By train
There are no rail lines in Meghalaya. The nearest railway station is Guwahati. It is 105 km from Shillong reportedly takes 5 hours via taxi and very well connected with all major cities of India.
By plane
Shillong Airport SHL is in Umroi, about 40km from Shillong also known as Barapani Air Force Base or Umroi Airport. It is a small airport with flights via Alliance Air operated by Indian Airlines to/from Calcutta on certain days of the week. A bus operated by M.T.D.C runs from Airport to Shillong market.Taxis are also available. However, flights to Umroi are only from Calcutta and generally are cancelled at the last minute due to inclement weather. Guwahati airport which is 4&1/2 to 5 hours from shillong is a preferable option.
Gopinath Bordoloi Airport GAU in Guwahati 104 km from Shillong is connected to rest of India with regular flights. Shared cabs typically small cars from the airport, and larger Tata Sumos from Guwahati town center are available from outside airport connecting to Shillong. The rate as of June 2007is INR 300 per passenger from Guwahati Airport to Shillong and reportedly takes 5 hours. The cab drops you off at Police Bazaar from where you can get a ride to almost any part of Shillong. En route from Guwahati to Shillong, you'll probably stop mid way at Nongpoh to freshen up and get some refreshments. Nongpoh is also a good place to pick up bamboo pickles and other condiments.Please note that the road from Guwahati to Shillong is being widened and is prone to traffic jams upto 18 hours delay mostly in winters. So plan your move accordingly.
By bus
The main interstate bus stand is located right next to Guwahati railway station. Buses run by Assam State Transport Corporation ASTC and Meghalaya Transport Corporation MTC, ply every half an hour from Guwahati to Shillong. The ticket fares vary between Rs.30 to 100, depending upon bus class ordinary, semi-deluxe and deluxe. Please note that many of the buses are very old and only visible difference among bus class is number of people allowed to sit. Many private run buses also run between two cities but they leave from Paltan Bazar area and cost around Rs. 70. Private buses might be better built but are occasionally crowded and have more stops enroute. Buses usually take around 4 hours with a mid-way stop at Nong-poh. Shared taxis are available from Paltan Bazar area which is adjacent to the railway station. These are generally SUV sized vehicles Tata Sumo & Mahindra Bolero shared between 8 people. They take around 3 hours to reach Shillong from Guwahati.The cost for a SUV vehicle is Rs.150 as per 2011.