Volcanoes National Park is reached from Musanze, 12km from the park headquarters at Kinigi. Musanze is 2.5 hours from Kigali by road on a well-paved highway through Rwanda's northern highlands. Both public minibuses and private vehicles make this journey; most organised tour operators include transport in their package.
The nearest international airport is Kigali International Airport (KGL). Flights from Europe, the Middle East, and East African hubs (Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Johannesburg) serve Kigali. There are no scheduled domestic flights between Kigali and Musanze — the road trip is the standard option. Private charter helicopter transfers from Kigali to a landing site near Musanze are available but very expensive.
From Kigali, most tour operators offer day trips to the gorillas, which is technically possible but exhausting — a full day of driving plus a demanding trek. The more comfortable option is to stay at least one night in Musanze before the trek. Several lodges are located within the park or on its boundary, ranging from basic guesthouses to high-end safari camps.
Uganda borders Rwanda's north; the border crossing at Katuna/Gatuna connects to Kabale and the road to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where Uganda's mountain gorilla trekking is centred. A combined Rwanda–Uganda gorilla itinerary, staying a night in each country, is a popular circuit for dedicated wildlife travellers.