The entrance lies at a location known as Hunuwilgama, about nine kilometres off the hamlet of Thimbiriwewa. Thimbiriwewa is reached by travelling along the main A3 trunk road from Colombo to Puttalam (about one hundred and thirty two kilometres north) and then along the Puttalam Anuradhapura A12 trunk route (about forty kilometres to the north east).
- The main entrance to the national park lies approximately one hundred and eighty five kilometres north of Colombo.
- Colombo to Puttalam: 132 kms
- Puttalam to Wilpattu junction: 40 kms
- Wilpattu junction to main park entrance: 10 kms
From Anuradhapura, the distance to the park entrance is approximately forty five kilometres and from Puttalam, approximately forty kilometres. It is also possible to fly to the Wilpattu National Park by helicopter from either the Bandaranayake International Airport or the Ratmalana airport. The park entrance is easily reached by road.
- The distance from Puttalam to Wilpattu is approximately 40 Kms / 40 mins travel time.
- The distance from Kandy to Wilpattu is approximately 154 Kms / 2.30 hours travel time.
- The distance from Colombo to Wilpattu is approximately 185 Kms / 3.30 hours travel time.
- The distance from Colombo to Wilpattu is approximately 185 Kms / 3.30 hours travel time.