Transport

The city's main roads are all in dual carriageway format and arranged in a grid pattern, with four streets of significance radiating from The Square in the CBD.

Cycling.

Palmerston North is perceived as being better for cycling than most New Zealand cities, with 2001 figures putting it a close second only to Blenheim in terms of bicycle modal share.
The Manawatu River Pathway is great for family or beginners riders, as it is all flat to mildly contoured, with some limestone sections, as well as wide cement paths. The track has many access points to this trail, which runs for over 9 km between Maxwells Line in the West to Riverside Drive in the East.
A new 3 km section has been added between Ashhurst and Raukawa Road, with plans to link this to the existing path over the next two years, making over 22 km of scenic tracks to explore alongside the river.
Palmerston North has a fairly comprehensive 65 km on-road bicycle lane network, particularly in high traffic areas, to make it safer for people to get around the city by bike.

Air.

Palmerston North Airport is located in the suburb of Milson, on the outskirts of the city. It is approximately 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) from the central business district and is a regional gateway to the central North Island region.
The airport has regular services to domestic destinations including Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Nelson and Wellington.
Flights are currently served by Air New Zealand Link, Jetstar and Originair.
The airport is presently the operational base of the Massey University School of Aviation.The airport is also an freight hub for Parcelair.

Bus.

Urban Services are coordinated by Horizons Regional Council, through Masterton-based bus company, Tranzit.
Seven urban buses leave the terminal in Main Street East (in front of Palmerston North Courthouse) at least every half-hour. The buses are assigned to loop routes servicing different parts of the city.
Buses are provided for students of Massey University and IPU. Daily services run to the nearby towns of Linton, Ashhurst, Feilding (via Airport) and Marton.
Across the North Island Inter-regional routes are operated by Intercity, Tranzit and Nakedbus. Intercity's routes run south (to Wellington), north (towards Auckland, via Wanganui, Rotorua and Taupo, or Napier) and east (to Masterton) from the bus terminal in The Square, Palmerston North. Naked Bus runs from outside the Palmerston North City i-SITE in the Square.

Rail.

Palmerston North is an important passenger and freight stop on the North Island Main Trunk Railway.
There are only two passenger trains run by KiwiRail: the weekday-only Capital Connection commuter train once a day to and from Wellington, and is a stop for the Northern Explorer to and from Auckland and Wellington.
Until 1964, the railway ran through the city centre, with Palmerston North Railway Station in The Square. The station was moved and the track diverted 2.5 km (2 mi) to the north by the Milson Deviation in 1959–1963, work on the deviation had started in 1926.
Near the current railway station, the North Island Main Trunk railway is joined by the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line, which runs through the Manawatu Gorge to Woodville and Hawke's Bay. A connection to the Wairarapa Line is at Woodville.