By road from Addis Ababa
Adama is 99 km southeast of Addis Ababa on the main Addis–Djibouti highway, one of the best-maintained roads in Ethiopia. Frequent minibuses and shared taxis cover the route from the Kaliti bus station in the south of Addis, and the journey takes around 1.5 hours under normal conditions. Larger buses also operate the route, departing from the main Autobus Tera in Addis. The road is busy — this is the main artery for freight to and from the port at Djibouti — so traffic can slow things down, particularly at the Addis end.
By rail
The Ethio-Djibouti railway passes through Adama station, part of the modern standard-gauge line that opened in 2016 and replaced the old narrow-gauge colonial railway. Passenger services on this section operate but the schedule is limited as of 2026 and subject to change; check current timetables locally before planning around it. The railway runs from Addis Ababa through Adama, then continues east through the Rift and Afar region to Djibouti — a spectacular journey if the service is running well.
Onward connections
Adama is a significant junction town. Buses heading south toward Hawassa and Arba Minch, and east toward Asella in the Arsi highlands, all depart from the central bus station. If you are heading toward the national parks of southern Ethiopia, Adama is a natural first stop after Addis.