Arlit is roughly 1,200 km north of Niamey by road — a long haul on rough tracks through the Sahel before the tarmac improves approaching Agadez. From Agadez, the main staging point south, the road to Arlit is around 250 km and takes the better part of a day depending on vehicle and driver. Bush taxis and occasional lorries cover this route.
The border crossing north into Algeria (In Guezzam on the Algerian side) has been periodically closed due to security conditions. Before planning this crossing, check the current situation carefully — the Sahara borderlands of northern Niger and southern Algeria are a zone of genuine risk. When the crossing is open, it requires a registered convoy guide and multiple permits; the tourist office in Arlit or the police can help arrange the paperwork. Do not attempt the crossing independently.
There is a small airstrip at Arlit used for mine operations, but no scheduled passenger service.