Shangluo is about two hours from Xi'an by bus or car on the G40 expressway, which cuts through the Qinling range via tunnel. Buses depart from Xi'an's eastern bus terminal and arrive at Shangluo bus station. The expressway has simplified access considerably — before it opened, the mountain road made this journey half a day.
The prefecture has no airport. Rail connections are limited; Shangluo does have a railway station but high-speed rail has not yet reached here. The bus is the standard option for most travellers.
For exploring within the prefecture, having your own vehicle is a significant advantage. The canyon areas, hermitage routes, and village landscapes are spread across a large area of mountain terrain, and public transport to individual sites is infrequent.