Kenema is about 300 km east of Freetown by road, a journey that takes 5–7 hours depending on road conditions and the time of year. The main route goes via Bo, the second-largest city. Shared taxis and poda-poda minibuses depart from Freetown's Kissy terminal and from Bo's lorry park.
Kenema Airport has an airstrip used occasionally by charter flights; there is no regular scheduled service. In dry season the road is manageable in a standard vehicle; in the rainy season (May–October) a 4WD is advisable for the final stretches into the Eastern Province.