Car hire and driving in Baghdad
Driving distances to the cities around, the rules that change at the border, and where to compare rental prices.
In Iraq traffic drives on the right. Picking up at BGW means 18 km (11 mi) into the centre before the trip starts. The emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648805 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648812 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648855.
Drives from Baghdad
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baghdad to Al Maḩmūdīyah | Iraq | 31 km (19 mi) | about 28 min |
| Baghdad to Baqubah | Iraq | 50 km (31 mi) | about 45 min |
| Baghdad to Nāḩiyat al Iskandarīyah | Iraq | 51 km (31 mi) | about 46 min |
| Baghdad to Al Fallūjah | Iraq | 57 km (35 mi) | about 52 min |
| Baghdad to Al-Musayab | Iraq | 63 km (39 mi) | about 58 min |
| Baghdad to Al Miqdādīyah | Iraq | 87 km (54 mi) | about 1 h 19 min |
| Baghdad to Karbala | Iraq | 88 km (55 mi) | about 1 h 20 min |
| Baghdad to Al Hindīyah | Iraq | 90 km (56 mi) | about 1 h 23 min |
| Baghdad to Abu Gharaq | Iraq | 91 km (56 mi) | about 1 h 23 min |
| Baghdad to Al Hillah | Iraq | 98 km (61 mi) | about 1 h 29 min |
| Baghdad to Ramadi | Iraq | 102 km (63 mi) | about 1 h 33 min |
| Baghdad to Sāmarrā’ | Iraq | 106 km (66 mi) | about 1 h 37 min |
| Baghdad to Mosul | Iraq | 353 km (219 mi) | about 5 h 23 min |
| Baghdad to Erbil | Iraq | 319 km (198 mi) | about 4 h 52 min |
| Baghdad to Basrah | Iraq | 448 km (278 mi) | about 6 h 50 min |
| Baghdad to Kirkuk | Iraq | 237 km (147 mi) | about 3 h 36 min |
| Baghdad to Sulaymaniyah | Iraq | 265 km (165 mi) | about 4 h 2 min |
| Baghdad to Nasiriyah | Iraq | 308 km (191 mi) | about 4 h 42 min |
| Baghdad to Najaf | Iraq | 146 km (91 mi) | about 2 h 14 min |
| Baghdad to Abū al-Kahṣīb | Iraq | 460 km (286 mi) | about 7 h 1 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Where to compare car hire
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Common questions
Which side of the road do they drive on in Baghdad?
The right, as everywhere in Iraq.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.