- 110 kmWadi Musa to Wadi Rum by road
- 1.5–2 hTypical journey time
- 6Ways to make the trip
- MorningThe departure that saves your afternoon
The Easiest Way From Petra to Wadi Rum
A private transfer from Wadi Musa, or a combined tour that already includes the desert.
Your options are a scheduled bus, a shared transfer, a private taxi, a private transfer, a rental car or an organised Petra and Wadi Rum tour. For most first-time travellers the easiest are a private transfer from Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum, often arranged by your camp, or a combined tour that includes your desert jeep experience. Whichever you choose, the transfer is only the first half of the day: once you reach Wadi Rum you switch to a local 4x4. The Wadi Rum: Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour (5.0 from 309 reviews, from $44) is a private four-hour tour with Bedouin tea along the way, which fits an arrival from Petra before lunch and a sunset finish.
Petra to Wadi Rum: Quick Comparison
Who each option suits, what it does well and where it lets you down.
| Option | Best for | Main advantage | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled bus | Budget travellers | Cheapest straightforward option | Fixed timetable |
| Shared transfer | Solo travellers | Cheaper than private transport | Less flexibility |
| Private taxi | Couples and small groups | Direct and flexible | Higher cost |
| Private transfer | Comfort and convenience | Door-to-door service | More expensive |
| Rental car | Independent road trips | Maximum flexibility | You must drive |
| Organised tour | Short itineraries | Transport and activities combined | Less independence |
How Far Is Wadi Rum From Petra?
About 110 km, or 1.5 to 2 hours on the road.
Petra lies beside the town of Wadi Musa, where you sleep, and Wadi Rum lies farther south, about 110 km by road. The journey typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on:
- your pickup location
- road conditions
- stops along the way
- whether you are going to the Wadi Rum Visitor Center or another meeting point
That is short enough to leave Wadi Musa in the morning and still reach Wadi Rum for an afternoon jeep tour, which makes the route very useful on a short Jordan itinerary. The Wadi Rum entry fee is paid at the Visitor Center unless you hold a Jordan Pass; our Jordan Pass guide explains what the pass covers.
Once you are in the desert, travellers book Wadi Rum jeep tours to Lawrence’s Spring and the rock bridges, sunset tours, camel rides, nights in a Bedouin camp or a bubble tent under the stars, then continue to Aqaba and the Red Sea, or back north to Petra and Amman.
Best Petra to Wadi Rum Itinerary
Leave in the morning, spend the afternoon in the desert and sleep at a camp.
Morning — Leave Wadi Musa
Check out after breakfast and set off south.
Late morning — Arrive in Wadi Rum
Meet your camp or guide at the agreed point, usually the Visitor Center or Wadi Rum Village.
Afternoon — A 3- or 4-hour jeep tour
Our jeep tour lengths compared shows what each duration reaches.
Sunset — A desert viewpoint
Most afternoon tours finish at a sunset spot.
Evening — Dinner at camp
Dinner is included at most camps.
Night — Overnight in Wadi Rum
Our where to stay in Wadi Rum guide covers the camp types.
This gives you far more of the desert than arriving late in the evening and missing the afternoon.
Petra to Wadi Rum by Bus
Best for budget-conscious independent travellers.
A scheduled bus is usually the cheapest way to travel between Petra and Wadi Rum. The Jordan Tourism Board’s Wadi Rum page says daily buses run to Wadi Rum from Aqaba, Petra and Amman. The service from Wadi Musa leaves early in the morning and connects you directly with Wadi Rum, but services change seasonally, so ask your Wadi Musa hotel for the current departure time the evening before; hotels can often reserve a seat for you.
The bus works especially well if:
- you are staying in Wadi Musa
- you do not need a very early departure
- your camp can collect you on arrival
- you are travelling alone
Advantages of taking the bus
- low cost
- no need to negotiate with drivers
- straightforward for solo travellers
- useful if you are staying overnight in Wadi Rum
For one person it can be considerably cheaper than booking a private car.
Disadvantages of the bus
The main problem is flexibility. You may have:
- only one suitable departure
- a fixed pickup time
- limited room for luggage
- a drop-off that is not directly at your camp
If the bus arrives later than expected, you can lose some of the best afternoon touring time.
Petra to Wadi Rum by Taxi
Best for couples, families and travellers who want it simple.
A taxi takes you directly from Wadi Musa to your agreed meeting point in Wadi Rum, and you choose when to leave. That helps if you want to:
- enter Petra early
- leave Wadi Musa after breakfast
- reach Wadi Rum before lunch
- start an afternoon tour
For two or more people, splitting the fare can make a taxi much more reasonable.
Taxi vs private transfer
The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but there can be differences. A taxi may be arranged locally and priced directly with the driver. A private transfer is usually pre-booked through a tour company, your hotel, your camp or a transport provider, and usually comes with:
- a confirmed pickup
- a fixed price
- the driver’s contact details
- easier coordination
Both can work well.
Petra to Wadi Rum by Private Transfer
Best for convenience and reliable timing.
A private transfer is one of the easiest options. You can typically arrange your hotel in Wadi Musa to the Wadi Rum Visitor Center, the village or your camp’s meeting point, decide the departure time and travel directly. It is particularly useful when you have booked:
- an afternoon jeep tour
- a sunset tour
- a desert camp
- a private Wadi Rum experience
We found no Petra to Wadi Rum private transfer with a solid review record on GetYourGuide or Viator, so book it through your Wadi Musa hotel or your camp.
Can your Wadi Rum camp arrange the transfer?
Often, yes. Many Wadi Rum camps help arrange transport from Petra, Aqaba and Amman. Ask your camp:
- Do you arrange transfers from Wadi Musa?
- What is the total cost?
- Is it private or shared?
- Where will I be dropped off?
- Is the 4x4 transfer to camp included?
- What time should I leave Petra?
Booking it this way avoids two separate services that do not connect. If you have not chosen a camp yet, the Wadi Rum: Bedouin Camp Stay, Full-Day Desert Tour with 3 Meals (4.9 from 289 reviews, from $47) puts the night, the desert tour and the meals in one booking. Our Wadi Rum camps compared page sets out the other camp types and prices.
Petra to Wadi Rum by Rental Car
Best for independent travellers continuing through Jordan.
A rental car gives you the most flexibility. You leave Wadi Musa whenever you want, and after Wadi Rum you can continue to Aqaba, the Dead Sea or Amman. It suits an itinerary of Amman → Petra → Wadi Rum → Aqaba more than a series of separate tours. Once you reach Wadi Rum you normally park and switch to a local 4x4 for the desert tour; our Amman to Wadi Rum guide covers parking and meeting your guide.
Petra to Wadi Rum by Organised Tour
Best for travellers who want everything handled.
A combined tour can include:
- Wadi Musa pickup
- the transfer to Wadi Rum
- a jeep tour
- sunset
- a camp
- dinner
- breakfast
- an onward transfer
This is especially useful if you have only one or two days. Instead of coordinating transport, a jeep operator and a camp separately, you book one package. The combined tours with the longest review records on GetYourGuide start in Amman: the Amman: Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea 2-Day Tour (4.9 from 1,566 reviews, from $249) drives you to Petra, on to a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum with dinner, breakfast and a 2-hour jeep tour, and back north via the Dead Sea. Our Petra and Wadi Rum tours guide compares it with the one- and three-day versions.
Petra to Wadi Rum day tour
You can also visit Wadi Rum from Petra as a day trip. A typical structure is to leave Wadi Musa in the morning, arrive in Wadi Rum in the late morning, take a jeep tour from midday into the afternoon and return to Petra in the late afternoon. From Wadi Musa you arrange this yourself with a driver and a short tour such as the 2-Hour Jeep Tour (Morning or Sunset): Wadi Rum Desert Highlights (4.9 from 93 reviews). It is possible, but if your itinerary allows, staying overnight usually gives you much more.
Petra to Wadi Rum and then Aqaba
This is one of the most logical routes in Jordan, and it avoids backtracking:
- Day 1: Petra
- Day 2: Petra to Wadi Rum, jeep tour, sunset, camp
- Day 3: Wadi Rum to Aqaba
You get three completely different experiences: archaeology, desert and the Red Sea. Our two-day versus three-day itinerary shows how the days fit together.
Petra to Wadi Rum in one day
Moving between them in one day is easy. What matters is what you do before and after the transfer.
Bad plan: a morning visit to Petra, a late-afternoon departure and arrival in Wadi Rum after sunset. You lose most of the desert.
Better plan: explore Petra fully the day before, leave Wadi Musa in the morning, arrive in Wadi Rum before lunch, take an afternoon jeep tour, watch sunset and stay overnight. This makes much better use of your time.
What Happens With Your Luggage?
You do not need to take a large suitcase on a sightseeing jeep tour.
Most transfer providers can carry normal luggage. Your camp may take it directly to your accommodation, store it while you take your jeep tour, or carry it separately. Ask in advance which applies.
Bus vs Taxi: Which Is Better?
For two or more people, the price difference per person becomes much smaller.
Choose the bus if:
- budget matters most
- you are travelling solo
- the timetable suits you
- you are flexible
Choose a taxi if:
- you want a specific departure time
- you are travelling as a couple or group
- you have lots of luggage
- you want direct transport
What to Ask Before Booking
Send these to the driver, hotel or camp before you agree anything.
- What is the total price?
- Is the price per person or per vehicle?
- Is pickup from my Wadi Musa hotel included?
- Where exactly will you drop me in Wadi Rum?
- Is the camp transfer included?
- How long does the journey usually take?
- Can you carry my luggage?
- What time should we leave for my jeep tour?
- Is the transfer private or shared?
Clear answers make the options much easier to compare.
Petra to Wadi Rum: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get from Petra to Wadi Rum?
You can travel by scheduled bus, shared transfer, taxi, private transfer, rental car or organised tour. A private transfer arranged through your hotel or camp is the easiest for most couples and small groups; the morning minibus is the cheapest for a solo traveller.
How long does Petra to Wadi Rum take?
By road, typically around 1.5 to 2 hours for the roughly 110 km, depending on where you are picked up and where you are dropped off.
Can I take a taxi from Petra to Wadi Rum?
Yes. A taxi from Wadi Musa is one of the simplest direct options. Agree the price and the exact drop-off point before you leave.
Can I drive from Petra to Wadi Rum?
Yes. Rental-car travellers can drive to the Wadi Rum access area, park, and then join a local 4x4 for the desert tour.
Can I visit Wadi Rum as a day trip from Petra?
Yes. A day trip is possible, although staying overnight gives you sunset, stars and sunrise in the desert.
Can my Wadi Rum camp arrange transport from Petra?
Many camps can help arrange transfers from Wadi Musa. Ask for the total price, whether it is private or shared, and where you will be dropped off.
Can I go from Petra to Wadi Rum and then Aqaba?
Yes. Petra, then Wadi Rum, then Aqaba is one of the most efficient routes in southern Jordan, with no backtracking.