Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Airport (BPN) has direct connections to Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and other Indonesian cities, as well as some international routes. The airport is about 8 km from the city centre. Pelni ferries connect Balikpapan to Sulawesi, Java, and other Kalimantan ports for those with time. Long-distance buses run to Samarinda (3 hours) and further afield, though the Trans-Kalimantan Highway is increasingly surfaced and passable.
For most travelers, Balikpapan is the entry point for East Kalimantan — fly in, explore the city, then head north by road or river to the Mahakam.