San Rafael Airport (AFA) sits 6 kilometres west of town and has daily flights from Buenos Aires (Aerolíneas Argentinas), with around a 2-hour flight time. The airport is small and quiet.
By bus, San Rafael is the major stop on the Mendoza–south route. Buses from Mendoza take 3 to 4 hours; from Buenos Aires it is around 12 hours overnight. The bus terminal is on the southern edge of the centre.
By car, Route 144 from Mendoza is the scenic option, winding through wine country; Route 40 from the south brings you in via Malargüe. Both are well-paved.