Gedaref sits at the junction of Sudan's main eastern roads. The paved highway from Khartoum runs east through Wad Medani and on to Gedaref — around 410 km, six to eight hours by bus depending on the season and the checkpoints. From Gedaref the road continues north-east to Kassala and Port Sudan on the Red Sea, and south to Galabat on the Ethiopian border, the main overland crossing point for travellers heading to Gondar.
Long-distance coaches from Khartoum and Port Sudan run several times a day. The bus station is on the edge of town, served by tuk-tuks and minibuses. There is also a small airport handling occasional domestic flights, but most visitors arrive overland. Note that Sudan's security situation has been extremely volatile since 2023 — check current travel advisories before planning a trip.