Crossing to Jordan via Allenby Bridge: Planning the Ride
Updated: July 2026
The Allenby Bridge — also called the King Hussein Bridge — is the crossing many travellers use to reach Jordan directly from Jerusalem or the centre of Israel, and the ride to it rewards planning over improvisation. Crossings can be busy and processing times vary, so the golden rule is to arrive with a comfortable buffer and to confirm the current opening hours and any requirements through official sources before you travel, since these change and are not something to take on trust from a guide.
This guide focuses on what a driver can genuinely help with — a punctual, well-timed transfer to the crossing with room to spare — rather than on border formalities, which are set by the authorities and worth verifying yourself. For the ride itself, a pre-arranged private transfer means a driver who knows the route to the crossing and builds in the buffer. Arrange it on our contact page, or see how intercity rides are structured.
Where is the Allenby crossing and who uses it?
The Allenby Bridge crossing sits east of Jerusalem, down toward the Jordan Valley, and it is the crossing closest to Jerusalem for travellers heading to Amman and the Jordanian sights beyond. Because of its position it is a natural choice from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the centre, which also means it can be busy at peak times.
What matters for planning is that processing on a border can take time and is outside anyone’s control, so the ride should deliver you there early rather than exactly on time. A driver who runs this route can advise on a sensible departure hour from your city, while the border procedures themselves remain the authorities’ domain.
Why does buffer time matter so much for this crossing?
Border crossings do not run on a taxi’s schedule. Queues, processing and the transfer arrangements on the far side all take variable time, so a plan with slack protects your onward connections — a hotel in Amman, a tour meeting time, a Petra day. Arriving early costs you a wait; arriving late can cost you the day.
The practical move is to leave your city with generous margin and to treat the crossing time as a soft estimate, not a fixed appointment. A pre-arranged driver builds that margin into the pickup time and gets you to the crossing without a rush, which is the part of the journey a transfer can actually deliver on.
What can a driver help with, and what should I verify myself?
A driver handles the Israel-side transfer: a punctual pickup from your hotel or address, a known route to the crossing, luggage help, and timing built around a comfortable arrival. That is the reliable, plan-able part of the day, and a pre-booked estimate for the ride is confirmed in advance with the meter setting the final fare.
What to verify yourself, through official channels, before you go: the crossing’s current opening days and hours, any closure dates around holidays, entry and exit requirements, and how you will continue on the Jordanian side. Those details change and carry real consequences, so treat this guide’s ride-planning advice and the official border information as two separate things.
How do I arrange the transfer?
Book ahead with your pickup address, the intended crossing, your preferred arrival time at the border, and the number of passengers and bags. The dispatcher works the pickup time backwards from the buffer you want, and for a group a van keeps everyone and their luggage together for the ride out to the valley.
If you are also arranging the Israel-side leg of a return from Jordan, mention it, and the pickup from the crossing back to your city or the airport can be set up too. Estimate the ride with our fare calculator, and keep the official crossing information to hand separately for the border itself.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?
A pre-arranged private transfer is the simplest way: a driver who knows the route east toward the Jordan Valley picks you up from your address and times the ride so you arrive with a comfortable buffer. Give your pickup point and preferred arrival time, and the pickup is scheduled backwards from it.
How much buffer time should I allow for the crossing?
Allow a generous margin. Processing and queues on a border vary and are outside anyone’s control, so plan to arrive early rather than on the dot, and protect any onward connection in Jordan with slack. Arriving early only costs a wait; arriving late can cost the whole day.
What can a taxi driver help with at the border?
The Israel-side transfer: a punctual pickup, a known route to the crossing, luggage help and timing built around a comfortable arrival. The border formalities themselves — hours, requirements and the onward Jordanian side — are set by the authorities and are for you to arrange and verify.
Should I check the crossing’s opening hours in advance?
Yes, always, through official sources. Opening days and hours, holiday closures and entry and exit requirements can change and carry real consequences. Treat ride-planning advice and official border information as separate: the driver handles the transfer, you confirm the crossing details yourself.
Can you arrange a pickup for my return from Jordan?
The Israel-side leg, yes — mention it at booking and a pickup from the crossing back to your city or on to Ben Gurion Airport can be coordinated. Timing on the return depends on how the crossing goes, so a little flexibility helps, and the driver adjusts to your actual arrival.
Book your taxi now
Our dispatch line is open every hour of the day and night, all week long — call or WhatsApp for instant confirmation and a fare known upfront, per the official tariff.