Petra sits about 235 km south of Amman — a journey of roughly three hours by car down the Desert Highway. There is no train and no airport at Petra, so every visitor arrives the same handful of ways: on an organised tour, by private car or taxi, on the public JETT bus, in a rental car, or by slow local minibus. Here is how they really compare.
The essentials
- Distance
- ~235 km, Amman → Petra (Wadi Musa)
- Driving time
- ~3 hours each way via the Desert Highway
- Public bus
- JETT, ~10 JOD one way, ~4 hours
- Private transfer
- ~70–100 JOD per car, one way
Your five options, compared
| Option | Cost (one way) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organised tour | From ~$93 pp (round trip, incl. pickup) | ~3 h each way | Most visitors — no driving, a guide, door-to-door |
| Private taxi / transfer | ~70–100 JOD per car | ~3 h | Families or groups splitting the fare; full flexibility |
| JETT public bus | ~10 JOD | ~4 h | Solo budget travellers who plan to stay overnight |
| Rental car | ~25–30 JOD / day | ~3 h | Independent travellers touring several sites |
| Local minibus | A few JOD | 4 h+ (leaves when full) | Only the most flexible, patient budget travellers |
The JETT bus — useful, but read the timing
JETT runs an air-conditioned coach from Amman to Petra that leaves early — typically between 06:30 and 07:00 — and starts back from Petra at around 17:00. That is the catch for day-trippers: the single daily return means a fixed, long day, and if the bus is sold out or delayed you are stuck. Book a day or two ahead, especially in spring and autumn.
A same-day bus dash from Amman is possible, but it is a very long day for a monument that rewards slow walking. You will reach the Treasury and one or two viewpoints, then have to turn back for the 17:00 coach — the Monastery is effectively off the table. If Petra is the highlight of your trip, an overnight tour or a private transfer pays for itself in time on the ground.
Which should you pick?
If you want the simplest door-to-door day with someone else driving and explaining the ruins, an organised tour from Amman is the obvious choice — pickup is included and you skip all the logistics. Travelling as a couple or family, a private transfer can cost about the same per head while giving you full control of the timing. The JETT bus is the cheapest comfortable option for solo travellers who are staying overnight near Petra anyway.
Whichever you choose, note that where you sleep affects what you pay at the gate — see our Petra tickets & Jordan Pass guide before you go, and if you only have one day inside the park, read how to see Petra in one day.
