Chillagoe is 215km or three hours' drive west of Cairns via Mareeba and Dimbulah on the northern end of the Atherton Tableland. The road is sealed all the way except for about 16km of gravel just before Chillagoe. Chillagoe can also be accessed via Herberton from the southern end of the Atherton Tableland, although there are more gravel roads along this route. Conventional-vehicle access is possible in dry weather but roads may be impassable in the summer wet season.