Crossing the Jordan-Iraq Border at Turaibil: Shared Taxis, Border Fees, and Road Conditions

Crossing overland between Jordan and Iraq is the direct overland link into central Iraq. The sole border crossing between both countries sits in the eastern desert plateau: the Karameh Border Crossing on the Jordanian side and the Turaibil Border Compound (مركز طريبيل الحدودي) on the Iraqi side.

The route connects Amman to Baghdad across roughly 875 kilometers of desert highway. While commercial flights between Amman and Baghdad take under two hours, traveling by road crosses the desert terrain of eastern Jordan and Iraq's western Anbar province.

Here is a practical guide to crossing at Turaibil, covering shared cars from Amman, border fees and visa requirements, and road conditions along Iraqi Freeway 1.

The overland route overview

The total driving distance between Amman and Baghdad is approximately 875 kilometers according to The Globetrotting Detective. The route splits into two distinct segments separated by the border facilities:

1. Amman to Karameh Border Crossing (Jordan): Roughly 320 kilometers eastward from Amman, passing through Zarqa, the desert junction of Azraq or Mafraq, Safawi, and the last Jordanian service outpost at Ruwaished.
2. Turaibil Border Compound to Baghdad (Iraq): Approximately 555 kilometers eastward across Anbar province, running along Freeway 1 (Route 11) past Al-Rutba, Ramadi, and Fallujah into western Baghdad.

The entire journey usually takes between 10 and 14 hours. Total travel time depends heavily on customs processing speed at Turaibil and the volume of commercial trucks queueing along the highway.

Shared taxis from Amman to Baghdad

The primary method of public land transport between Amman and Baghdad is the shared long-distance vehicle, locally known as a GMC or GMCat. These vehicles are typically large American SUVs like the GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban, or seven-seater passenger vans that handle long desert stretches reliably.

Where to find shared cars in Amman

In Amman, transport offices operating cross-border trips cluster along King Al Hussein Street near the Qafaf Center, close to the old Abdali transport area, as documented by The Globetrotting Detective. Several transport companies run daily departures to Baghdad, Damascus, and Saudi Arabia from this strip.

Many operators accept bookings directly through WhatsApp. When booking in advance, passengers submit a passport copy and a local phone number. Drivers often provide hotel pickup in Amman during the early morning hours before heading out to the desert highway.

Fares, departure schedules, and vehicles

• Fares: Standard seat prices run between $60 USD and $100 USD (around 45 JOD to 75 JOD) each way. A front passenger seat or a five-passenger vehicle usually costs $75 USD to $100 USD; middle or rear rows in a seven-passenger vehicle cost $60 USD to $75 USD.
• Departure times: Shared cars leave early, usually between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM. Departing before dawn brings passengers to the border as morning shifts begin and allows the drive through Anbar in daylight.
• Return trips: In Baghdad, shared cars to Amman run from the Alawi transport terminal (Allawi Al-Hilla garage in central Karkh) or through dispatch operators with hotel pickups starting around 5:00 AM.

Border procedures and entry fees

The Karameh Border Crossing operates 24 hours a day for freight and passenger transport, though daytime hours offer faster staffing and processing for civilian travelers according to Border Crossing Hub.

Leaving Jordan at Karameh

The exit process on the Jordanian side involves three distinct checkpoints and administrative stops:

1. Vehicle inspection: Vehicles undergo an initial customs check and baggage scan. An inspection fee of around 5 JOD (approximately $7 USD) is collected per vehicle at the gate.
2. Jordanian exit fee: Non-Jordanian travelers must pay the official land border departure tax of 10 JOD (approximately $14 USD to $15 USD) at the bank counter before passport control, as noted by The Globetrotting Detective.
3. Exit stamp: Present your passport along with the departure tax receipt at the Jordanian immigration counter to receive your exit stamp.

Entering Iraq at Turaibil

Once through the neutral zone, vehicles arrive at the Turaibil Border Compound. Processing here takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on passenger volume:

1. Visa on arrival (VOA): Citizens of countries eligible for Iraq's visa on arrival (including the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and several others) can obtain an entry visa at the border immigration office. The Iraqi tourist visa fee is $75 USD, payable in cash. Bring clean, crisp US dollar bills without tears or markings, as immigration cashiers will reject worn currency.
2. Biometric registration: Officers photograph each traveler, record entry details, and affix the formal visa sticker and entry stamp into the passport.
3. Luggage screening: Baggage goes through an X-ray scanner before passengers re-board their vehicle.

Road conditions along Freeway 1 through Anbar

The drive from Turaibil to Baghdad follows Freeway 1, the historic multi-lane highway constructed to connect Baghdad with Jordan and Syria.

Highway condition and driving environment

On the Jordanian side, Route 10 from Amman through Ruwaished is a well-paved two-lane and dual-carriageway desert route. On the Iraqi side, Freeway 1 consists of dual carriageways running across the flat desert plateau.

While significant reconstruction work has rehabilitated bridges and interchanges damaged during past conflicts, sections of the asphalt have ruts from heavy cargo trucks carrying freight from Aqaba port into central Iraq according to Border Crossing Hub. Drivers should watch for sudden dips and patches of rough pavement.

Security and checkpoints

Security along the Anbar corridor is stable, with steady commercial and passenger traffic between Baghdad and Jordan. Checkpoints staffed by the Iraqi Army and Federal Police operate near major junctions, including Al-Rutba, outer Ramadi, and Fallujah.

Drivers manage the routine interactions at each stop. Keep your passport and entry slip close at hand inside the vehicle for identity checks.

Practical advice for overland travelers

• Carry three currencies in cash: Cards do not work at border counters or desert rest houses. Bring Jordanian Dinars (JOD) for Jordanian exit fees and snacks, crisp US Dollars (USD) without folds or marks for the Iraqi visa, and Iraqi Dinars (IQD) for purchases along the Iraqi highway.
• Pack water and snacks: Drivers stop at roadside cafeterias in Safawi on the Jordan side and near Rutba or Ramadi in Iraq, but having water and food on hand covers delays at border control.
• Expect temperature swings: The desert gets hot in summer (above 40°C / 104°F) and drops close to freezing on winter nights. Dress accordingly.
• Mobile connectivity: Jordanian SIM cards lose signal shortly past Ruwaished. Once in Baghdad, pick up a local Zain or Asiacell SIM card for data access.

Sources

• Border Crossing Hub: Ruwaished & Turaibil Border Crossing (Accessed May 2026)
• Border Crossing Hub: Border Crossings Between Iraq and Jordan (Accessed May 2026)
• The Globetrotting Detective: How I Crossed the Jordan-Iraq Border (Accessed May 2026)
• Wikipedia: Karameh Border Crossing (Accessed May 2026)
• Wikipedia: Iraq-Jordan Border (Accessed May 2026)
• Wikipedia: Freeway 1 (Iraq) (Accessed May 2026)