Mao is on National Highway 2 (the old NH-39), the main road linking Imphal to Dimapur and onward to the rest of India. Shared taxis and buses run regularly between Imphal (around 3 hours south) and Dimapur (around 3 hours north). From Kohima, the Nagaland capital, Mao is about 45 kilometres and roughly 90 minutes by road.
There is no railway or air service to Mao itself. The nearest airport is Imphal (Bir Tikendrajit International Airport); the nearest railhead is Dimapur. Inner Line Permits (ILP) are required for entry into Manipur for Indian citizens from certain states, and for all foreign nationals entering Nagaland.