Kona International Airport (KOA) is about 15km north of the town centre and receives direct flights from the US mainland (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix) as well as interisland connections from Honolulu. A taxi or rideshare into town takes about 20 minutes and costs around $25–35. Car rental is available at the airport and is the most practical option if you plan to explore beyond the immediate town.
The road north along the Kohala coast (Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway) and south toward Captain Cook and the Kona coffee country are both well-served by rental car. There is no train service on the Big Island.