By air. Guemar Airport (ELU) is around 20 kilometres north of central El Oued. Air Algérie runs flights from Algiers, typically several times a week, plus occasional services to other Algerian cities. The flight from Algiers takes about 90 minutes and is far quicker than the long bus journey across the country. A taxi from the airport into town costs around the equivalent of a few dollars.
By road. El Oued is reached from Biskra (about 270 km, 4 hours) along the well-maintained N3, and from Touggourt (about 90 km) to the west. Long-distance buses run from both, and from Algiers (around 700 km, an overnight journey). For travellers coming overland from Tunisia, there is a crossing at Taleb Larbi to the east; bring a vehicle paperwork or use a service taxi.
Train. El Oued has no train station. The nearest line ends at Touggourt; from there it is a two-hour bus or taxi onward.
Foreign travellers entering Algeria's south often need to be travelling with a registered local guide or agency, depending on current security regulations — check the requirements before you set out.