Valladolid sits roughly halfway between Mérida (160 km west) and Cancún (160 km east) on the toll motorway 180D. Frequent buses with ADO and the second-class Oriente line connect both cities; the bus terminal is on Calle 39 a few blocks west of the plaza. From Cancún the trip takes about 2 hours; from Mérida about 2 hours 15 minutes.
The new Tren Maya stops at Valladolid (the station is north of the centre, accessible by short taxi), with services to Cancún, Mérida, Tulum, and beyond. Driving is also straightforward — the 180D is well-maintained but has tolls; the parallel libre road is slower and goes through villages.