Jeddah to Yanbu Distance: How Far Is It Up the Red Sea Coast?
Quick answer
Driving distance
Roughly 330–350 km via the coastal highway
Driving time
About 3.5 hours under normal driving conditions
Straight-line (great-circle) distance
Around 310 km as the crow flies
'Yanbu' covers more than one area — the historic port town (Yanbu Al Bahr), the diving and Red Sea tourism areas, and the large Royal Commission industrial city (Yanbu Al Sinaiyah) are all part of greater Yanbu, and your specific destination affects the exact distance.
Jeddah to Yanbu: distance in detail
Jeddah to Yanbu runs up the Red Sea coastal highway, with road-distance sources generally placing the figure between roughly 330 and 350 km, passing King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and Rabigh along the way before continuing north.
Because Yanbu is a genuinely large urban area — combining the historic port and old town, Red Sea diving and tourism areas, and the separate Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu industrial city — the exact distance depends meaningfully on which part of Yanbu you're headed to, with the industrial city and port facilities generally sitting a little further from Jeddah than the old town and coastal tourism areas closer to the highway.
Travel time
The drive takes approximately three and a half hours under normal conditions on a well-maintained coastal highway, making it a manageable single-day trip rather than requiring an overnight stop.
Traffic is generally lighter on this route than on the busier Jeddah-Makkah or Jeddah-Madinah corridors, since it isn't a pilgrimage route, though conditions can vary around KAEC and Rabigh where the highway passes through more built-up areas.
Typical driving distance
330–350 km via the Red Sea coastal highway
Typical driving time
About 3.5 hours
Key fact
Yanbu covers several distinct areas — old town/port, coastal tourism, and the separate industrial city — at slightly different distances
How to travel from Jeddah to Yanbu
Private car / taxi
Duration: About 3.5 hours
Best for: Most travellers, particularly those headed to Yanbu's diving resorts or Red Sea tourism areas rather than a fixed transit point
Advantages: Door-to-door to a specific resort, dive centre, or address within greater Yanbu — useful given how spread out the area is
Limitations: A genuine multi-hour drive; the exact time depends on which part of Yanbu is the final destination
SAPTCO intercity bus
Duration: Longer than a direct drive, on a fixed schedule
Best for: Budget travellers without heavy luggage
Advantages: Lower cost, connects into the national SAPTCO network
Limitations: Station-to-station rather than door-to-door, less practical for reaching a specific resort or dive site
Direct flight (Saudia, limited frequency)
Duration: About 1 hour 10 minutes in the air
Best for: Travellers for whom the exact schedule works, given the limited flight frequency
Advantages: Avoids the road drive entirely for the small number of scheduled flights available
Limitations: Operates only a few times a week (twice weekly, per Saudia's published schedule as flight number SV1582), so it's not a flexible option most travellers can plan around
Yanbu is more than one destination
Yanbu isn't a single point but a large urban area with genuinely different districts: Yanbu Al Bahr, the historic port town and old city; the Red Sea diving and coastal tourism areas that have grown around it; and Yanbu Al Sinaiyah, the large Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu industrial city built from 1975 onward around the King Fahd Industrial Port. These sit at different distances from Jeddah, so 'how far to Yanbu' genuinely depends on which of these you mean.
For travellers heading to Yanbu specifically for Red Sea diving or coastal tourism, the relevant distance is generally to the coastal/old-town side of Yanbu; for business travel connected to the petrochemical or industrial sector, the industrial city — home to major oil and LNG pipeline terminal infrastructure — sits at a slightly different point and is worth confirming as the specific destination before estimating total travel time.
Planning to make this journey by private vehicle? See our Jeddah to Yanbu transfer service for fixed-price private transfers, vehicle options, and booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Yanbu from Jeddah?
Road-distance sources generally place the figure between roughly 330 and 350 km via the Red Sea coastal highway, with the exact distance depending on which part of Yanbu you're headed to.
How long does the drive take?
About three and a half hours under normal driving conditions — a manageable single-day trip.
Is there a flight between Jeddah and Yanbu?
Yes, but with limited frequency — Saudia operates a direct flight (flight number SV1582) roughly twice a week, taking about 1 hour 10 minutes, so it isn't a flexible option most travellers can rely on for specific dates.
Does the distance change depending on which part of Yanbu I'm going to?
Yes — Yanbu's old town/port area, its Red Sea diving and tourism areas, and the separate Royal Commission industrial city sit at slightly different distances from Jeddah, so your specific destination matters.
Is this a busy route with heavy traffic?
Generally lighter than the Jeddah-Makkah or Jeddah-Madinah pilgrimage corridors, since it isn't a pilgrimage route, though traffic can vary around KAEC and Rabigh where the highway passes through built-up areas.
Sources
- Distance from Jeddah to Yanbu (distancecalculator.net)
- Flights from Yanbu (YNB) to Jeddah (JED) (flightconnections.com)
- Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (Wikipedia)
Distances and travel times are approximate and can vary by exact starting point, route taken, and traffic or seasonal conditions. Last checked 2026-08-23.