand dunes
Dunes banked against Jebel Umm Ishrin where you can climb or sandboard.
Before you leave Petra & Wadi Musa
The Nabataean rock-cut city and its gateway town. Stay 2–3 nights.
On this curated route
Where Petra → Wadi Rum sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Wadi Rum to Petra & Wadi Musa is the same 84 km in a straight line, heading north. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in August, when Wadi Rum averages highs 3°C warmer than Petra & Wadi Musa.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petra high | 13° | 15° | 20° | 24° | 29° | 33° | 34° | 34° | 32° | 27° | 20° | 15° |
| Wadi Rum high | 15° | 17° | 22° | 27° | 32° | 36° | 37° | 37° | 34° | 29° | 22° | 16° |
| Petra rain | 45 | 36 | 19 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 26 |
| Wadi Rum rain | 8 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
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 Wadi Rum month guides.
Petra to Wadi Rum: questions travelers ask
How far is Petra & Wadi Musa from Wadi Rum?
Petra & Wadi Musa is about 84 km (52 mi) from Wadi Rum in a straight line, with Wadi Rum to the south. By road, we estimate 100–117 km (62–73 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 Petra & Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum?
An estimated 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min, assuming 100–117 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Petra & Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum?
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 Wadi Rum
- Wadi Rum to Dead Sea 239 km
Getting to Petra
- Amman to Petra & Wadi Musa 186 km
Guides for both ends
- Petra & Wadi Musa travel guide
- Petra & Wadi Musa weather best time to visit
- Wadi Rum travel guide
- Wadi Rum weather best time to visit
Wadi Rum by month
Plan Petra → Wadi Rum 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.