[charles antholt]

As a non-resident alien, at 59 1/2 can I access my 401 k account from outside the U.S to get distributions?

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

Absolutely.

If your former employer is willing to maintain your 401K account, there is no reason, in this age of email, webcoms and long-distance phone calls, why you cannot continue to maintain from your home country.

If your former employer is unwilling to maintain the account, roll it over to a rollover IRA in a brokerage house like Charles Schwab or Fidelity and they will be more than happy to maintain the account, regardless of where you live.