Placerville sits on US Highway 50, the main route between Sacramento (55km west) and South Lake Tahoe (90km east). By car it's a straightforward drive either way. The El Dorado Transit bus service connects Placerville with Sacramento several times daily, and Sacramento Regional Transit connects to the broader Bay Area and Sacramento rail network.
From Highway 50, the marked exits drop you onto Main Street without much fuss. There is no commercial airport in El Dorado County; Sacramento International is the nearest, about 70km west.