Lake Elmenteita lies just off the A104 highway between Nairobi and Nakuru, about 120 kilometres northwest of Nairobi and 30 kilometres southeast of Nakuru town. The drive from Nairobi takes around two hours in good conditions, though traffic on the escarpment descent can slow things considerably.
There is no public transport to the lake itself, but matatus running the Nairobi–Nakuru route will drop you at the junction near the village of Kikopey, from which you can usually arrange a lift with a local driver. Most visitors come with a hired car or as part of a longer Rift Valley itinerary that also takes in Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha.