9-Day Jordan Itinerary With Kids: A Practical Family Road Trip Guide (Petra, Dead Sea, Wadi Rum & Aqaba)

Why visit Jordan with Children?

If you’re considering Jordan with children and wondering whether it really works as a family trip, this itinerary shows that it absolutely can — as long as it’s structured well.

Jordan offers an unusual concentration of experiences in a relatively compact area. In a single trip, you can visit:

• Petra, a New Wonder of the World

• Well‑preserved Roman cities

• Crusader castles and biblical landmarks

• Dramatic desert landscapes

• The Dead Sea and the Red Sea

What surprised us most wasn’t just the scale of the sights, but how straightforward and affordable Jordan felt as a self‑drive family road trip.

What This Guide Covers

This article gives a high‑level overview of how we structured a 9‑day road trip in Jordan during the Easter school holidays with a school‑aged child.

You’ll learn:

• How the route flowed

• Where we stayed

• Why the sequencing worked well for kids

• How we balanced sightseeing with downtime

Throughout the guide, you’ll find links to deeper planning resources, including:

• Jordan Pass vs visa process

• Visiting Petra with kids (including Petra by Night)

• Dead Sea hotel strategy

• Our Wadi Rum experience

• Costs, logistics, and what we’d change next time

Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you book through them — at no extra cost to you. We only ever link to places, tours, tools, and services we’ve personally used or carefully researched for family travel.

Is Jordan a Good Option for Families?

If you’re looking for a realistic Jordan itinerary for families — one that balances history, adventure, and rest — this is exactly how we approached it.

And if you’re still deciding whether Jordan is right for school‑aged children, start here first: Is Jordan Good for School-Age Children? A Parent’s Planning Guide to Comfort, Adventure & Realistic Expectations

Practical Planning Essentials for Families Visiting Jordan

Jordan isn’t difficult to travel — but it rewards good preparation, especially with children. A few key decisions made before you leave make the trip significantly smoother once you’re on the road.

Start with the Jordan Pass

If you’re staying at least three nights and visiting Petra, buying the Jordan Pass in advance is one of the smartest planning steps you can take.

It includes:

• Your tourist visa fee (3+ nights)

• Petra entry

• Access to 40+ sites, including Jerash, Wadi Rum and Shobak

Children aren’t included in the pass, but most sites are free for under‑12s, and paying a child visa on arrival was quick and straightforward. Having the pass meant fewer queues and simpler budgeting — a real win with kids

Self-Drive for Flexibility

Jordan works exceptionally well as a self‑drive road trip. Distances are manageable, roads are easy to navigate, and having your own car lets you:

• Start early at big sites like Petra

• Build in rest afternoons

• Stop when kids need breaks

• Avoid rigid tour schedules

We recommend starting with Trip, which made it easy to compare providers and keep free cancellation — useful when plans change. Having control over timing made this itinerary far calmer and more flexible.

Sort Mobile Data Before You Go

Reliable navigation is essential when driving. We installed an Airalo eSIM before departure, which connected automatically on arrival and gave us instant access to Google Maps without roaming charges or relying on airport Wi‑Fi.

Don’t Skip Travel Insurance

This itinerary includes:

• Long walking days (Petra can exceed 10–13 miles)

• Desert terrain in Wadi Rum

• Heat exposure

• Self‑driving

• International medical care

We useJust Travel Cover as they compare multiple insurers and make it easier to find family‑appropriate cover. For a trip like this, insurance isn’t optional — it’s part of sensible risk management.

Why This Matters

With the Jordan Pass sorted, a rental car booked, mobile data ready, and proper insurance in place, Jordan becomes one of the most straightforward adventure destinations you can visit with school‑aged children. Without that foundation, small logistical gaps can quickly turn into unnecessary stress.

Set it up well — and Jordan really delivers for families.

Our 9-Day Jordan Family Road Trip: Day-by-Day Breakdown

Days 1–2: Arrival & Northern Jordan

Day 1: Arrival in Amman

We flew British Airways from Heathrow Terminal 5 (14:55 departure, 23:05 arrival). After landing, we collected our pre-booked rental car — a Nissan Kicks. It was entirely adequate for the trip: economical, comfortable and easy to drive, with enough space for luggage without feeling oversized on Jordan’s roads.

We stayed at Rival Hotel Amman, a practical base offering:

• 1 bedroom + sofa bed

• Indoor pool

• Breakfast included

With a late arrival, this was simply a functional overnight stop.

Day 2: Jerash & Ajloun

We began by heading north from Amman. The full circular route involved approximately three hours of total driving.

Jerash (Included in Jordan Pass)

Jerash is one of the best-preserved Roman cities outside Italy.

Expect:

• Colonnaded streets

• A vast oval plaza

• Roman theatres

• Temple ruins

It is compact enough to explore without excessive walking, yet large enough to feel significant. Surprisingly, it was quiet — far less crowded than comparable European sites.

Ajloun Castle (Included)

Approximately 30 minutes from Jerash, Ajloun Castle is a 12th-century Islamic fortress built to defend against Crusader invasions.

Children respond well to:

• Narrow corridors

• Tower viewpoints

• Maze-like interior layout

By mid-afternoon, we returned to Amman for pool time — establishing a rhythm of sightseeing followed by recovery.

Jerash

Ajloun Castle

Days 3–4: Madaba, Mount Nebo & The Dead Sea

We drove 1.5 hours south toward the Dead Sea, stopping en route.

Madaba (Partially Included)

Known as the “City of Mosaics,” Madaba’s key highlight is the 6th-century mosaic map inside St. George’s Church. The archaeological park is included in the Jordan Pass; the church requires a small fee.

Mount Nebo (Not Included)

Believed to be the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land, Mount Nebo offers expansive views across the Jordan Valley.

A short, reflective stop before descending to the Dead Sea.

Dead Sea Strategy: Why Hotel Choice Matters

We stayed at the Hilton Dead Sea Resort

Key benefits:

• Private beach access

• Dedicated mud pits

• Direct Dead Sea entry

• Pool facilities

This is one location where hotel choice directly affects experience. Public access is limited; staying at a major resort simplifies logistics.

Floating in the Dead Sea is unique — you genuinely cannot sink. However, this is where expectations require adjustment. Joshua has eczema, and the salt concentration caused immediate stinging. Even adults feel irritation after several minutes. The experience was memorable but short. Beach showers are essential. The pool ultimately proved more enjoyable for longer periods.

Day 5: Salt Lakes, Shobak & Little Petra

Leaving the Dead Sea, we stopped at the roadside salt lakes — vivid blue water against bright white salt formations. A simple roadside pull-off allows you to walk directly down.

Shobak Castle (Included)

A rugged Crusader fortress set dramatically above the desert. Less restored than Ajloun, but atmospheric and quiet.

We then drove onward to Wadi Musa (Petra).

Little Petra (Free Entry)

Smaller, quieter and free, Little Petra is a useful introduction before visiting Petra itself. Easy parking and short walking distances make it suitable as a low-effort afternoon stop.

Salt Lakes & Shobak Castle

Little Petra

Day 6: Petra by Day & Night

We stayed in Petra Aretas, a small local guest house, offering triple family rooms, walking distance from the main Petra entrance. Although we enjoyed our stay, on reflection I would have spent a bit more and stayed in one of the big local chains that had a pool on offer, such as the Crowne Plaza or the Movenpick.

Petra (included)

Breakfast at 5:20am. Gates opened at 6:00am. Arriving early was essential.

We opted for a one-day ticket, fully aware that it’s often described as ambitious. However, we were realistic about our priorities. With a school-age child, we focused on Petra’s major highlights rather than attempting to see everything.

After the 20 minute walk into Petra, the experience begins with the walk through the Siq — a narrow sandstone canyon that builds anticipation with every turn. Emerging from the rock face to see the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) for the first time remains one of the most impactful travel moments we’ve experienced as a family. No photograph truly prepares you for the scale.

From there, we continued deeper into the site, passing the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs, and the Roman Theatre, before making the climb up to the Monastery (Ad-Deir) — approximately 800 steps and 45–60 minutes at a steady pace. For families, the Monastery is worth the effort. It is less crowded than the Treasury and equally impressive in scale. We stopped here to enjoy the view with a coffee and toilet break.

Key highlights to prioritise in one day:

• The Siq canyon walk

• The Treasury

• The Royal Tombs

• The Roman Theatre

• The Monastery

Petra is vast. Attempting to “see everything” in one day with children would be unrealistic. Concentrating on the major landmarks allowed us to experience the essence of Petra without pushing beyond reasonable fatigue levels. On the return journey toward the entrance, Joshua opted for a short horse ride from near the Treasury to conserve his energy — a practical option that shaved some walking off tired legs before we headed back to rest.

By mid-afternoon, as temperatures and visitor numbers increased, we returned to the hotel to rest before heading back for Petra by Night.

Petra by Night (Not Included in Jordan Pass)

• Runs Monday, Wednesday & Thursday

• Tickets purchased same day

• 20-minute walk each way through the Siq

• 8:30pm–10:00pm event

The candlelit path to the Treasury creates a completely different atmosphere. Music and soft lighting transform the space.

Total walking that day exceeded 13 miles — ambitious, but manageable with pacing and rest.

For full strategy, see: Visiting Petra With School-Age Kids

Day 7: Wadi Rum (Included)

Two-hour drive from Petra. Entry is included in the Jordan Pass. There are checkpoints at the park entrance. We pre-booked a half-day private jeep tour via Viator, which is essential for seeing key desert sites.

Expect:

• Sand dunes

• Natural rock arches

• Expansive desert views

Camping under the stars was one of the most memorable parts of the trip — quiet, remote and deeply peaceful. There are multiple camp sites on offer in Wadi Rum. Full breakdown of our experience here: Wadi Rum With Kids: What Parents Should Know

Day 8: Aqaba

One hour south lies Aqaba — Jordan’s Red Sea destination. After several active days, this was pure recovery.

We stayed at Grand Tala Bay a family friendly beach front hotel with big pools and waterslides, here we prioritised:

• Beach time

• Pool time

• No fixed schedule

The balance was important.

Days 9–11: Return to Amman

The drive back north took approximately four hours. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Madaba near the airport for convenience. If you want something closer Amman Airport Hotel is also a good option we considered.

On our final day, we visited the Amman Citadel. While historically interesting, it was less impactful than Jerash or Petra.

Our 8:30am flight home was efficient and straightforward.

Why Jordan Works So Well for Families

Jordan delivers an incredible range of experiences without exhausting travel days. In just over a week, we moved from Roman ruins and Crusader castles to biblical landmarks, desert landscapes, Petra, and finally time to unwind by the sea — all without feeling constantly on the road.

What made the difference was how manageable everything felt. Driving distances were realistic, major sites were quieter than we’d expected, accommodation was consistently welcoming, and we never felt unsafe travelling as a family.

Jordan works especially well when you approach it with intention: starting early at big sites, balancing busy days with downtime, choosing where you stay carefully, and resisting the urge to cram too much into each day.

If you’re weighing it up from a budgeting point of view, you might find this helpful too: How Much Does a Family Trip to Jordan Cost? Our Real Budget Breakdown

Get the structure right, and Jordan becomes one of the most rewarding and surprisingly easy adventure destinations you can do with school‑aged children — rich in history, big in impact, but still genuinely family‑friendly.

For detailed planning insight, explore the full guide on our dedicated Jordan hub. Jordan is not a passive holiday. It is active, educational and varied. But when structured correctly, it works exceptionally well with school-age children.