Coral Bay is remote. The town is 1,100 kilometres north of Perth and 150 kilometres south of Exmouth, accessed via the sealed North West Coastal Highway and the 80-kilometre Minilya–Exmouth Road that branches off it.
Driving from Perth is a two-day trip in normal conditions; most travellers break the journey at Geraldton, Kalbarri or Carnarvon. There are no direct passenger flights to Coral Bay — the closest airport is Learmonth, just south of Exmouth, with daily Qantas services from Perth. From Learmonth a shuttle bus or hire car covers the final 150 kilometres south. Integrity Coach Lines runs long-distance buses from Perth that stop in Coral Bay several times a week.