Penglai is now administratively part of Yantai and is served by Yantai Penglai International Airport (YNT), about 20 kilometres east of Penglai city center — closer to Penglai than to Yantai city. From the airport to Penglai takes about 25 minutes by taxi or airport bus.
From Yantai city, buses run to Penglai in about an hour (¥15–20); taxis take about 45 minutes. From Jinan, the most convenient option is to take the high-speed train to Yantai (about 2 hours) and then the bus to Penglai. The Penglai ferry terminal for the Changdao Islands ferry is a short walk from the Penglai Pavilion entrance.