Jordan spans 89,342 square kilometers between the Jordan River and the Arabian Desert. The distance from Amman to Aqaba measures 335 kilometers. Petra sits 236 kilometers south of the capital. Jerash lies 48 kilometers north of Amman. Wadi Rum's protected area covers 720 square kilometers in the southern desert. The Dead Sea shore runs 50 kilometers along Jordan's western border at 430.5 meters below sea level. These distances define the practical scope of movement within the country.
The Queen Alia International Airport sits 32 kilometers south of Amman's city center. King Hussein International Airport serves Aqaba in the south. Amman Civil Airport handles domestic and regional flights from Marka district. Royal Jordanian operates as the flag carrier since 1963. Budget carriers including Ryanair and Wizz Air began service to Amman in 2023. The drive from Queen Alia Airport to central Amman takes 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic density. Airport Express buses depart every 30 minutes during daytime hours and cost 3.30 Jordanian dinars as of 2024. Private taxi fare from the airport to Amman ranges from 20 to 25 dinars using the meter. Uber and Careem operate from the airport with fares between 15 and 22 dinars depending on destination and time.
The Desert Highway connects Amman to Aqaba as Route 15, running 335 kilometers through Ma'an. The Kings Highway follows the ancient caravan route along the plateau edge, passing Madaba, Karak, and Tafilah before descending to the Dead Sea Highway. The Desert Highway typically requires four hours to drive from Amman to Aqaba without stops. The Kings Highway takes five to six hours due to elevation changes and road conditions through mountainous terrain. Route 35 leads west from Amman to the Dead Sea and continues south along the shore. Route 65 connects the Dead Sea to Aqaba as the Wadi Araba road, running through the Rift Valley.
JETT bus company operates scheduled routes from Amman to Petra departing at 0630 daily, arriving at 0930, with return service at 1700. The fare costs 10 dinars one-way as of 2024. JETT runs daily service to Aqaba departing Amman at 0700 and 1600, taking four hours. Trust International Transport operates competing routes with similar schedules and pricing. Local minibuses called servees run between cities when full, typically carrying 12 to 15 passengers. Servees from Amman's south bus station near Wahadat reach Madaba for 0.50 dinars, Karak for 2.50 dinars, and Aqaba for 5 dinars. Departure times depend on passenger volume rather than fixed schedules. The Tabarbour station in northern Amman handles servees to Jerash for 0.75 dinars and Irbid for 1 dinar.
Car rental agencies including Hertz, Europcar, Avis, and local companies operate from Queen Alia Airport and central Amman locations. Rental costs range from 20 to 45 dinars per day for economy vehicles depending on season and rental duration. International driving permits supplement foreign licenses for legal operation. Jordan drives on the right side of the road. Fuel costs approximately 0.90 dinars per liter for unleaded 95 octane as of early 2024. Speed limits read 120 kilometers per hour on highways, 80 kilometers per hour on secondary roads, and 50 kilometers per hour in urban areas unless posted otherwise. Traffic cameras enforce speed limits on major highways. The Desert Highway includes rest stops with facilities at approximately 80-kilometer intervals.
Amman's street grid follows hills and valleys without consistent numbering or naming systems across neighborhoods. GPS coordinates provide more reliable navigation than street addresses in many areas. The city expanded from seven hills to encompass portions of nineteen hills as population grew from 65,754 residents in 1946 to approximately 4.2 million in the greater metropolitan area by 2023. Downtown Amman centers on Al-Balad district where King Faisal Street and Quraysh Street intersect near the Roman Theater. The First Circle through Eighth Circle mark major roundabouts along the old road system, though several circles have been converted to signalized intersections. Rainbow Street runs through Jabal Amman between First Circle and Second Circle. Abdali Boulevard represents a newer development district north of downtown.
Taxis in Amman use yellow paint and meters calibrated to start at 0.25 dinars with increments of 0.035 dinars per 175 meters. The minimum fare reads 0.50 dinars. Drivers should activate meters at trip start. Fares from downtown to Abdali run 1.50 to 2 dinars, to Rainbow Street 2 to 3 dinars, and to the Seventh Circle area 4 to 5 dinars. White taxis operate without meters on negotiated fares for longer distances or full-day hire. Uber and Careem provide app-based service in Amman, Aqaba, and Irbid with fares typically matching or slightly undercutting metered taxis.
The Amman Bus Rapid Transit system launched in 2011 with dedicated lanes along a route from the Sports City area through downtown to the Sweileh area in the north. Standard city buses operate approximately 50 routes throughout greater Amman. Fares cost 0.33 dinars for most routes. The public bus system lacks comprehensive route maps in English. Minibuses called coasters serve specific neighborhood routes with fares of 0.25 to 0.50 dinars collected by conductors. These vehicles display route information in Arabic on the windshield.
The Hejaz Railway operated from Damascus through Amman to Medina from 1908 until service disruptions during World War I. Limited tourist excursion trains run occasionally on remaining tracks, but no regular passenger rail service operates in Jordan as of 2024. The government announced plans for a national railway network and a connection to Saudi Arabia, but construction timelines remain indefinite.
Organized tours from Amman to Petra typically include transportation, entry fees, and guide services for 75 to 120 dinars per person depending on group size and included meals. Day tours to Jerash cost 40 to 60 dinars from Amman. Multi-day tours combining Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba range from 250 to 400 dinars depending on accommodation level and group size. Private driver arrangements for custom itineraries cost 50 to 80 dinars per day plus fuel and accommodation if overnight trips are involved.
The Jordan Pass combines entry fees for Petra and more than 40 other sites with visa fee waiver for stays exceeding three nights. The pass costs 70 dinars for one day at Petra, 75 dinars for two days, and 80 dinars for three days as of 2024. Single-visit entry to Petra costs 50 dinars for one day, 55 dinars for two days, and 60 dinars for three days when purchased separately. The Jordan Pass must be purchased before arrival. Jerash entry costs 10 dinars separately. Wadi Rum Protected Area charges 5 dinars per person for entry when booked through registered camps or guides.
Walking serves as the primary method for exploring Petra's archaeological zone spanning approximately 264 square kilometers. The walk from the visitor center to the Treasury covers 1.2 kilometers through the Siq gorge. The path from the Treasury to the Monastery climbs 800 rock-cut steps over 2.4 kilometers with an elevation gain of approximately 200 meters. Horses are available from the entrance to the Siq entrance for 15 to 20 dinars. Donkeys operate on routes within Petra for 15 to 30 dinars depending on distance. Camel rides cost 10 to 20 dinars for short trips. Horse carriages traverse the Siq to the Treasury for approximately 20 dinars. These animal transport prices represent typical rates negotiated with handlers rather than fixed official fees.