Dhenkanal sits on the Howrah–Chennai main railway line and the East Coast highway, making it well connected by Indian standards. Express trains from Bhubaneswar take about 90 minutes; from Howrah (Kolkata) the overnight runs put you in early morning. Dhenkanal station is in the middle of the old town.
By road, regular buses connect with Bhubaneswar (about three hours), Cuttack, and the larger towns to the north and west. The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International in Bhubaneswar (about 80 km), with full domestic connections and a handful of international flights.