Road
Athavanad is connected to other parts of India through Kottakkal. National highway No.66 passes through Tanur and the northern stretch connects to Goa and Mumbai. The southern stretch connects to Cochin and Trivandrum. State Highway No.28 starts from Nilambur and connects to Ooty, Mysore and Bangalore through Highways.12,29 and 181.
National Highway No.966 connects to Palakkad and Coimbatore.

Air
The nearest airport is at Karipur International Airport.Rail
Kuttippuram, Thirunavaya, Perashshannur, Tirur are nearest railway stations. Trichur is major railway station 49 km from Athavanad