Jubail is a coastal city in Saudi Arabia known for its industry, clean roads, and peaceful setting. Renting a car in Saudi Arabia gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace and reach places not covered by public transport. From Jubail, you can drive to cultural landmarks, scenic desert areas, and historic towns. Eastern Saudi Arabia is home to places like Al-Ahsa, Dammam, and Khobar Corniche, where visitors can enjoy heritage sites, local food, and quiet landscapes. This blog explores the top Jubail road trip ideas you shouldn't miss.
Jubail is a great place to begin your journey. It's located on the East Coast and well-connected by highways to key cities and attractions. You can reach beaches, islands, deserts, and heritage sites within a few hours. Here’s how to plan for your trip from Jubail.
The best time to explore Eastern Saudi Arabia is between November and March. The weather stays mild during these months, with daytime temperatures ranging from 18°C to 26°C. The skies are often clear, and there’s little to no rain, making driving conditions safe and enjoyable. Without extreme heat, you can walk through markets in Al-Ahsa, hike around desert hills, or relax by the coast in Dammam. This season is also perfect for outdoor activities like picnics, sightseeing, and nature drives, especially in open desert areas.
If you're a foreign visitor planning to explore Eastern Saudi Arabia by car, there are a few essential things to prepare before you leave. Ensure you have a valid international driving permit and your home country's license. You should also carry your Iqama or passport, as you'll need them for identification at checkpoints or when checking into hotels.
Keep your phone fully charged and download a reliable GPS app or an offline option if you lose signal in remote areas. Bring enough drinking water and snacks, especially if you're driving to quiet spots like Al-Asfar Lake or rural parts of Al-Ahsa where stores are limited. Lastly, fill your fuel tank in Jubail before heading out, since petrol stations may be sparse outside major towns.
Let’s explore the best driving routes in Eastern Saudi. Each route offers unique views and experiences.
This scenic 3.5-hour route is ideal for travelers who enjoy variety in the landscape. You'll pass through open desert, scattered farms, and small towns before arriving in Al-Ahsa. Al-Ahsa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its palm groves, natural springs, and mudbrick architecture, which reflects traditional Najdi design.
You’ll see old mosques, courtyard homes, and forts built with local materials that help keep interiors cool in the desert heat. The drive is peaceful and perfect during the cooler months. This is the best route if you enjoy learning about Saudi culture and seeing green spaces in the desert.
This 2-hour drive offers the best mix of coastal charm and city comforts. It’s perfect for weekend travelers or day-trippers who want sun, sand, and a bit of city life. The road to Half Moon Bay is smooth and lined with sea views. Once there, enjoy swimming, relaxing on soft beaches, or watching the calm waves. Continue to Khobar for its modern Corniche, filled with cafés, bike paths, and family-friendly parks. This route is best for those who love a balance of nature and city energy.
The 1.5-hour drive to Qatif and Tarout Island is short but full of cultural gems. In Qatif, walk through the traditional souq, try local pastries, and see historic coral-stone houses and centuries-old mosques, some of which date back to the early Islamic period. These buildings reflect the region’s maritime history and blend Persian and Arab influences. Then cross over to Tarout Island, where you’ll find Tarout Castle, believed to be built on top of a 5,000-year-old settlement, along with narrow lanes and peaceful fishing spots. This route is best for travelers who enjoy history, quiet scenery, and local life.
In under 2 hours, this coastal drive takes you straight to Dammam along one of the most scenic highways in the region. The road runs beside the Gulf, offering ocean views and cool breezes. Once in Dammam, you’ll find a modern city with parks, museums, shopping malls, and the popular Dammam Corniche. It’s an excellent trip for those who want a fast, easy escape from Jubail without losing access to good food and fun spots.
This 1.5-hour drive takes you to Ras Tanura, a small coastal town perfect for peaceful beach days. Ras Tanura’s beaches are clean, calm, and often empty, giving you plenty of space to walk, sit, or enjoy a picnic. There aren’t many shops or cafés nearby, so it’s best to bring your own snacks and beach gear. Choose this route if you want to unwind in a quiet setting. It’s ideal for travelers looking to escape crowds and enjoy nature in its simplest form.
There are many places to visit near Jubail that are worth the short drive. Here are some top picks:
Fanateer Beach is about 10 km south of Jubail city center, a 15-minute drive away. The beach is known for its clean sand, gentle waves, and palm-lined promenade, which invites peaceful walks during early mornings or sunset hours. Beyond the beach itself, Fanateer Park is right nearby. This well-kept green space offers shaded picnic areas, benches, and wide walking paths surrounded by palm trees and flower beds. It’s a favorite weekend hangout for families and groups.
Children can enjoy the playgrounds, while adults relax under the shade or sip coffee from nearby kiosks. The park also has art sculptures. Just a short walk from the beach, you’ll find Fanateer Marina, a functioning boat harbor where local fishermen and private boat owners dock their vessels. It’s a working marina with boat ramps, fishing spots, and a few charter services that offer boat rides. While it’s not a large tourist hub, it provides a chance to see daily marine activity and enjoy the sea from a different angle. Several cafés and restaurants nearby face the marina.
The Fanateer Beach also features open-air spaces like the Roman Theater and Peace Garden Theater. These public venues sometimes host live performances, cultural shows, or small community events, especially during the cooler months. They’re built in a way that blends open seating with a landscaped garden.
Al Nakheel Beach is around 10 km from central Jubail, taking only 15 minutes by car. It’s a quieter alternative to Fanateer Beach, lined with tall palm trees. Nakheel means "palm" in Arabic, which provides natural shade and a scenic backdrop for walks, especially in the early morning or around sunset.
The sand is soft and golden, and the water is usually calm,so it’s safe for children to swim close to the shore. The beach has clean public toilets, shaded seating areas, and trash bins spaced along the paths to help keep the area tidy.One of the highlights is a reflexology walking path, where visitors walk barefoot over smooth stones for relaxation. The beach also features designated areas for beach volleyball, and during holidays, local vendors sometimes set up stalls selling snacks and drinks.
Khobar Corniche is one of the most visited waterfront areas in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. It’s about 120 km southeast of Jubail and takes around 1.5 hours to reach by car, and it stretches over 16 kilometers along the Arabian Gulf. The area is known for its long, palm-lined walkways and well-marked cycling tracks. Manicured gardens, water fountains, and children’s play areas make it a welcoming place for families.
One of the Corniche’s key landmarks is the Khobar Water Tower, located on an artificial island connected by a short causeway. While the tower itself is not open to the public, it’s an iconic photo stop and often lit up at night. Another highlight nearby is the Prince Sultan Science & Technology Center (SciTech). This hands-on science museum is great for kids and adults, featuring interactive exhibits, science displays, and an IMAX theater. Just a short distance away is Ajdan Walk, a newly developed promenade area filled with restaurants, coffee shops, and upscale retail stores. It adds a modern touch to the Corniche and is especially lively at night.
Al-Ahsa is one of the most culturally rich and naturally unique destinations in eastern Saudi Arabia. It is about 300 km southwest of Jubail, and the drive takes roughly 3.5 to 4 hours.Al-Ahsa is recognized as the largest oasis in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The oasis spans over 85 square kilometers and is home to over 2.5 million date palms, nourished by over 280 natural springs. One of the top attractions in Al-Qarah Mountain is the natural limestone caves, which remain cool even during the hottest days. The mountaintop provides panoramic views of the surrounding palm groves and villages.
Nearby is Qasr Ibrahim, a former Ottoman fortress that blends Islamic architecture with military design. It includes a mosque, watchtower, and inner courtyards—all open to visitors. Another must-see is the Al-Qaisariya Souq, one of the oldest markets in the Kingdom. It’s a maze of alleys filled with local spices, textiles, handmade crafts, and traditional foods.
For a spiritual and historical experience, visit Jawatha Mosque, which is believed to be among the first mosques built in the region from the early Islamic era. Nature lovers should not miss Al-Asfar Lake, a seasonal salt lake surrounded by golden dunes. It’s a peaceful spot for birdwatching and photography, especially during the cooler months.
Tarout Castle is located on Tarout Island, just off the coast of Qatif, about 150 km from Jubail. The drive takes around 2 hours. The castle sits on a small hill and offers sweeping views of the island and surrounding neighborhoods. The castle’s design includes thick defensive walls, four rounded watchtowers, and a central courtyard, which likely served both military and residential purposes.
While some areas are partially ruined due to age and lack of complete restoration, visitors can still walk through the structure, climb short steps for views, and explore its historic stonework. Tarout Island offers a quiet and authentic look into local life outside the castle. You can stroll through narrow traditional lanes, visit nearby mosques, and enjoy local seafood in simple, family-run eateries.
Fishermen still operate in the area, and small markets sell fresh fish and produce caught or grown on the island. It’s a chance to experience a more traditional rhythm of life compared to Saudi Arabia’s larger cities. Tarout Castle is worth visiting for its deep historic roots, well-preserved ruins, and setting within one of the oldest inhabited regions in the Gulf.
Exploring Eastern Saudi by car starts best from Jubail. This region feels different from the rest of the country, with coastal views, green oases, fishing villages, and historic towns all in one stretch. Rent a car with Finalrentals to travel comfortably while enjoying flexible options and fair prices. We make it easy to get on the road with convenient pickup locations across Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Tabuk, Abha, and Jubail.
