Shendi is a straightforward 150 km up the paved Khartoum–Atbara highway. Minibuses leave Khartoum's North Bus Station (Mawqif Shamali) several times a day; the trip takes around two and a half hours. Long-distance buses to Atbara, Port Sudan and the Egyptian border all stop in Shendi.
From the north, buses from Atbara take about an hour and a half. There is a small airport (SHJ) but no scheduled passenger flights. As of 2025 the security situation in much of Sudan is volatile; check current conditions and travel advisories before planning a trip.