Makeni sits on the main highway between Freetown and the interior, about 185 km northeast of the capital. The road is paved and in decent condition, and the journey takes three to four hours by shared taxi or poda-poda (minibus) depending on the number of stops.
Shared taxis leave from Freetown's Kissy lorry park throughout the day until mid-afternoon. They are cheaper but slower than chartering a private vehicle. The first taxis to fill leave around dawn; if you want a seat that is not in the middle, get there early. Coming from Bo or Kenema in the south, you can change vehicles at Mile 91 or Magburaka.
There is no functioning passenger train, and no scheduled flights serve Makeni. The nearest airport is Freetown's Lungi, on the opposite side of the Sierra Leone River from the capital.