Driving In Jordan – A Quick FAQ

July 22, 2023 by admin

Can I Rent a Car in Jordan?
Distances
Where Should I Rent a Car?
Dangers and Pitfalls of Driving in Jordan
Rules of the Road and Army Checkpoints
Roadway Conditions
Parking
The King’s Highway
Conclusion

Can I Rent a Car in Jordan?

YES!!! In fact it is the best way to make use of Jordan pass. While Amman is a lovely capital city it does not hold a candle to what you will find outside of its gates. Windswept deserts, cities carved in stone, crusaders castles perched high up, biblical works, impressive roman ruins, a sea you can float in… but I digress. Jordan is a wonderful place and is best explored by car.

Distances

Jordan is a relatively small counrty and as such its driving distances are ideal!

Amman to Jerash – 52 kms (Approx. 1 hour)
Amman to the Dead Sea – 54 kms (Approx. 1 hour)
Amman to Madaba – 32kms (Approx. 40 minutes)
Amman to Wadi Musa / Petra – (Approx. 3hours… but it took me closer to 4)
Amman to Kerak – 130kms (Approx. 2hours)
Amman to Wadi Rum – 230kms (Approx. 3hours)
Wadi Rum to Wadi Musa – 111kms (Approx 2hours)

Where Should I Rent a Car?

Renting a car from Amman airport (Queen Alia International Airport Pick-up) is easy reliable but you could also try renting a car in town. Alternatively you can rent a car in town. If you wish to drop off the car at another location it is usually possible to do it.

If crossing the border into the West Bank/Isreal, there are even drop off locations at the Jordanian side of the border. For more information chuck out my post on the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge and border crossing.

Dangers and Pitfalls of Driving in Jordan

Jordan is considerably easier to drive in then its Middle Eastern peers. Although Jordanian drivers can be a little aggressive it is possibly the best Middle Eastern country to get out on the roads in. Amman in much smaller then Cairo per say, but a little hectic but rural Jordan is composed of smaller settlements and is a delight to drive through. These rural areas are safe in terms of crime your biggest worry should be a car accident. There were 160 000 accidents in 2021 alone. While the majority of these accidents happen in the capital, it is not unheard of for people to hit a crossing camel in the countryside.

This bring me to the biggest concern I had with dealing with the law in the case of an accident. Remember, you are not in your own country and although Jordan has made a lot of progress, locals may get preferential treatment in the case of an accident.

IMPORTANT: In Jordan a driver is always guilty if they hit a pedestrian

However one should be on the lookout for camels crossing the roads, especially near nightfall when visibility is at its worst. This is also true of shepherds in the mountains that may bring their flock across a roadway. You may also want to make sure to slow down in towns as children tend to run across the road.

Rules of the Road and Army Checkpoints

Jordanians drive on the right hand side of the road, so if you are European or North American that should not be a problem. In fact the road network and signage should remind you quite a bit of Europe.

One primary difference is that you should be on the lookout for army checkpoints. There is nothing to fear. Just slow down and look for one of the officials to either wave you by or check your licence. They are usually polite and courteous so do the same.

Roadway Conditions

In the last years Jordan has radically improved its highway network, so much so that much of it is to a western standard roads, this is especially true in the north. Unfortunately this is not true for many rural roads especially in the south and center of the country. Even the highways in this area are still being finalized although work on them has substantially improved the journey south. Research the location of petrol stations in advance and make sure to bring cash on you just in case.

Jordanian speed bumps are some of the worst I’ve encountered in my travels… go slowly to avoid damage to your vehicle as these should be called speed hills. Some area of Jordan also have high slopes and spiralling turns downwards so be prepared to drive safely, especially in the more rugged terrain.

Although rare outside of spring, one should beware of flash flooding and snow events. In the panel below we see the strange gamut of weather experienced on a day trip between Wadi Musa (Petra) and Wadi Rum

Lastly, if you are planning on spending time in the desert, particularly wadi rum, make sure you have a suitable vehicle.

Parking

Parking at historic sites is easy for tourists each visitors center has parking so use it! In trickier cities like Kerak there will be attendants to help you park. Parking, like driving, is at its trickiest in the narrow streets of the capital.

The King’s Highway

Once the principal route connecting the the Levant’s trading network via Damascus to Arabia and Egypt via Jordan and the port of Aquaba on the Red Sea, and previously the Nabataean city of Petra, the King’s Highway has a long and storied history. Today the route is no longer the primary, being replaced by a new (and flatter) desert highway. The route’s importance is compounded by the sights along its length including roman ruins, crusader castles, biblical sites, and the current capital of the country.

This is a road best travelled!!!