Day Trip to Petra and Wadi Rum From Amman: Full Guide
Let’s be honest from the start: doing Petra and Wadi Rum in one day from Amman is possible, but it’s a long, packed day. You’ll be on the road a lot, and you need a clear plan and an early start.
If you only have one free day and don’t want to miss both places, this guide will help you structure it hour by hour so you know exactly what to expect.
Planning Your Day Trip to Petra and Wadi Rum From Amman
Before you look at times, think about order and priorities:
- Start with Petra in the morning
- Continue to Wadi Rum in the late afternoon / evening
- End the day either:
- Back in Amman (very long day), or
- Overnight in a Wadi Rum camp (much more relaxed)
A realistic day trip to petra and wadi rum from amman usually looks like this:
- Leave Amman: around 5:00–6:00 am
- Reach Petra: around 8:30–9:00 am
- Explore Petra: 3–4 hours (short but focused visit)
- Drive Petra → Wadi Rum: about 1.5–2 hours
- Wadi Rum tour and sunset: 2–3 hours
- Then either:
- Drive back to Amman: 4–5 hours, or
- Stay in Wadi Rum and return the next day
If you can, staying in Wadi Rum after sunset makes the plan much more comfortable.
If you want help planning tickets, entry times, what to prioritize, and how to avoid wasting time, use this Petra logistics guide
Morning: Travel From Amman to Petra
Most of the day depends on how early you can leave. The earlier, the better.
- Distance Amman → Petra (Wadi Musa): about 230 km
- Driving time: roughly 3 hours via the Desert Highway in normal conditions
If you want a quick breakdown with route notes and distance details, check Amman to Petra distance
How to travel:
- Private car / rental car:
- Leave Amman around 5:00–6:00 am.
- You arrive at Petra Visitor Center roughly 8:00–9:00 am.
- Private driver / private tour:
- Same timing, but someone else handles the driving.
For a same-day combo with Wadi Rum, public buses usually don’t give you enough control over timing, so people often go with a private transfer, driver, or organized tour.
When you arrive in Wadi Musa:
- Park or get dropped near the Petra Visitor Center.
- Buy or show your ticket.
- Go straight in; you don’t have time to waste if you want to see both Petra and Wadi Rum.
Afternoon: Exploring Petra’s Main Highlights
With a same-day plan, you won’t see every corner of Petra. The goal is to cover the main highlights without rushing so much that you hate the experience.
Focus on:
- The Siq (the narrow canyon walk)
- The Treasury
- The Street of Facades
- Maybe the Theatre or part of the way toward the Royal Tombs
If you arrive around 8:30–9:00 am, a 3–4 hour visit gives you enough time for:
- Walking from the Visitor Center through the Siq to the Treasury
- Short photo stops and breaks
- A quick look beyond the Treasury, depending on your speed
You probably won’t have time to climb to the Monastery on a strict one-day Petra + Wadi Rum plan. That round trip alone often takes 3–4 hours for most visitors.
Aim to leave Petra by early afternoon, around 12:30–14:00, so you can still reach Wadi Rum in time for a jeep tour and sunset.
Evening: Wadi Rum Desert Tour and Sunset Experience
From Petra to Wadi Rum:
- Distance: about 100–110 km
- Driving time: around 1.5–2 hours
Most visitors either:
- Drive themselves to Wadi Rum Village or their camp’s arranged meeting point, or
- Have a pre-booked driver or tour that takes them directly from Petra to Wadi Rum
If you’d rather not coordinate transport and timing yourself, these Petra & Wadi Rum tours
can make the same-day plan smoother.
Once you arrive:
- Join a 2–3 hour jeep tour in the desert
- Visit a few main spots (rock formations, sand dunes, viewpoints)
- Watch the sunset from one of the viewpoints or dunes
- Have tea or a simple meal in a Bedouin camp if it’s part of your plan
If you’re returning to Amman the same night, you’ll need to leave Wadi Rum right after the tour, which usually means a late drive and a very long day.
If you stay overnight:
- You sleep in a camp in Wadi Rum
- Enjoy the night sky
- Head back to Amman or continue to Aqaba the next day
This second option is much easier on your body and gives you time to actually feel the desert, not just tick it off.
Is a Same-Day Petra–Wadi Rum Trip Realistic?
Short answer: yes, but only if you accept the trade-offs.
What you need to consider:
- You will spend many hours in the car.
- Your time in Petra will be limited to the core highlights.
- You will likely reach Amman very late if you don’t stay in Wadi Rum.
- You need a private car, driver, or organized tour; public transport is not practical for this plan.
For most people, the ideal version of this itinerary is:
- Day 1: Amman → Petra (explore) → Wadi Rum (sunset, sleep in the desert)
- Day 2: Morning in Wadi Rum → then back to Amman or on to Aqaba
And if you want a fuller plan that includes more stops without rushing, this 3-day tour
is usually the better structure.
But if your schedule is tight and you only have one free day, a compressed version of this plan can still work, as long as you know it will be intense.
FAQ
Is it possible to do Petra and Wadi Rum in one day?
Yes, it is possible, but it’s a long and demanding day. You need:
- A very early departure from Amman
- Private transport or a structured tour (not regular buses)
- A clear plan for how long you’ll stay in each place
You will see the main areas of Petra and a short Wadi Rum jeep tour, but you won’t see everything.
How many hours do I need in Petra?
For a same-day combo with Wadi Rum, plan for at least 3–4 hours inside Petra. That gives you:
- The walk through the Siq
- Time at the Treasury
- Some time beyond it (Street of Facades, maybe the Theatre)
If you want to climb to viewpoints or the Monastery, you really need a separate day or an overnight stay in Wadi Musa.
How far are Petra and Wadi Rum from Amman?
Approximate road distances:
- Amman → Petra (Wadi Musa): around 230 km
- Amman → Wadi Rum: around 320–330 km, depending on the route
- Petra → Wadi Rum: about 100–110 km
This is why combining both Petra and Wadi Rum in a single day from Amman means a lot of driving.
Is a tour required for Wadi Rum?
To properly visit Wadi Rum’s desert area, you’ll need a local guide or jeep tour. You can’t just drive your own car deep into the protected area without coordination.
Most people:
- Park at Wadi Rum Village
- Meet a local guide / camp representative
- Join a 2–4 hour jeep tour, often ending at sunset
You can book tours in advance through camps or agencies, or arrange them on arrival if you have enough time.
What is the best time to leave Amman?
If you want to combine both sites in one day, plan to leave Amman around 5:00–6:00 am.
This gives you:
- Morning in Petra for the main highlights
- Time to drive to Wadi Rum
- A jeep tour and sunset in the desert
Leaving later means you’ll either rush Petra, miss sunset in Wadi Rum, or get back to Amman extremely late.
