Jordan

Getting around Jordan: buses, driving, taxis and domestic flights

For Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba, most travellers use JETT coaches or a private driver; hire a car only if you want the King's Highway at your own pace. There is no scheduled passenger rail, so do not plan around trains. Book the Petra bus a day ahead.

Not field-verified

Source checked: A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
Field checked: Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
Plan calculated: Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.

Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Updated Sep 20264 min read

GuideJordan

Key facts

Best all-round mode: JETT coach for Amman–Petra and Amman–Aqaba; private driver to link Madaba, Karak and Dana in one run
Amman–Petra by JETT: 3–3.5 h, about JOD 10–11 one way; one morning departure, returns mid-afternoon
Amman–Aqaba by JETT: 4–4.5 h, about JOD 10–11 one way
Minibus: JOD 1–8 to Madaba, Jerash, Karak and Wadi Musa; leaves when full, few after mid-afternoon or on Fridays
Hire car: JOD 25–45 a day plus fuel; best for the King's Highway, worst inside Amman
Private driver: JOD 80–130 a day, door to door; agree stops, waiting and fuel in writing
Domestic flight: Amman–Aqaba about 1 h, JOD 40–80; few daily departures
Train: No scheduled passenger rail; occasional Hejaz Railway heritage trips from Amman
City taxis: JOD 2–5 across central Amman by Careem, Uber or metered yellow taxi
Wadi Rum: 4x4 only, JOD 60–100 per jeep; book through your camp, no self-drive inside the reserve

Quick answer

Jordan's transport splits cleanly in two. In Amman you use apps and metered taxis; between cities you use coaches, minibuses or a hired car and driver. The country has no scheduled passenger railway, so the train is not an option. Most first trips run Amman → Petra → Wadi Rum → Aqaba, and that route works on a mix of one JETT coach, one private transfer and a camp jeep.

Summary table: mode, time, cost

Prices are 2026 estimates in Jordanian dinars (JOD). One dinar is roughly USD 1.40, so JOD 10 is about USD 14.

Summary table: mode, time, cost
Mode	Typical time	Typical cost	Use it for
JETT coach	3–3.5 h Amman–Petra; 4–4.5 h Amman–Aqaba	JOD 10–11 one way	Fixed long runs with luggage
Minibus	Leaves when full	JOD 1–8	Madaba, Jerash, Karak, Wadi Musa on a budget
Hire car	Self-paced	JOD 25–45 a day plus fuel	King's Highway, Dana, Karak, Wadi Rum
Private driver	Door to door	JOD 80–130 a day	One-day Amman–Petra via Madaba and Karak
Domestic flight	About 1 h Amman–Aqaba	JOD 40–80	Finishing at the Red Sea
Careem / Uber / taxi	City trips	JOD 2–5 across central Amman	Amman day to day
Wadi Rum 4x4	2 h to a full day	JOD 60–100 per jeep	Inside the protected area
Train	—	—	Nothing scheduled; heritage trips only

Times and fares vary with season and operator; confirm the day before you travel.

Step by step

Step 1 — Decide whether you need a car. If your trip is Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba, you do not: coaches and a camp transfer cover it, and you avoid Amman traffic and checkpoint paperwork. Hire a car only if you want to stop at Madaba, Mount Nebo, Karak, Dana and Shobak on your own schedule.

Step 2 — Book the JETT coach to Petra a day ahead in high season. It leaves Amman in the morning and returns mid-afternoon, so a Petra day trip by bus is tight; sleep in Wadi Musa instead.
Step 3 — For Wadi Rum, arrange the jeep and the camp pickup through your camp. There is no self-drive inside the reserve beyond the village.
Step 4 — If you finish at the Red Sea, compare the Amman–Aqaba flight (about 1 h, JOD 40–80) with the 4–4.5 h coach; the flight wins on time, the coach on cost.
Step 5 — In Amman, use Careem or Uber so the price is shown upfront. In a yellow taxi, ask for the meter (addad) before you get in.
Step 6 — Carry your passport and, if driving, your licence and rental papers. Police checkpoints are routine on the highways.

Notes

Friday is the main weekend day. Government offices and banks close, some shops open after midday prayers, and minibus services thin out or stop. Plan long moves for Saturday to Thursday where you can.

Driving in Jordan means speed bumps without warning, aggressive city traffic and checkpoints. Avoid driving inside Amman; pick the car up on your way out of the city.

Wadi Rum jeep tours are priced per vehicle, not per person, so a group of four pays the same as a solo traveller. Agree the route list and the finish time before you set off.

If you are hiring a car or joining a jeep tour, check what your travel insurance covers for off-road driving and vehicle damage before you go.

Notes
Situation	What to do
Friday travel	Expect fewer minibuses; use a coach, car or driver
Yellow taxi	Ask for the meter or take an app car
Checkpoint	Slow down, carry passport and papers, stay calm
Wadi Rum	Book the jeep through your camp; no self-drive inside
Petra day trip by bus	Not realistic; stay in Wadi Musa

Confirm hours and departures locally; schedules shift with season and Ramadan.

FAQ

Sources and verification

Questions people ask

What is the best way to get around Jordan?

For most trips, JETT coaches between Amman, Petra and Aqaba plus a private driver or hire car for the King's Highway. In Amman, use Careem, Uber or a metered taxi. There is no scheduled passenger train, so do not plan around rail.

Do I need a car in Jordan?

No, if you are sticking to Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba — coaches and camp transfers cover that route. Hire a car only if you want to stop at Madaba, Karak, Dana and Shobak at your own pace. Skip driving inside Amman.

Are there rail or bus passes for Jordan?

No national rail pass exists, because there is no scheduled passenger rail. Bus passes are not standard either; JETT sells single tickets, and minibuses are pay-on-board. Buy each leg separately, a day ahead in high season.

How long is the bus from Amman to Petra?

About 3 to 3.5 hours on the JETT coach, roughly JOD 10–11 one way. There is one morning departure and the return leaves Petra mid-afternoon, so plan to sleep in Wadi Musa rather than day-trip.

How do I get to Wadi Rum?

Take a coach or car to Wadi Rum village, then a 4x4 booked through your Bedouin camp — JOD 60–100 per jeep. Self-driving inside the protected area is not allowed beyond the village.

Is there a flight from Amman to Aqaba?

Yes, about 1 hour, roughly JOD 40–80, with few daily departures. It saves a 4–4.5 hour drive when you finish at the Red Sea. Book early, as seats are limited.

How much is a taxi in Amman?

About JOD 2–5 across central Amman. Careem and Uber show the price upfront. In a yellow taxi, ask for the meter (addad) before you get in, or get out and take another.

Deep dive

Every source; changeable facts are marked check