There is no direct road from mainland Lithuania to the spit. The standard route is the short ferry across the lagoon mouth from Klaipėda to Smiltynė — two parallel services, one for cars and one for foot passengers — and then a 50-kilometre drive south down the spit on a single tarred road. Allow about an hour from Klaipėda to Nida by car, plus the ferry.
A summer hydrofoil runs across the lagoon directly to Nida from Klaipėda — much faster but seasonal. Cyclists can take the foot ferry and ride the paved cycle path the length of the spit. Cars pay a national-park entrance fee at the toll booth just south of Smiltynė.