Amman, the Rose City, red desert and salt sea
This is leg 3 of 3, the final leg.
Travel leg · Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea
Wadi Rum to Dead Sea
Wadi Rum and Dead Sea sit about 239 km (148 mi) apart in a straight line, with Dead Sea to the north. It is leg 3 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
- 239 km · 148 mi
- Est. road distance
- 286–334 km
- Est. drive time
- 3 h – 5 h 15 min
- Direction
- Heading north
- 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 286–334 km (178–208 mi) of road and 3 h – 5 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, plus 9 places near the straight-line path.
When you arrive in Dead Sea
Float in the lowest point on Earth and visit biblical sites nearby. Stay 1–2 nights.
Amman Beach
Public beach complex with pools, showers and Dead Sea access at day-pass prices.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan
UNESCO site of Jesus' baptism on the Jordan River, with church ruins and a guided walk.
Panorama Dead Sea Complex
Cliff-top viewpoint and small museum above the Dead Sea.
Haret Jdoudna
Madaba restaurant in a restored Ottoman courtyard serving mezze and grills.
Kempinski Ishtar sunset bar
Resort terrace bar facing the Dead Sea and the hills across the water at sunset.
Mount Nebo
Hilltop where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land, with Byzantine mosaics.
Near the way
These places from our other itineraries sit within about 25 km of the straight line between Wadi Rum and Dead Sea. The road may not pass them directly, so check how far off your route they are.
High Place of Sacrifice
Ridge-top Nabataean altar reached by a stepped trail, returning past tombs via Wadi Farasa.
The Siq and Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
A 1.2 km slot canyon opening onto Petra's carved Treasury facade.
Petra by Night
Candle-lit walk through the Siq to the Treasury with Bedouin music, three nights a week.
Cave Bar
Bar set inside a 2,000-year-old Nabataean tomb at the Petra Guest House by the gate.
Petra Kitchen
Evening cooking class where you make and eat a Jordanian mezze and main course.
Royal Tombs
Row of grand tombs carved into the cliff, with swirling colored sandstone inside.
Al Qantarah Restaurant
Buffet restaurant near the Petra gate known for zarb, meat and rice cooked underground.
Monastery (Ad Deir)
Climb about 800 rock-cut steps to Petra's largest facade and nearby viewpoints.
Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
Smaller, quieter Nabataean site with a painted ceiling, 9 km north of Wadi Musa.
Before you leave Wadi Rum
Red sand desert of sandstone mountains and Bedouin camps. Stay 1–2 nights.
On this curated route
Where Wadi Rum → Dead Sea sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Dead Sea to Wadi Rum is the same 239 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in November, when Dead Sea averages highs 4°C warmer than Wadi Rum.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wadi Rum high | 15° | 17° | 22° | 27° | 32° | 36° | 37° | 37° | 34° | 29° | 22° | 16° |
| Dead Sea high | 19° | 21° | 25° | 29° | 34° | 38° | 39° | 39° | 36° | 32° | 26° | 21° |
| Wadi Rum rain | 8 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Dead Sea rain | 47 | 42 | 23 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 33 |
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 Dead Sea month guides.
Wadi Rum to Dead Sea: questions travelers ask
How far is Wadi Rum from Dead Sea?
Wadi Rum is about 239 km (148 mi) from Dead Sea in a straight line, with Dead Sea to the north. By road, we estimate 286–334 km (178–208 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 Wadi Rum to Dead Sea?
An estimated 3 h – 5 h 15 min, assuming 286–334 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 Wadi Rum and Dead Sea?
Near the straight-line path we have 9 places from our curated guides, including High Place of Sacrifice (Petra & Wadi Musa), The Siq and Treasury (Al-Khazneh) (Petra & Wadi Musa), Petra by Night (Petra & Wadi Musa), Cave Bar (Petra & Wadi Musa). The road may not pass them directly, so check the detour.
Which itineraries include the trip from Wadi Rum to Dead Sea?
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.
Getting to Wadi Rum
Guides for both ends
- Wadi Rum travel guide
- Wadi Rum weather best time to visit
- Dead Sea travel guide
- Dead Sea weather best time to visit
Dead Sea by month
Plan Wadi Rum → Dead Sea 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.