Swakopmund sits on the B2 tar road that links Windhoek to the coast. Every approach route eventually joins the B2; the differences are in the approach direction and the roads that connect to it.
From Windhoek (360km, 4 hours)
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Route: B1 south to Rehoboth (briefly) → B2 west → Swakopmund
The B2 is entirely tar from Windhoek to Swakopmund: the most direct route, the best road, and the standard approach for the majority of visitors. Fuel at Karibbib or Usakos mid-route. No significant stops required.
From Sossusvlei (350km, 4 hours)
Route: C19 north → C14 north → B2 west → Swakopmund
The gravel C14 from Solitaire to the B2 junction is well-maintained and passable by 2WD in dry conditions. The drive through the central Namib is one of the more scenic approaches to Swakopmund: the gravel plain landscape and the distant Naukluft Mountains make the 3-hour gravel section genuinely interesting.
From Damaraland and Etosha (via the Coast Road)
The C34 coastal road north of Swakopmund connects to the Skeleton Coast and eventually to Damaraland via Kamanjab. Coming from Damaraland, the southern C34 approach from Cape Cross (150km north) is straightforward tar.
From Cape Town (1,600km, 18 hours)
The Atlantic coastal route from Cape Town via the N7 and B1 through South Africa and into Namibia is the overland route for southern Africa road-trippers. Most travellers break this into two days with an overnight in Springbok (South Africa) or Aus (Namibia). The Orange River crossing at Noordoewer is the Namibian border.