If
you arrive by train, then the ground is a good 30 minutes' walk. An alternative to walking to/from
the ground is to catch the 19/19A bus.If you're driving, one recommendation for avoiding the worst of the traffic is to leave the M6 at junction 31a. You can then park at the White Hart, The Sumners (£3, but you get this back when you spend in the pub) or the Royal Garrison, or in nearby streets. Note that there is no parking at the ground.
There's not much around the ground in the way of pubs. The aforementioned The Sumners welcomes away fans, as does the nearby Royal Garrison. It sounds like pubs in the centre aren't very friendly (either they won't serve away fans, or they police will move you on), although I'm sure there must be some places that are ok. One pub that could be worth trying is the Blue Bell. Not only is it Sam Smiths, and therefore dirt cheap, but it gets excellent reviews.
Pub map
Football Ground Guide
Town centre pub guide (by Burnley London supporters!)
National Football Museum